Former Iowa Wrestling NCAA National champion Cliff Moore was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame. Moore was inducted in the Class of 2023 in a ceremony on Monday at the IWHOF in Cresco, Iowa.
Moore, originally from Sherril, Iowa was one of the best Iowa high school wrestlers that I have ever seen. Moore was a three-time state champion and four-time finalist at Dubuque Hempstead. After placing second as a freshman, Moore was undefeated in his last three seasons winning state titles at 112, 119, and 125 with a career record of 139-2.
At the University of Iowa Moore was a three-time All American and two-time Big Ten champion for coach Jim Zalesky.
After placing sixth in 2002 and 2003 at 133 Moore moved up to 141 as a senior. He entered the NCAA National Tournament as the #5 seed. I was able to see a lot of Moore’s career in high school and college. Without a doubt the biggest match of his career for me was the NCAA semifinals.
Fifth seed Moore faced #1 seed Scott Moore of Virginia who had 32 pins going into the match. Cliff Moore dominated the entire match with a 14-2 major decision. That was one of the biggest wins as an Iowa Wrestling fan that I can ever remember. Total domination.
In the finals Moore defeated Matt Murray of Nebraska 5-2 to become the 2004 NCAA National champion.
Moore competed for the Hawkeye Wrestling Club after graduation and made the USA National Freestyle Team in 2006. He was also a member of the Iowa Wrestling Coaching staff in 2005 and 2006.
After twelve years as an assistant coach at Edinboro Moore has been an assistant coach at West Virginia the past five seasons.
A much deserved honor for Cliff Moore to become a member of the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
