At the University of Iowa, Tom Brands approached opponents with a fiery intensity that could be felt in every part of Carver-Hawkeye Arena. To Tom, losing was so painful that it was intolerable and unthinkable. Every fiber of his being was dedicated to earning an Olympic Gold Medal of his own.

Legendary coach Dan Gable understood.

He set about developing state high school champs Tom and his twin, Terry, into dominant figures on the college mat, blending them into Iowa's storied parade of powerful wrestlers. Tom responded by taking three Big Ten championships and posting NCAA titles in 1990, 1991 and 1992. He was team captain for three years and was honored as the NCAA's Outstanding Wrestler his senior year. His record of 158 victories against seven losses and two ties remains the Hawkeyes' finest.

Representing the Hawkeye Wrestling Club after graduation, he began harvesting national and international awards. Tom won four U.S. National crowns and three World Team Trials titles, and was a medalist in the Sunkist International Duals. In 1993 alone, he was World Champion and the Krasnoyarsk Tourney titlist, won the John Smith Outstanding Freestyle Award and Amateur Wrestling News' Man of the Year. Tom and Terry were jointly acknowledged as 1993 USA Wrestling Athlete of the Year.

Other international competitions saw him third in the Yarygin Tourney, Cerro Pelado Tourney winner, twice a World Cup champion, Pan-American Games winner, as well as a medalist in the U.S. World Open International Championships and Italy's Trophe Milone Tournament. In 1995, he was named the U.S. Olympic Committee Sportsman of the Month. In 1996 at Atlanta, Tom stood on the topmost step as an Olympic Gold Medal was slipped around his neck.

For the past nine years, he has been an assistant head coach at Iowa. In 2000, he was recognized by the National Wrestling Coaches Association as College Assistant Coach of the Year.

For attaining, in a few brief years, every goal a young wrestler dreams of, Tom Brands is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.