Tom Brands is easily rated as one of the top intensity wrestlers this sport has ever seen. His work ethic has rarely, if ever, been matched on the mat. In college, Brands was a force for the Iowa Hawkeyes,… + See More +
Tom Brands is easily rated as one of the top intensity wrestlers this sport has ever seen. His work ethic has rarely, if ever, been matched on the mat. In college, Brands was a force for the Iowa Hawkeyes,… + See More
- See Less - Tom Brands is easily rated as one of the top intensity wrestlers this sport has ever seen. His work ethic has rarely, if ever, been matched on the mat. In college, Brands was a force for the Iowa Hawkeyes, capturing the "Gablesque" mentality of the sport by constantly attacking and putting pressure on his opponents.
Tom Brands was a four time All-American and three time NCAA national champion in college. He built off his collegiate success and competed for the U.S. in freestyle. Brands won the Gold medal at both the World Championships in 1993 and at the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996.
He continues today as the head coach of the Iowa Hawkeye program to lead the new generation of Iowa wrestlers.
#57
Frank March 25 at 3:28pm
Metcalf is a little . Ohio State is no better. Bunch of chokers in the finals.
Yeah Bob I feel sorry for them too. 22 titles, the biggest following in wrestling, the face of wrestling, multiple Olympians to train with...man I don't know how they get through the day.
Humphrey wrestled well and it was close, jaggers won, and pucillo loses to an olympian and previous champ. They come in 2nd in the nation. anonymous coward what are you talking about thats pretty damn good.
When all is sadi and done, wouldn't most of us want our children to wrestle for a coach like Ryan or Borelli? Brands and the Iowa program are winners on the mat, but I am not so sure they are as people of character. I feel sorry for them.
I like Iowa's winning ways, tough wrestling, but that has got to be the most boring team to wrestle for, I mean if you're not a national champion your considered nothing. Yet you watch Tom Ryan and his guys totally different attitude, I would want my son to wrestle for them.
People could spin it all they want, IOWA sucked big time in St. Louis.
Iowa was supposed to dominate, they had the guns. Out of all the teams at the NCAA, Iowa underperformed the most, and thats a fact!!
iowa is the best team in college no doubt. iowa wrestling is the definition of WRESTLING. they portray hardwork, disipline, and are NEVER SATISFIED. look at them they are all pissed and they won the NCAA'S!! i completely respect that.. so keep on keepin on IOWA!!!
Not an Iowa Fan per se, but they produce and set the bar so we keep improving. BUT - I hate the look of the sweat top tucked into the pants, IT LOOKS STUPID _ STOP.
I just got to say I'm sorry. The pride I feel for the Corneyes just put me over the edge. The victory is not hollow just because there were no individual champions. (Its not hollow, its not hollow, its not hollow, its not hollow, its not.......
FUK ALL U IOWA HATERS!!! U SEE THOSE WHO HATE THEM WISH THEY WERE IN THEIR POSITION...WISH THEY COULD BE WRESTLING AT A SCHOOL LIKE DAT....WISH THEY HAD THEIR TALENT AND REP....END OF CONVERSATION
Word. you know you are an iowa hater, when you try to put them down by their moods out there. There were no winners, and for their expectations...they all wanted the gold. and many of them did much worse than people expected. They seemed to be a little tired. But how can you make negative statements that they are working too hard? That is ridiculous, it is the best of things to work too hard. That is where you get the most out of the sport and carry onto the rest of your life. The only reason I am an iowa fan is because they just outwork everyone.
Some shock, some disappointment, a lot of tired guys. The Brands Foot Soldiers have been hypnotized. That really is a telling photo. I wish they could enjoy it a little more.
Eerily similar to the Iowa St team photo, when Gable lost to Owings??”
I think that's right on the $.
Some shock, some disappointment, a lot of tired guys. The Brands Foot Soldiers have been hypnotized. That really is a telling photo. I wish they could enjoy it a little more.
Of course there unhappy. Brands has them hypnotized. If ohio state won they would be all smiles up there. If you didnt win an individual title, then you should be upset if your a hawkeye. Plain and simple. Plus Metcalf probably sucked the good mood out of what guys were happy.
fan,
did you just imply that iowa, the hardest working team in the country, is slowly killing the sport because there unhappy with there individual performances? This is why the sport is growing, winning isnt enough for them, there constantly trying to be the best of the best and wont stop until they get there. They show unmatched dedication and heart and set a perfect example to any wrestler out there. I agree an underdog story such as Caldwell's win is also needed, but Iowa showing that through hardwork one can achieve anything and consistantly be victiourous is one of the most important messages that one wrestler can get across to another.
