By Jeff Mullin Commentary

The headline on the story by The Associated Press was an eye-catcher — “Iowa sets standard for college wrestling.”

The story was about the fact Iowa wrestling coach Jim Zalesky, who won three national championships, produced 45 All-Americans, earned two coach of the year awards and was named to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, was fired after last season.

The story goes on to list Iowa’s 20 national championships and 27 Big Ten titles, and talks about the high expectations for new head coach Tom Brands.

The story only briefly mentions one huge factor in the Hawkeyes’ recent wrestling struggles — Oklahoma State.

The Cowboys have won the past four national titles and have had 210 wrestlers earn All-America honors 414 times. Oklahoma State has won 34 national championships. Oklahoma State has won 33 conference championships (25 in the Big Eight and eight in the Big 12).

So perhaps the headline should have read, “Iowa sets standard for college wrestling — in Iowa.”

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame to which former Iowa coach Zalesky was named, of course, is just down the block from the home of the Cowboy wrestlers, Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Mullin is News & Eagle senior writer.