To the University of Iowa, wrestling is sacred.
The Iowa Hawkeyes have been one of the nation’s top wrestling programs in both performance and attendance going back well beyond this millennium. As the nation’s leader in attendance for almost a decade the one thing missing from Iowa’s resume is the national attendance record for a single dual. Something that Iowa will look to change this on November 14th when they will host Oklahoma State inside Kinnick (that’s right, not Carver) Stadium in efforts to smash the current record.
Back in 2008, the Iowa Hawkeyes drew 15,955 fans to Carver-Hawkeye Arena in their 20-15 dual victory over instate rival Iowa State. At the time Iowa had taken the record from Minnesota, which they set in a dual against the Hawkeyes in 2002.
In 2013 Penn State broke Iowa’s record when they drew 15,996 fans into the Bryce Jordan Center in a dual against Pittsburgh. According to Denny Diehl of The Open Mat, it was the first time since 1975 that Iowa wasn’t at least a part of the two teams involved with the attendance record.
This year, Iowa will look to change the game once again as they will host this outdoor dual, and to set that record they are bringing in an old rival in Oklahoma State.The Hawkeye program made the annoucement on Twitter:
Excited to introduce @CowboyWrestling to Hayden Fry Psychology 101 on 11.14.15 #kinnick #breaktherecord #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/k2lJWh7QMt
— Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling (@Hawks_Wrestling) August 6, 2015
And of course we were able to capture this photo:
There it is folks. Wrestling already on the big screens! #Hawkeyes vs #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/7MFjK5ufH6
— IAwrestle (@IAwrestle) August 6, 2015
UPDATES from the University of Iowa Press Release:
The event is billed as Grapple on the Gridiron.
The Dual will take place on 11/14/15 at 11:00 AM
The first 15,000 tickets sold will have reserved seating at Carver-Hawkeye Arena should the dual move indoors. Tickets purchased after the first 15,000 will be redeemable for an adult admission ticket to any other home dual on the Hawkeyes’ 2015-16 schedule. The Administration and the head coaches of both teams will make the decision on whether to move the dual indoors.
Beginning today, season ticket holders also have the first opportunity to purchase ticket packages to Carver-Hawkeye Arena postseason events, including the 2016 Big Ten Championships and 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
[…] yesterday’s announcement of the outdoor dual with Oklahoma State current Hawkeye wrestler Thomas Gilman made the rounds, participating in the press conference and he […]
[…] First we have the obvious 11-14-15 dual vs Oklahoma State which has been dubbed Grapple on the Gridiron and it will take place inside Kinnick Stadium. Plenty of details on that came out earlier, and you can read our release here. […]
Balls too the wall here. Iowas known for NFL fb players and this is a tag on getting them to know our wrestlers. Okie States my pick for a run away title. Lets give uhm some hell!
On a side note J Strits bringing some kids over soon. Cant remember when
Also Spencer Lee and Nick Suriano have been “offered” better deals. Let’s hope they come round too Coaches who KEEP their word
Iowa, come wrestle with us!