[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 53 (Friday, April 4, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S2611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   UNIVERSITY OF IOWA WRESTLING TEAM

 Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I am here today to honor the 
University of Iowa wrestling team. The Hawkeye wrestlers won their 21st 
NCAA championship on March 22, 2008 in St. Louis. It was the first 
national championship for the Hawkeyes since 2000, and it shows that 
Iowa's great wrestling tradition continues. Under the tutelage of 
former Hawkeye great Tom Brands, the Iowa squad won its 32nd Big Ten 
conference title with a perfect 8-0 record. They had an overall dual 
record of 21-1.
  Iowa crowned two individual national champions in St. Louis, Brent 
Metcalf and Mark Perry. Metcalf had an incredible season for the black 
and gold and was named Outstanding Wrestler at the Big Ten and NCAA 
Championships, and at the Division I NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals. 
Metcalf was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year, and most recently was 
awarded the Dan Hodge Trophy which recognizes the top college wrestler 
each year. Perry won the second national championship of his college 
career. He was also named an All-American for the fourth time. A 
senior, Perry compiled an overall record of 96-16, and a 20-3 record 
this season. They also had seven athletes named All-Americans, Metcalf, 
Perry, Jay Borschel, Matt Fields, Charlie Falck, Phillip Keddy and Joe 
Slaton.
  Coach Brands was named National Wrestling Coaches Association Coach 
of the Year and Big Ten Coach of the Year.
  Iowans also celebrated the Hawkeyes' success on April 3, which 
Governor Culver proclaimed ``University of Iowa Wrestling Day'' in our 
State.
  I am proud to recognize the Iowa Hawkeye wrestling team, along with 
Coach Tom Brands and his outstanding staff, for winning the Division I 
Wrestling National Team Championship.

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