Royce Alger

2005 Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee

During the early 1980s, Royce Alger of Lisbon emerged as one of Iowa’s most dominant high school wrestlers. He captured three consecutive state championships—at 126 pounds in 1981, 138 pounds in 1982, and at 167 pounds in 1983. That same year, he capped off his high school career with a Junior National freestyle title, solidifying his status as one of the nation’s top prep wrestlers. In addition to wrestling, Alger was also a standout fullback on Lisbon’s football team, where he held the school’s single-season rushing record.

Alger continued his wrestling career at the University of Iowa under the legendary Dan Gable, becoming a three-time Big Ten champion and a three-time NCAA All-American. He won back-to-back NCAA national titles, first at 167 pounds in 1987 and then at 177 pounds in 1988. Known for his relentless style and toughness, Alger ended his collegiate career on an impressive 78-match winning streak and finished with an overall record of 131-11-2, including 49 career pins.

On the international stage, Alger achieved further success. He won two World Cup gold medals, earned a silver medal at the 1990 World Championships, became a two-time Pan American Games gold medalist, and captured three U.S. Open national titles. His aggressive approach and relentless work ethic made him a feared competitor around the world.

Following his competitive career, Alger remained deeply involved in the sport. He served as an assistant coach at the University of Iowa, contributed to USA Wrestling, and worked with the Titan Mercury Wrestling Club, where he helped mentor and develop future champions.

In recognition of his outstanding career and contributions to the sport, Royce Alger was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005 alongside Dick Black, Bob Steenlage, and Mike McCready.