Brands Named to IHSAA Wrestling Hall of Fame
Inductions are Feb. 26
Four significant Iowans who have contributed to the sport of wrestling will be inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Association Wrestling Hall of Fame, Saturday, Feb. 26.
The inductions will take place at 5:45 p.m., in Veteran’s Auditorium before the Grand March of the 2005 medal winners. In addition, two wrestling officials will join the IHSAA Officials’ Hall of Fame during the ceremonies, which will also include the 2005 honorees of the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association.
New Hall of Fame members include Tom Brands, Jeff Theiler, Reg Wicks and Jerry Ray. Brands was a state champion at Sheldon in 1986 before winning three NCAA titles at the University of Iowa, a world championship in 1993, back-to-back World Cup titles in 1994 and 1995, and the Olympic gold in 1996. His twin brother, Terry, a two-time state champion, a two-time NCAA champion, and the 2000 Olympic Bronze Medalist, was also elected this year but is delaying induction until 2006 due to a professional conflict. The two led the 1993 Grand March.
Wicks was a state runner-up for Decorah in 1964, a three-time national qualifier and an NCAA champion at Iowa State, and a highly successful coach spending 26 years at the U.S. Naval Academy, including 14 as a head coach.
Theiler was a three-time state champion and a four time top three finisher for Dowling Catholic, West Des Moines. He won his final two titles with unbeaten campaigns and finished his prep career 178-7-1. He was a two-time All-American at Arizona State. Ray was a highly successful coach at Mason City, mentoring seven state champions and led the Mohawks to five top 10 finishes. Also a highly respected official he helped formulate rules on excessive weight cutting in the sport.
Christensen and Baier are veteran officials from Fontanelle and Greenfield respectively and have logged 28 years in officiating wrestling. This year Christensen will be working his 21st state meet appearance and Baier will make his 19th state meet.
More detailed sketches follow:
TOM BRANDS, Sheldon – A three-time state qualifier, he was unbeaten in 34 matches in winning the1986 title at 112 lbs., after earning second in 1985 at 105 lbs. His prep record of 109-12 keyed a stellar collegiate career. At the University of Iowa he was a four-time All-American and a three time NCAA and Big 10 champion finishing with a record of 158-7-2, including 45-0 in 1991. He struck gold in the 1996 Olympics after winning the 1993 World Freestyle Championships. From 1993-1996 he was the top American wrestler in his weight class and represented the United States in numerous international events, including titles at the World Cup in 1993 and 1994 and the Pan American Games gold in 1995. After assisting Iowa for 12 years he took over as head coach at Virginia Tech in June 2004, where the Hokies are 15-4 overall, 4-0 in the ACC. He and his wife Jenni are the parents of three.
JEFF THEILER, Dowling Catholic, WDM – Theiler capped a brilliant high school career with three State Championships, after finishing third as a freshman. He lost only one match in 1988 when he won at 126 lbs. and followed with a 49-0 mark in 1989 winning at 140 lbs., and 46-0 in 1990 when he annexed the 145 lbs. crown. During his 178-7-1 career, Dowling Catholic won the 1988 and 1990 titles and copped runner-up honors the other two seasons. While still in high school he was a place winner at the Cadet World Championships and the Junior World Championships. He went on to a great collegiate career at Arizona State University, where he earned All American honors in 1994 and 1995. He was a runner-up at the 1991 Espior National Trials and the 1991 Espior World Trials. In 1995 he took silver medalist honors at the U.S. Olympic Festival. Today, he is pursuing a career in finance in Portland, Ore.
JERRY RAY, Mason City – A successful prep and collegiate wrestler, coach and official he is well-known for his varied contributions to the sport. A native of Cedar Falls, he attended Teachers College High School and was third in the 1955 single class state meet. He attended Iowa State Teachers College and in 1959 was runner-up in the national tournament. A year later he was a finalist in the U.S. Olympic Trials. He started his career at Downers Grove, IL and in 1969 moved to Mason City. He coached the Mohawks for 15 seasons with 33 state meet place winners including seven champions. His teams had five top 10 finishes including runner-ups in 1982 and 1984. He won 3-A Coach of the Year laurels in 1982. He is well known for helping formulate rules that stemmed excessive weight cutting. After retiring from coaching in 1984 he was a highly successful wrestling official. He and his wife, Shirley, have three grown children and 10 grandchildren.
REGINALD WICKS, Decorah – A native Iowan from Decorah, Reg Wicks has had a distinguished career in wrestling that is in its fifth decade. He was a four-year letter winner and twice his team’s MVP. In 1964, he was a state runner-up at 154 lbs. with a 19-2 record. Wrestling for Iowa State he was a three-time conference place winner and a three time NCAA qualifier. In 1968 as captain of the team and All-American he won the national title at 160 lbs. avenging an early season loss in the finals. He was 44-12-4 as a collegian with six of the setbacks being by one or two points. A coaching career started as an assistant at Mankato State, head coach at Wisconsin Stevens Point and 14 years each as an assistant and head coach at the United States Naval Academy. He retired from coaching in 2000 with a record of 200-80-6 and 34 NCAA qualifiers. Among his numerous honors is inclusion in several halls of fame. He remains as a full professor at the Academy and resides in Crownsville,
Md., with his wife Linda. They have raised three children.
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