Joe Gibbons

2003 Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee

Joe Gibbons and Iowa high school wrestling are as closely intertwined as Tiger Woods and golf. From the moment he stepped onto the mat, Joe demonstrated a talent and competitive spirit that would place him among the state’s all-time greats.

He burst onto the high school wrestling scene by capturing the 98-pound state title as a freshman at Waterloo Columbus. In an early display of resilience, he avenged the only two losses of his season by defeating Tim Schultz of Charles City in the finals. Joe continued to dominate as a sophomore, compiling a perfect 26-0 record and claiming the 105-pound championship again for Waterloo Columbus.

Following a family move to Ames, Gibbons added two more state titles to his résumé, winning the 126-pound crown as a junior with a 23-3 mark and closing out his prep career with a flawless 28-0 season to secure the 132-pound title. By winning his fourth state championship in 1981, Joe became one of the rare wrestlers in Iowa history to achieve that feat. He completed his high school career with an outstanding 105-5 record.

Joe’s dominance extended well beyond folkstyle wrestling. Over the course of his high school years, he amassed a total of 12 state titles, adding four Iowa state freestyle championships and four Greco-Roman state titles to his decorated résumé. Named the nation’s No. 1 recruit his senior year, Gibbons served as captain of the prestigious Dream Team and earned Outstanding Wrestler honors at the 1981 USWF Nationals.

Continuing his storied career at Iowa State University, Joe made an immediate impact by winning the renowned Midlands Championships at 126 pounds as a freshman an accomplishment rarely achieved by college newcomers. That same season, he placed fourth at the NCAA Championships. As a sophomore, wrestling up at 142 pounds, he again finished fourth nationally. His junior campaign proved historic, as Joe compiled a remarkable 53-3 record, a single-season wins record at Iowa State that still stands, and captured the NCAA title at 134 pounds. He capped off his collegiate career by placing third at nationals as a senior and claimed two Big Eight Conference titles along the way. Gibbons concluded his Cyclone career with a stellar record of 124-20-3.

Joe also took pride in being the last NCAA champion coached by the legendary Harold Nichols at Iowa State. He frequently credited his success to the outstanding coaching he received, the depth of Iowa’s wrestling culture, and the high-caliber training partners who pushed him daily.

Following his competitive career, Joe gave back to the sport by serving as an assistant coach under his brother Jim at Iowa State. During his tenure, he helped guide the Cyclones to the 1987 NCAA team championship, contributing to yet another chapter in Iowa State’s rich wrestling tradition.

Joe Gibbons was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003, alongside his brother Jim and uncle Joe Frank a fitting tribute to a family deeply woven into the fabric of Iowa wrestling history.