Joe Gibbons is a legendary figure in Iowa wrestling, boasting an unparalleled record of achievement.

High School Accomplishments

• Ames HS & Waterloo Columbus HS

• 4X State Champion in Folkstyle Wrestling: First wrestler to win 4 titles in Class 3A.

• 4X State Freestyle Champion

• 4X State Greco Champion

• 12 State Championships: The only wrestler in Iowa history to achieve this feat.

• Gibbons Brothers Legacy: In 11 State Tournament appearances, the Gibbons brothers won 10 championships and 1 runner-up, with a combined record of 40-1.

• 4X United States Wrestling Federation (USWF) All-American

• 2X USWF National Champion (1980, 1981)

• 1981 USWF Outstanding Wrestler

• 1981 Captain of the Scholastic Wrestling News Dream Team

Collegiate Career at Iowa State University

• 4X Division 1 All-American (1982, 1984, 1985, 1986)

• 1982 Amateur Wrestling News National Freshman of the Year

• 2X Big Eight Champion

• 1985 NCAA Champion

• Single-Season Record Holder for Wins at Iowa State University (50 Wins)

• Midlands Wrestling Tournament Champion as a True Freshman (1981)

Coaching Career

• Assistant Coach at Iowa State University (1987-1992)

• Assistant Coach for the 1987 NCAA Championship Team

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Marketing, Iowa State University

• Master’s Degree in Business Management, Iowa State University

Media Contributions

• Broadcaster for Several Years:

  • Iowa State Tournament on Iowa Public Television

  • College Wrestling on IPTV

  • Big 10 Wrestling Championship on the Big 10 Network

  • Big 12 Wrestling Championship on Fox Sports

• Produced Instructional Wrestling Videos for Panasonic and Iowa HS Coaches & Officials Meetings

Hall of Fame Inductions

• Ames HS Sports Hall of Fame

• Battle of Waterloo Hall of Fame

• Iowa State University Hall of Fame

• Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in Cresco, Iowa

• Dan Gable Wrestling Museum - Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame

Current Activities

• Coaching Authorization (2022)

• Volunteer Wrestling Coach at Johnston HS

• Owner & Operator of 5 Culver’s Restaurants in the Greater Des Moines Area

• Owner of Cyclone Cattle Company, raising championship purebred longhorns on a ranch outside of Des Moines

Joe Gibbons' legacy in wrestling and beyond is a testament to his dedication, skill, and leadership both on and off the mat.

Did you know? Joe's brother, Jim, was inducted into the Glen Bran Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa in 2003.