Thomas Gilman of the Iowa Hawkeyes leading off with the fall last year.
In my book Domination: An Inside look at Iowa Wrestling, I had a Gable chapter. To describe Gable’s leadership, I came up with the following:
“To me, the most important thing any leader can do is lead you into battle.”
Well, senior Thomas Gilman of Council Bluffs, Iowa is the leader for the Iowa Wrestlers in more ways than one. To start with, Gilman leads off most of the dual meets as well as the Big Ten’s and NCAA’s as Iowa’s 125 lbs. wrestler. Having grown up in Lisbon (IA), I saw how for years we always had a tough 98/103 pounder to start things off, to set the tone for a dual met or a tournament. That is no different at the collegiate level. I do not think you can overstate the importance of your first wrestler in competition.
Iowa Wrestling fans like myself have thoroughly enjoyed seeing Thomas Gilman pay his dues and climb the ranks as he leads us off in competition. After placing fourth as a sophomore and becoming an NCAA Runner-Up last season, Gilman is who I look to lead the Hawks into battle this year as he pursues his NCAA title and a team title.
Gilman is one the, if not the best leaders that I have seen in the Iowa Wrestling program over the years. This guy leads by example on and off the mat and is an Iowa Wrestler 24/7. He works at least as hard as anybody in the program and Thomas Gilman is a tough as nails tough guy that dominates and intimidates his opponents. That is very important in the sport of wrestling, especially Iowa Wrestling. With that thought in mind, I chose to interview Gilman first on the team for the new season.
Heading into your senior year, I believe your teammates and the fans look at you as the leader of the Iowa Wrestling program. How do you feel about being known as the leader of the Iowa Wrestling team?
Thomas Gilman: It feels good. This is a great program to be the leader of. It feels good. I think I have worked hard throughout my career and I will continue to work hard and show the younger guys and even the veterans the way to go and win an NCAA title this year.
I have said many times how much of a fan I am of watching you and Cory Clark start off a dual meet, Big Tens, and Nationals. How have you two helped each other in your career here at Iowa?
Thomas Gilman: Unbelievably. We are both very competitive athletes and tough wrestlers. Every time we get on the mat together we just scap. You know how iron sharpens iron is a perfect example of that. Also just helping each other along through hard times. It’s hard to have a guy like Sam Brooks help me or Clark out sometimes because they don’t know what it’s like to be the first guy out there. We both understand that and have the same mindset. Just being there side by side, being able to go out and attack the competition 1-2 like that, it’s a good time.
Iowa Wrestling has a great tradition of having that first weight go out in competition to set the tone in a dual meet, the Big Tens, and the NCAA’s. Do you put any of that responsibility on yourself to lead by example by being the first man out in the Black and Gold?
Thomas Gilman: For sure. Last year I kind of used the phrasing “I’m a Trailblazer.” That’s what I strive to do to set the tone for the rest of the meet for the fans and for my teammates. I want to go out there and put on a show to fire up my teammates and the fans. I take that very personal and I have a good time doing it. It’s my job to start this season off right and start every meet off right for my teammates and the fans.
Looking back, what has been your biggest surprise or best memory in your Iowa career to date?
Thomas Gilman: I don’t think that I can point to anything in particular or specific. But just the camaraderie and the relationships that I’ve built with my teammates and staff here. It’s the closest family that I have ever had here at the University of Iowa. The wrestling team, the athletic department and the community here in Iowa City. I am very fond of that. It’s going to be a fun last year with a ton of support behind me and I will put on a show for those guys.
You have said in the past how you looked up to former Iowa Wrestlers as your idols as a kid. What is it like now that you are the one that kids are looking up to for a role model as you are taking the place of your heros?
Thomas Gilman: It’s very humbling. Very humbling. I used to look up to all of these Iowa Wrestlers like Tom and Terry (Brands), McIlravy, and Ironside, Metcalf and McDonough. Now to have people looking up to me is very humbling and makes you work just that much harder. I am an example and I need to strive to continue to set a good example that everyone looks for.
What will it take for Iowa as a team to win the NCAA team title this year?
Thomas Gilman: Bonus points. That’s a very detailed description, but we need all hands on deck. Not only the ten guys that step on the mat, but also the other 20-25 guys. We need everyone on the same page. We do not need anybody going the opposite direction and slowing us down. We are a fast train and we have got to keep that train moving fast. Anyone that is not on the same page and going the same direction, we need to get them on board. We’ve got most of the guys on board right now and we’re still working. We need all hands on deck.
There are some huge home dual meets this season with several highly ranked teams coming in. What will it be like for you as a senior going out in front of huge crowds against some of the best teams in the country?
Thomas Gilman: It’s awesome. It’s been awhile since we had some of those high ranked marquee teams in here to Carver Hawkeye Arena. We’ve had some tough losses here in Carver. Last year we did not face Ohio State and Penn State. So having both of those teams coming in here and trying to knock our block off. We will welcome them right into Carver and then kick them right back out and we will have a lot of fans here to see that.
You have been a fan favorite since you first set foot on the mat here. Is there anything you would like to say to the Iowa Wrestling fans that have supported you?
Thomas Gilman: I want to thank them for coming out every week, every year and it would not be possible without them. Without their support and backing, we could not be doing what we do here.
