1997 winner Kerry McCoy hoists his Hodge Trophy in the air at
a Penn State awards presentation. (Photo: Penn State wrestling
media guide)

In late March 2009, Northwestern’s Jake Herbert became only the thirteenth man to be awarded the Hodge Trophy, “the Heisman of college wrestling,” presented each year to the best college wrestler by WIN (Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine).

Here’s a brief introduction to the wrestling careers of the other recipients of the Hodge:

1995: T.J. Jaworsky: A three-time NCAA champ at 134 pounds from the University of North Carolina (1993-1995), Jaworsky, an Oklahoma native, earned Outstanding Wrestler honors at the 1995 NCAAs before being awarded the inaugural Hodge as a senior.

1996: Les Gutches: This two-time NCAA 177-pound titlewinner for Oregon State nabbed Outstanding Wrestler honors at the 1996 NCAAs, then won the second-ever Hodge. After college, Gutches had a strong international freestyle career, competing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, winning the gold medal at the 1998 Goodwill Games, and earning bronze at the 1999 World Championships.

1997: Kerry McCoy: A Long Island native who only started wrestling in high school, McCoy was a two-time NCAA heavyweight champ for Penn State (1994, 1997). He was a two-time member of the U.S. freestyle Olympic team, placing fifth in 2000, and seventh in 2004.

1998: Mark Ironside: Winner of two 134-pound NCAA titles in 1997 and 1998, Ironside ended his career at the University of Iowa with an incredible 134-10 record, including a 67-match win streak, and the Hodge Trophy.

1999: Stephen Neal: A two-time NCAA heavyweight champ for Cal State Bakersfield (1998 and 1999), Neal won the Hodge his senior year… then made more history by winning the 1999 World Freestyle Championship.

2000-2002: Cael Sanderson: The only three-time winner of the Hodge, Sanderson had a perfect 159-0 record at Iowa State, becoming only the second wrestler to win four NCAA Division I titles (1999-2002). The Utah native won the gold medal in freestyle at 96 kg at the 2004 Athens Olympics – the only Hodge recipient to win an Olympic medal.

2001: Nick Ackerman: Despite losing both his legs to a viral infection as an infant, Ackerman won the 184-pound title for Simpson College in Iowa at the 2001 NCAA Division III championships… won the hearts of wrestling fans… and, along with Cael Sanderson, won the 2001 Hodge Trophy.

2003: Eric Larkin: As a senior at Arizona State, Larkin won the 149-pound crown at the 2003 NCAA Division I Championships, 2003 Outstanding Wrestler honors, and the Hodge.

2004: Emmett Willson: A three-time 197-pound NAIA champ for tiny Montana State-Northern, Willson took on the nation’s best from all divisions his senior year, compiling a 50-0 record, and being named “best college wrestler in the nation” when awarded the Hodge.

2005: Steve Mocco: Born in New Jersey, Mocco was a two-time NCAA heavyweight champ, winning the 2003 title at Iowa, then transferring to Oklahoma State, where he won his second crown in 2005, and the Hodge. Mocco competed in freestyle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but did not earn a medal.

2006 & 2007: Ben Askren: The first NCAA champ for the University of Missouri, Askren won the national title at 174 pounds in 2006 and 2007 (after losing in the finals in 2004 and 2005). At the 2008 Olympics, the two-time Hodge winner lost in the second round, failing to medal.

2008: Brent Metcalf: The second wrestler from the University of Iowa to win a Hodge, Metcalf earned his as a sophomore, after winning the 149-pound title at the 2008 NCAAs. In 2009, the Hawkeye’s perfect season came to a disappointing end, when he lost to North Carolina State’s Darrion Caldwell in the finals, 11-6, then cost Iowa a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct when he shoved the Wolfpack wrestler at the end of the match.

2009: Jake Herbert: Only the second wrestler to win two NCAA titles for Northwestern (the first being heavyweight Jack Riley, 1931-1932). In addition to winning the Hodge, the senior communication major also won Northwestern's Male Athlete of the Year and the Jesse Owens Big Ten Athlete of the Year.

2010: Jayson Ness: Became the first University of Minnesota wrestler to win the coveted Hodge Trophy, Ness scored a takedown in the last ten seconds of the 133-pound finals to win his first national title, as a senior. He also brought home NCAA Outstanding Wrestler honors as well.
 

Find out what's happened to some Hodge Trophy winners since winning the award

Resources

Bios and photos of individual Hodge winners

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