Congressman Dennis Hastert, Stanford coach Kerry McCoy to go ‘On the Mat’ this week

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Kyle Klingman (Dan Gable Museum)
10/16/2007


This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Dennis Hastert and Kerry McCoy.

Hastert has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1987, representing Illinois's 14th congressional district, and served as Speaker of the House from 1999 to 2007. He is the longest serviving Republican Speaker in the history of Congress.

Prior to his tenure in Congress, Hastert coached wrestling at Yorkville High School in Illinois. He led his team to a state wrestling title in 1976. Hastert wrestled for Wheaton College in Illinois during the 1960s. 

He was also the recipient of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Order of Merit Award in 1995 and the Ouststanding American Award in 2000. Hastert - who will be retiring from Congress at the end of this term - has been a leader in the fight against the ill effects of Title IX.

McCoy wrestled at Penn State University from 1993-97. During his college career he compiled a 150-18 and was a two-time NCAA champion. Internationally, McCoy was a two-time Olympian, a World silver medalist, and a four-time World Cup champion.

McCoy is the current head wrestling coach at Standford University and was a co-head coach for the United States's freestyle World Championship team that competed in Baku, Azerbaijan. 

"On the Mat" is a weekly wrestling radio program that airs every Wednesday night. This week's broadcast can be heard live from 6-7 p.m. Central Standard Time. The Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, hosts the show. 

"On the Mat" can be heard live on the Internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa on 1650, The Fan. Feel free to e-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with questions or comments about the show.