Wrestling Match Draws Record 42k+ Fans

By Tim Foley

The Iowa Hawkeye wrestling program helped set an attendance record this past weekend in Iowa City, when an estimated 42,287 fans watched an American folkstyle wrestling match at "Grapple on the Gridiron" Saturday afternoon at Kinnick Stadium. Host Iowa defeated a visiting OKlahoma State squad 18-16.

The teams are both led by former Olympic wrestling champions from the United States The Iowa Hawkeyes are coached by 1996 Olympic gold medalist Tom Brands, while Oklahoma State is led by 1988 and 1992 Olympic champion John Smith. Both men won their titles at 62kg. Smith is considered one the United States' all-time great wrestlers having also won four world championships in 1987 and 1989-1991. Brands was a 1993 world champion.

The previous record for most fans at an American folkstyle wrestling event was 15,996 attendees for a dual meet between Penn State and Pittsburgh at the Bryce Jordan Center on December 8, 2013.