McCoy wins second NCAA title

CEDER FALLS, Iowa -- Penn State's Kerry McCoy proved to be the lone bright spot in the Nittany Lions' dismal 10th-place performance at the 1997 NCAA Wrestling Championships.

"I've been waiting for it so long, and I finally got it," McCoy said. "There's so many people that are a part of this title that I can't even begin to name everyone."

However, much of the focus was on Iowa, as the Hawkeyes won their third consecutive team national championship and sixth in seven years.

They captured five individual crowns, registered eight All-Americans and complied 170 points, blasting all others, including previous No. 1 Oklahoma State, which took second place with 113.5. Minnesota took third (71), followed by Iowa State (70) and Lock Haven (54) to round out the top five.

"Never count Iowa out," said Hawkeye Lee Fulhart, the 190-pound champion. "We came through when it counted."

The Lions put on their worst performance in 20 years by placing 10th with 40 points. They were the fourth Big Ten team to place in the top 10.

Iowa's point total broke its own all-time mark set in 1996, when it scored 158 points. That same year the Hawkeyes also had five national champs, which was also a record.

"They might be remembered more than the '86 team," Iowa coach Dan Gable said. "The '86 team was supposed to do it. This team mesmerized people."

That is because many people expected Oklahoma State to be the one setting the records. The Cowboys beat the Hawkeyes, 21-13, at the national team duals in the middle of January and were considered the team to beat.

But the Hawkeyes came to wrestle. Of their five title winners, three were ranked No. 1, and only once, in 134-pound title winner Mark Ironside's 9-8 semifinal win, were they threatened. Three-time NCAA champion Lincoln McIlravy was named this year's outstanding wrestler, and it was his teammate, 158-pounder and now two-time champ Joe Williams, who was McIlravy's toughest competition for the award.

"If McIlravy goes on internationally and wins an Olympic title," Gable said, "then he's got the best credentials of anyone I've ever coached."

Oklahoma State's downfall began in Friday's quarterfinals, when Mark Smith, the No. 1 seed at 177 pounds, lost to unseeded John Van Doren of Lehigh.

That night three Cowboys were bounced in the semifinals, including No. 2 seed Teague Moore, who lost to eventual champion and No. 6 seed Jessie Whitmer of Iowa.

Oklahoma State did tally two champions in Eric Guerrero at 126 pounds and Mark Branch at 167.

"This was the last match of my college career, and you don't want to hold anything back," Branch said after his final with Penn's Brandon Slay.

Guerrero took Iowa's Mike Mena to the tie-breaker with the score knotted at 2-2. Mena chose the top position but was unable to ride Guerrero for the required 30 seconds as Guerrero escaped with 25 seconds left.

The surprise of the tournament was Lock Haven, which came in at No. 14. The Bald Eagles registered five All-Americans -- a school record -- including 142-pound champion Cary Kolat.

Kolat beat Indiana's Roger Chandler for his second title in as many years, the last being at 134 pounds in 1996.

"I'm glad it's over," Kolat said, sounding like McCoy. "I'm going to take the time to enjoy this one and make it last forever."

That shows the power of a national championship.