Tim Krieger

2002 Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee

To say that Tim Krieger of Mason City was a dominant force in Iowa wrestling during the 1980s would be a considerable understatement. A three-time Iowa high school state champion, two-time NCAA champion, and four-time All-American at Iowa State, Krieger set a standard of excellence that few have matched. His astonishing combined high school and collegiate varsity record of 219-9-4 reflects only his official folk style accomplishments and does not account for his equally distinguished freestyle career at both levels. His win percentage for prep and college was 94.4 percent and the Globe-Gazette named Krieger 2000 Athlete of the Century.

Krieger first made his mark as a freshman at Mason City High School, placing fourth in the state at 112 pounds with a 20-5-2 record. From there, he embarked on a remarkable run: capturing the 119-pound state title as a sophomore with a 28-1 record, adding a second title as a junior at 132 pounds with a flawless 28-0 season, and capping his high school career with another unbeaten campaign at 145 pounds, going 27-0. That year, he pinned every opponent en route to the state championship and was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament by the Des Moines Register. Under the guidance of Coach Jerry Ray, Krieger concluded his high school career with a stellar 103-6-2 mark and won 83 out of his last 84 matches. “Without question, he’s the greatest wrestler I have or ever will coach,” Head wrestling Coach Ray said after the 1984 meet. “And he’s probably the top high school wrestler I’ve ever seen.”

At Iowa State, Krieger continued to carve out an extraordinary legacy. After redshirting his first year, he became the first wrestler in NCAA history to be seeded No. 1 at his weight class all four years of eligibility. As a freshman competing at 150 pounds, he finished fifth at the NCAA Championships. In his sophomore year he claimed his first national title with a thrilling overtime victory over Iowa’s Jim Heffernan and leading Iowa State to the team championship while posting an outstanding undefeated record (29-0). In his junior season, Krieger reached the NCAA finals once again, narrowly dropping a tense overtime bout to Scott Turner of NC State by 1-1, 1-0 criteria. Despite undergoing three knee surgeries after suffering a left knee injury during that tournament, Krieger returned for his senior season undeterred. He dominated the 1989 NCAA Championships, recording three pins and an 11-0 major decision on his way to the finals, where he defeated Karl Monaco of Montclair State 5-0. For his commanding performance, he was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler while finishing another season Undefeated (30-0).

During his time at Iowa State, Krieger also became only the second wrestler in program history to win four Big Eight Conference titles and was honored as the 1988-1989 Big Eight Athlete of the Year across all sports and Iowa State Male Athlete of the Year. In addition to being a four-time All-American, Krieger was recognized for his leadership and competitive spirit, qualities that set him apart on and off the mat.

Perhaps the best window into Krieger’s mindset came after winning his second NCAA crown, when he remarked, “I don’t ever think I can be beaten. No matter who I’m wrestling.” Reflecting on the deep connection he felt to the sport, he added, “I don’t remember much about the [final] match. When I won, I thought, ‘What is it going to be like when I can’t feel like this anymore?’”

No less than an authority on wrestling in the state of Iowa than Dan Gable weighing in on Krieger’s greatness, citing his technical abilities. “He had a style that was very hard to beat, very solid style in each position, especially he knew how to control athletes,” said Gable, himself a three-time Iowa prep champ, Iowa State superstar, Olympic gold medalist, and dynasty-making head coach at University of Iowa. “I came up on the losing end when I was coaching anybody to be able to win against Tim.”

In recognition of his extraordinary career and contributions to wrestling in Iowa and beyond, Tim Krieger was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002, where he was introduced by longtime friend and wrestling supporter Dave Harty. Krieger’s legacy continues to serve as a benchmark for competitive excellence and mental toughness, inspiring countless young wrestlers to pursue their own dreams on the mat.

Tim Krieger was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002 with George Gast.