Brent Metcalf

Brent Metcalf (born July 14, 1986) is an American former freestyle and folkstyle wrestler.

Metcalf was a three-time member of the US World Team and two-time NCAA wrestling champion at the University of Iowa.

As a prep wrestler, Metcalf went undefeated with a career record of 228–0, won four consecutive Michigan state titles, and earned six junior national titles.

After originally committing to Virginia Tech, Metcalf would ultimately transfer to the University of Iowa following his redshirt year, to follow coach Tom Brands, who was switching head coaching positions from Virginia Tech to the University of Iowa also.

A two-time FILA Junior national champion, Metcalf captured the Most Outstanding Wrestler award in 2004 and was named the Outstanding Wrestler at 2005 Junior Freestyle Nationals.

He defeated Pennsylvania wrestler Matt Dragon in the finals.

He also wrestled Dragon in the Dapper Dan beating him in an 8–7 win.

As a senior, he was named Michigan's "Mr. Wrestler" in 2005, was selected as second-team ASICS all-American (behind rival Dustin Schlatter), Wrestling USA all-American and a Wrestling USA scholastic all-American.

A six-time Junior National champion, he was also three-time Junior National Greco-Roman and Freestyle champion en route to earning double Most Outstanding Wrestler awards in 2005.

He completed his senior season as a 2005 Dave Schultz High School Excellence regional award winner.

Metcalf was also a cadet Greco-Roman national champion and freestyle runner-up.

After committing to coach Tom Brands at Virginia Tech, Metcalf used the 2005–2006 season as his redshirt year.

Due to Virginia Tech's desire not to release him, Metcalf was forced to sit out the entire 2006–2007 season.

On April 9, 2006, past NCAA champion and former Iowa Hawkeye Tom Brands was named the head coach of the Iowa wrestling program.

Shortly after Brands accepted Iowa's offer, the five Virginia Tech wrestlers requested to transfer to Iowa pursuant to the NCAA's "one-time transfer exception."

Virginia Tech chose not to grant their release, and despite their issuing a lawsuit against Virginia Tech, the wrestlers were unable to successfully transfer without losing one year of eligibility.

During this season of lost eligibility, Metcalf competed in both folkstyle and freestyle competitions.

He competed unattached in three open college tournaments, winning all three en route to compiling a 14–0 record at 149 pounds.

He won Omaha's Kaufman-Brand Open, an event that included a number of top Division I teams.

In the fall of 2007, as sophomore, Metcalf finally began his collegiate wrestling career.

During the course of his first competitive season, he captured the Big Ten and National Championships at 149 lbs.

Metcalf joined Cael Sanderson and David Taylor as the only sophomores to win the Dan Hodge Trophy as the best collegiate wrestler in the United States.

He was also named the Jesse Owens Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year, beating out athletes in more high-profile sports like football and basketball.

Metcalf was additionally named Outstanding Wrestler of the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments, and honored as Big Ten Wrestler of the Year.

Raised in Davison, Michigan, Brent Metcalf is the son of Tom and Lynn Metcalf.

His mother was an all-state gymnast and state champion in track and field.

He was high school teammates with 3x All American and 1x National Champion Paul Donahoe and 3x All American and 1x National Champion Jon Reader, all coached under Roy Hall.

His older brother, Chase Metcalf, was also a very successful wrestler, but lost his life in a car accident in his university years.

Roy Hall's son Chase Langdon Hall was named after Brent Metcalf's brother Chase Metcalf.

Metcalf married Iowa City native Kristin Metcalf (née Knipper).

Metcalf graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor's degree in sociology.

Metcalf finished his prep career with a 228–0 career record, tallying 156 pins.

A four-time state individual champion, Metcalf also led his team to four consecutive state titles.

Metcalf entered the 2008 NCAA Wrestling Championships as the top-seeded wrestler in the 149-pound weight class.

He had only one loss on the year, getting pinned in a spladle in the first period by NC State wrestler Darrion Caldwell during their dual meet.

He opened his tournament in dominant style with a first-period fall on Will Rowe of Oklahoma, his only pin of the tournament, and won the 2008 NCAA wrestling championship by defeating Bubba Jenkins, future 2011 NCAA champion from Arizona State, 14–8.

He gave up the first two takedowns in the first period before coming back for the victory.

He defeated future world champion and Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs of Nebraska in the semifinals, 6–3.

He also defeated returning All American Lance Palmer of Ohio State in the quarterfinals.

For his efforts he was named the tournament's most outstanding wrestler.