It's been 48 years since the United States fielded an Olympic wrestling team that didn't include past, present or future Hawkeyes.
The torch relay was started in 1980 by Iowa greats Randy Lewis, Chuck Jagra and Chris Campbell, who were chosen to represent the United States men's freestyle team at the boycotted Moscow Olympics.
Four years later, Lewis and fellow Hawkeyes Ed, Lou Bannack and Barry Davis competed in the Los Angeles Games and took home three gold medals and one silver medal.
Davis and Campbell made the Olympic team again in 1988 and 1992, respectively. Tom Brands won a gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Terry Brand and Lincoln McIllaby won bronze medals in his 2000.
Joe Williams earned a spot on the 2004 squad, and Doug Schwab, Mike Zadick and Steve Mocco played in Beijing in 2008.
No Hawkeye wrestlers took to the mat in London, but former Iowa State assistant Jared Frayer was selected to the 2012 team. And although she wasn't a Hawkeye yet, Iowa women's wrestling coach Clarissa Chung also won a bronze medal in London after being named to the Olympic team in 2008. Additionally, Iowa women's assistant Tonya Verbeek won a silver medal for Canada this year after winning medals in 2004 and 2008.
In 2016, Daniel Dennis defeated Tony Ramos in an all-Iowa 57 kg battle at the Olympic Trials finals.
And in 2021, former Hawkeye Thomas Gilman defended the U.S. men's freestyle 57kg weight class and won the bronze medal in Tokyo.
Currently, 13 current and former Hawkeyes are aiming to travel to Paris this summer. The next step is this weekend's Olympic trials in State College, Pennsylvania.
Here's a look at current and former Hawkeyes on the field.
Current Iowa wrestlers
WFS 50 kg — Eva Bayless — Challenge Tournament #8 Seed
WFS 50kg — Neela Valencia — Challenge Tournament #9 Seed
WFS 50 kg — Emily Gonzalez — Challenge Tournament #10 Seed
WFS 53 kg — Briana Gonzalez — Challenge Tournament #7 Seed
WFS 68 kg — Reese Larramendi — Challenge Tournament #3 Seed
WFS 76 kg — Kylie Welker — Challenge Tournament #2 Seed
WFS 76kg — Rose Cassioppi — Challenge Tournament #9 Seed
Former Iowa State wrestler still training in Iowa City
MFS 57kg — Spencer Lee — Challenge Tournament 4th seed
MFS 74kg — Alex Marinelli — Challenge Tournament 8th seed
MFS 97kg — Tony Cassioppi — Challenge Tournament #8 Seed
WFS 53 kg — Felicity Taylor — Challenge Tournament #6 Seed
WFS 76 kg — Marlin Dido — Challenge Tournament #7 Seed
Former Iowa State wrestler stops training in Iowa City
MFS 57 kg — Thomas Gilman — Challenge Tournament #2 Seed
