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How many NCAA wrestling championships have Iowa State wrestlers won?

megan bridgeman and cody goodwin, des moines register
·4 min read
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As the 2023 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships approach, here's a look back at the celebrated history of those dressed in cardinal and gold.

Iowa State wrestling has taken home a total of 8 national team titles and 70 individual NCAA championships, including 16 wrestlers who have won multiple national titles.

Here's a look at the Cyclones who made it to the top of college wrestling:

How many NCAA team championships has Iowa State won?

Iowa State boasts 8 NCAA team championships, but it's been over 30 years since the Cyclones last won a national team title.

The Cyclones last won in 1987, under head coach Jim Gibbons. Before then, Harold Nichols coached Iowa State to six team championships in 1965, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, and 1977. The Cyclones also tied Oklahoma State for the 1933 team title under head coach Hugo Otopali.

Iowa State has also finished as the NCAA team runner-ups 17 times in program history, most recently in 2007.

ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 20: David Carr of Iowa State celebrates after beating Jesse Dellaveccia of Rider in the 157lb weight class in the first-place match during the NCAA Division I Men's Wrestling Championship at the Enterprise Center on March 20, 2021 in St Louis, Missouri.
ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 20: David Carr of Iowa State celebrates after beating Jesse Dellaveccia of Rider in the 157lb weight class in the first-place match during the NCAA Division I Men's Wrestling Championship at the Enterprise Center on March 20, 2021 in St Louis, Missouri.

Individual NCAA wrestling champs from Iowa State

Iowa State has won 70 individual NCAA wrestling titles. There have been 13 two-time NCAA champs in program history, as well as two three-timers and one four-timer — Cael Sanderson, who went 159-0 from 1999-02.

Here's a list of Iowa State's multiple-time national champs:

  • Cael Sanderson, 4-time NCAA champion, 1999-02

  • Nate Carr, 3-time NCAA champion, 1981-83

  • Larry Hayes, 3-time NCAA champion, 1959-61

  • Robert Hess, 2-time NCAA champion, 1932-33

  • Ron Gray, 2-time NCAA champion, 1958-59

  • Les Anderson, 2-time NCAA champion, 1958, 1960

  • Tom Peckham, 2-time NCAA champion, 1965-66

  • Dan Gable, 2-time NCAA champion, 1968-69

  • Chuck Jean, 2-time NCAA champion, 1969-70

  • Jason Smith, 2-time NCAA champion, 1969-70

  • Carl Adams, 2-time NCAA champion, 1971-72

  • Ben Peterson, 2-time NCAA champion, 1971-72

  • Chris Taylor, 2-time NCAA champion, 1972-73

  • Eric Voelker, 2-time NCAA champion, 1987, 1989

  • Tim Krieger, 2-time NCAA champion, 1987, 1989

  • Jake Varner, 2-time NCAA champion, 2009-10

More:55 Iowa wrestlers have won at least one NCAA title. Here's a look at the complete list

Individual Iowa State wrestling NCAA champions from the 2000s on

  • 2021: David Carr, 157 pounds

  • 2015: Kyven Gadson, 197 pounds

  • 2011: Jonathan Reader, 174 pounds

  • 2010: Jake Varner, 197 pounds; David Zabriskie, heavyweight

  • 2009: Jake Varner, 197 pounds

  • 2007: Trent Paulson, 157 pounds

  • 2006: Nate Gallick, 141 pounds

  • 2004: Zach Roberson, 133 pounds

  • 2002: Aaron Holker, 141 pounds; Joe Heskett, 165 pounds; Cael Sanderson, 197 pounds

  • 2001: Cael Sanderson, 184 pounds

  • 2000: Cael Sanderson, 184 pounds

Individual Iowa State wrestling champs from the 90s

  • 1999: Cael Sanderson, 184 pounds

  • 1997: Barry Weldon, 177 pounds

  • 1996: Chris Bono, 150 pounds

More:Has Northern Iowa won an NCAA wrestling championship? A look at UNI's championship history

Individual Iowa State wrestling champs from the 80s

  • 1989: Tim Krieger, 150 pounds; Eric Voelker, 190 pounds

  • 1988: Mike Van Arsdale, 167 pounds

  • 1987: Bill Kelly, 126 pounds; Tim Krieger, 150 pounds; Stewart Carter, 158 pounds; Eric Voelker, 190 pounds

  • 1985: Joe Gibbons, 142 pounds

  • 1984: Kevin Darkus, 126 pounds

  • 1983: Nate Carr, 150 pounds

  • 1982: Nate Carr, 150 pounds

  • 1981: Jim Gibbons, 134 pounds; Nate Carr, 150 pounds

More:Carl Adams, former Iowa State NCAA Champion, to be inducted into National Wrestling Hall of Fame

Individual Iowa State wrestling champs from the 70s and earlier

  • 1979: Kelly Ward, 158 pounds

  • 1978: Mike Land, 126 pounds

  • 1977: Frank Santana, 190 pounds

  • 1975: Al Nacin, 190 pounds

  • 1973: Rich Binek, 177 pounds; Chis Taylor, heavyweight

  • 1972: Carl Adams, 158 pounds; Ben Peterson, 190 pounds; Chis Taylor, heavyweight

  • 1971: Carl Adams, 158 pounds; Ben Peterson, 190 pounds

  • 1970: Dave Martin, 158 pounds; Jason Smith, 167 pounds; Chuck Jean, 177 pounds

  • 1969: Dan Gable, 137 pounds; Jason Smith, 167 pounds; Chuck Jean, 177 pounds

  • 1968: Dan Gable, 130 pounds; Dale Bahr, 145 pounds; Reg Wicks, 160 pounds

  • 1967: Vic Marcucci, 160 pounds

  • 1966: Tom Peckham, 177 pounds

  • 1965: Veryl Long, 147 pounds; Tom Peckham, 177 pounds

  • 1964: Gordon Hassman, 157 pounds

  • 1961: Larry Hayes, 147 pounds

  • 1960: Les Anderson, 137 pounds; Larry Hayes, 147 pounds

  • 1959: Larry Hayes, 137 pounds; Ron Gray, 147 pounds

  • 1958: Les Anderson, 130 pounds; Ron Gray, 147 pounds

  • 1948: Glen Brand, 174 pounds

  • 1933: Merrill Frevert, 155 pounds; George Martin, 165 pounds; Robert Hess, 175 pounds

  • 1932: Robert Hess, 174 pounds

  • 1931: Richard Cole, 135 pounds

  • 1930: Hugh Linn, 135 pounds

  • 1928: Arthur Holding, 138 pounds

More:22 memorable Iowa wrestling stories from 2022

Megan Bridgeman is a digital producer working with Gannett newsrooms throughout the Plains. Cody Goodwin covers wrestling and high school sports for the Des Moines Register. Follow him on Twitter at @codygoodwin.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Which Iowa State wrestlers have won the most NCAA championships?