University of Iowa wrestling awards announced
<< Back to Articles
Traci Wagner (U of Iowa Sports Information)
04/23/2001
IOWA CITY, IA -- Iowa's four NCAA finalists will share the team's Mike Howard Most Valuable Wrestler Award for the 2001 season. Seniors Eric Juergens, Doug Schwab, Jody Strittmatter and T.J. Williams shared the honor at the team's annual awards banquet Sunday afternoon. Juergens, from Maquoketa, IA, won his second Big Ten and NCAA titles last season at 133 pounds. He became Iowa's 16th four-time all-American and was named 2001 Big Ten Wrestler of the Year. Juergens ended his collegiate career on a 28-match winning streak, with a season record of 30-1 and a career mark of 120-13. He also shared the team's Most Improved Wrestler Award with Williams. Schwab, a native of Osage, IA, won his third Big Ten title and earned his third all-America honor with a second-place finish at 141 pounds at the 2001 NCAA Championships. His season record of 35-1 raised his career mark to 130-21-8. Schwab also won the John & Dorothy Sill Award, which is presented to the team's most dedicated wrestler on and off the mat, and the team's all-American award. Strittmatter, from Ebensburg, PA, won his second Big Ten title and earned his second all-America honor at Iowa, placing second at 125 pounds at the 2001 NCAA Championships. He posted a season record of 32-3, which improved his career record at Iowa to 63-5. Strittmatter also won the Richard McPike Award for the highest individual grade-point average held by a graduating senior, and the team's sacrifice and all-American awards. Williams, of Harvey, IL, won his second NCAA and third Big Ten title in 2001. He posted a 29-0 season mark at 157 pounds, which helped earn him the school record for best career record based on winning percentage with his 98-1 career mark (.990). Williams ended his collegiate career on a 31-match winning streak. He also shared the team's Most Improved Wrestler Award with Juergens. Juniors Ben Shirk and Mike Zadick shared the Michael J. McGivern Sr. Award, which is presented to the team's most courageous wrestler. Shirk, of Wilton, IA, placed eighth at the NCAA Championships and seventh at the Big Ten Championships at 165 pounds. His season record of 29-16 included 11 pins, which earned him the team award for most pins in a season. Zadick, from Great Falls, MT, placed third at the NCAA Championships and fifth at the Big Ten Championships, recording a 25-8 mark at 149 pounds. Both also earned the team's all-American award. Senior Gabe McMahan, from Gakona, AK, earned the team's all-American award. He placed sixth at the NCAA Championships, to earn his first all-America honor, and third at the Big Ten Championships. McMahan posted a season record of 23-7 at 174 pounds, and a career mark of 92-36.