Book and DVD chronicle Cornell College wrestling upset

BOULDER, CO – October 31, 2012 - Arno Niemand, longtime wrestling proponent, historian and member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, today announced that an expanded second edition of his book, “The Dream Team of 1947”, which chronicles the extraordinary story of the 1947 wrestling team of Cornell College, and a new documentary DVD, are now available.

“The Dream Team of 1947” book and documentary DVD focus on the 1947 wrestling team of Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa. It is the remarkable, untold,  true story of the greatest team you’ve never heard of, the wrestling team of Cornell College, a private Methodist liberal arts college with only 416 male students, which won the NCAA wrestling championship in 1947, defeating all of the major powers by a substantial margin.  This tiny Iowa college thus became the first school outside of the state of Oklahoma ever to win the team championship since teams were officially recognized by the NCAA.  No other private school before or since has done so.  Not only that, but with the help of the town of Mount Vernon, and  a fund-raising drive, the champions traveled to San Francisco and won the equally prestigious National AAU championship two weeks later, thus completing the “grand slam” of amateur wrestling.

The story is informed by the Great Depression and World War II, as well as the GI Bill, which leveled the playing field for several years after the war. It involves a coach - Paul Scott, direct from central casting - a nurturing small college, three freshmen superstars from the same Iowa high school, and five service veterans, all of whom bonded as a team to defeat all of the major powers in wrestling.

“The story that Arno Niemand’s book and documentary DVD recounts is exceptionally inspiring, yet it somehow goes beyond winning and losing,” commented Scott Casber, editor, Takedown Radio.com. “This is a story about the human condition.”

Niemand's interview and excerpts from the book and DVD will be featured on the November 1 edition of Takedown Wrestling TV News program.  Takedown Wrestling TV News can be seen on a variety of cable outlets across the country as well as DIRECTV® and the DISH Network®. More information can be found at (www.Takedownradio.com). 

The expanded edition of the book also includes additional photos. The book and DVD can be purchased at (http://dreamteam47.com). The book is available at (www.Amazon.com) and select book stores.

About Arno Niemand

Mr. Niemand is a 1956 graduate of Cornell University in Ithaca NY, where he was on the wrestling team. He was later inducted into the Cornell Hall of Distinguished Wrestling Alumni. He went on to earn his MBA in 1958 from the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia. Throughout his life, Mr. Niemand has continued to support the sport of wrestling, and in 2008 received the FILA Gold Star, which is the highest award given to an individual by the world governing body of wrestling. In 2009, he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, earning the Order of Merit. In 2011 he was named Honorary Cornell College Alumnus.

As previous owner and chairman of Body Bar Inc., Niemand has sponsored the USA Wrestling Women's National Team since 2003.