For wrestling fans in Iowa the Grand March before the Iowa High School State Wrestling Finals is special.
All of the placewinners march around the three state finals mats to the Olympic theme. This is a rite of passage for the wrestlers and incredible wrestling tradition we have here in Iowa. The Grand March will give you chills every single year.
Each Grand March is led by the Grand March Escort. This is reserved as an honor for a former wrestler and/or coach that left their mark on the history of wrestling in Iowa.
The Grand Marshal Escorts for the 2025 Iowa High School State Tournament will be Tom Brands, Kevin Dresser and Doug Schwab.
The Grand March is scheduled for 5:15 PM on Saturday, February 22 in Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Iowa Hawkeye two-time NCAA champion Matt McDonough will be inducted into the Class of 2025 Iowa High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame before the State Finals.
Great choice by the Iowa High School Athletic Association for their choices of Grand Marshall Escorts.
I have been fortunate enough to follow the career of all three of these guys since high school to the present day.
These three wrestlers have a lot in common:
All three won an Iowa state wrestling title in 2A.
All three were an NCAA National champions for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
All three are a Division I wrestling head coach here in Iowa.
Tom Brands
State champion at Sheldon in 1986
3-time NCAA National champion at Iowa (134 lbs.) (1990, ‘91 and ‘92)
Three-time Big Ten Champion
1993 World Champion
1996 Olympic Gold Medalist
Head Wrestling Coach at the University of Iowa since 2006
Won four NCAA National titles as head coach at Iowa(2008, 2009, 2010 and 2021)
Kevin Dresser
State champion at Humboldt in 1980 and 1981
1986 NCAA National champion at Iowa (142 lbs.)
Two-time Big Ten champion
Head Wrestling Coach at Iowa State since 2017
Doug Schwab
State champion at Osage in 1996
1999 NCAA National champion at Iowa(141 lbs.)
Three-Time Big Ten champion
2008 Olympian
Head Wrestling Coach at UNI since 2010
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