for all you OHIO STATE haters out there need to take a long look at the future Bucks return everyone but johnstone and jaggers. they bring in 3 great recruits next year and have some great guys ready to come out of their redshirts. Ian pad and palmer are two top 2 wrestlers that will be great in college. accept for colt the rest of the team wrestled to their game. where Iowa had wrestler after wrestler choke. everyone of them chocked. including the great metcalf. guess he is human. he will win his next year,caldwell will take redshirt because he knows that he wont beat metcalf again. Bucks 2nd this year again next year we shoot for first.
did metcalfs lost really bring down the team like that.. they dont look too happy. i guess thats wat happens when u have a hard working team thats so close to each other
erikson and morningstar really came through HUUUGE, especially morningstar, refs tried to screw him over almost every match I watched, and he won against the odds soooo many times...straight iowa style baby
can't win when they should have? so thats why they won in the consolations when they're back was against the wall and a loss meant no more team points.
how can you figure that ??? Palmer had a chance to win it for the buckeyes in the semi's and in his consolation match but choked... it was the Buckeyes to lose and they showed their true colors when its stacked against them ... someone posted about no individual champs... i'll take that team title anyday ... see when you do that everyone gets a ring :P
they don't deserve it? they busted their @ss as a team to get there. almost everyone on the team said they're doing what they came here to do as a team but as solo athletes they weren't getting the job done. and as far as needing an underdog story the whole tournament was full of them. look at 141 the whole weight was a mess with unseeded and lower ranked guys knocking off the top guys. this was one of the best tournaments in recent years. the team race was tight, we got some great finals and overall every round had some great surprises in it. if anything the sport is growing especially with espn finally realizing that they need to televise the full finals and not just snippets of matches
Budz - I was thinking the exact same thing. That - and the photo of Owings on the top step and Gable next to him in the 2nd place spot. Owings followed that season up with 2 runner up finishes and never made an Olympic team. We'll see how Metcalf responds to this adversity. He was fairly gracious in defeat and made no excuses.
gtd. that not one person on that team is happy...very tough tourney individually but they did what they had to do to win the team race but still cant be happy at all with it...
they're pissed off because, individually, no one got what they wanted. morningstar and the others have some real heart for fighting back in consolations for the team title, but this wasn't their year individually.
i would have loved to see how Ohio State would have accepted the trophy, because these guys clearly don't deserve something like this if they can't get over their individual finishes enough to enjoy it. IMO this sort of thing is why wrestling is slowly dying in America. We need an underdog and a great story (i.e. Darrion Caldwell whether you like him or not)
do they know they just won a national championship? they all look pist off. i myself wanted them to not win it, but many guys came back thru consolation and got many team points that gave them the win. shows a lot of heart. but im still not an iowa fan
Good Job Iowa! Those who Hate to see the Hawkeyes Win and cheer when they lose just motivates the team that much more! Most people hate a Winner! IOWA Wrestling 22 National Titles! Period!
After they won their 22nd team title. Metcalf's finals appearance along with the backside performances of wrestlers like Ryan Morningstar and Dan Erekson won Iowa the team title. Dan Ereksons' clutch performance in the round of 12 when he was down by 2 with 12 seconds to go against Fendone of Edinboro came out to be one of the tournament changers. Needless to say he came back and won in OT and from there scored more than enough Team points for Iowa. Ryan Morningstar came through big time in the clutch with 4 overtime victories and another decision. Many thought that Iowa was out of contention after the quarters but showed no sign of quit and regained momentum in the wrestle backs. March 21, 2009
Iowa on the stage
Fall Report
“hahah thats metcalf...who got beat...but hes still a beast!!”
Iowa was supposed to dominate, they had the guns. Out of all the teams at the NCAA, Iowa underperformed the most, and thats a fact!!
“the third wrestler to walk on the mat is soo cute!”
“Can u spot a smile, except for Za?
Eerily similar to the Iowa St team photo, when Gable lost to Owings??”
Some shock, some disappointment, a lot of tired guys. The Brands Foot Soldiers have been hypnotized. That really is a telling photo. I wish they could enjoy it a little more.
did you just imply that iowa, the hardest working team in the country, is slowly killing the sport because there unhappy with there individual performances? This is why the sport is growing, winning isnt enough for them, there constantly trying to be the best of the best and wont stop until they get there. They show unmatched dedication and heart and set a perfect example to any wrestler out there. I agree an underdog story such as Caldwell's win is also needed, but Iowa showing that through hardwork one can achieve anything and consistantly be victiourous is one of the most important messages that one wrestler can get across to another.
Eerily similar to the Iowa St team photo, when Gable lost to Owings??