Three former Iowa wrestlers are among the first 65 athletes who have qualified to compete at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City.
The qualifying rounds will be held in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on April 21-22, 2012.
USA Wrestling will determine its final roster for the 2012 Olympics based on those who compete and win a best-of-three series in Iowa City.
Brent Metcalf, Mike Zadick, and Steve Mocco will compete for that opportunity next spring.
Metcalf was a three-time All-American during his career as a Hawkeye. The Davison, Mich., native won two NCAA titles and became the first wrestler in Big Ten history to earn Outstanding Wrestler at the conference meet two-straight years, in 2008 and 2009.
Metcalf will compete at the 145.5-pound weight class.
Zadick is an assistant coach on Tom Brand’s Iowa staff; he competed for the Hawkeyes and was a three-time All-American while winning the 149-pound Big Ten title in 2002. He competed on the 2010 World Team for the U.S. and will wrestle at the 132-pound weight class this spring.
In 2002-03, Mocco became the Hawkeyes’ first national champion at heavyweight since 1983. The North Bergen, N.J., native compiled a 71-3 record at Iowa, including the NCAA title in 2003, then transferred to Oklahoma State.
Mocco will compete at the 264.5-pound weight class during the team trials.
— by Matt Cozzi