Alex TsirtsisSince coming to Iowa City, Alex has experienced a complete changeover in the coaching staff, an influx of wrestlers from the Virginia Tech program, and his own personal challenges with injuries and surgeries, including surgery on his left knee this summer that was complicated by a staph infection.
Yet, despite these changes and challenges, the 141-pound Iowa Hawkeye begins this season as a true junior ranked fifth in his weight class by RevWrestling.com and most other major amateur wrestling Web sites and publications. And he's ready and eager for the 2006-07 season to begin.
A career 15 years in the making
Twenty-one-year old Alex Tsirtsis got his start in wrestling at age six. "My dad wrestled in high school, and introduced me to the sport by enrolling me in a kids' wrestling club near my house," says Alex. "By age 7, we were traveling around the country, competing in national tournaments."
"Participating in all these events required a lot of effort for my dad," Alex continues. "I'm grateful for all he did to launch my career."
"Wrestling came naturally to me at an early age," according to Alex. "I've always been a pretty competitive guy. Wrestling has been my lifestyle my whole life."
High school highs
It was while in high school that Alex Tsirtsis made a national name for himself. By the time he entered Griffith High School in northwest Indiana -- about fifteen miles southeast of the Chicago loop -- Alex had stopped playing organized baseball and focused his athletic abilities solely on wrestling. And that singular pursuit paid off with perfection: Alex compiled a 236-0 record under coach Travis Wells. In addition, Alex joined a very elite club of only a handful of Indiana high school wrestlers who have won four state titles.
When asked if he felt mounting pressure to maintain a perfect record while in high school, "I took it one match at a time," Alex replies. "Confidence helped me a lot, too. You've got to go out on the mat with the idea of winning."
Alex's fourth and final high school title was made all the sweeter in that he was joined by three other Griffith grapplers as state titlewinners. "These guys were a big help in helping me train for competition," says Alex.
During his prep wrestling career, Alex Tsirtsis' accomplishments weren't limited within the borders of the Hoosier state. In his senior year, Alex placed sixth at the 2004 FILA Junior World Freestyle Team Trials in the 145.5-pound weight class.
Making the Midlands while still a prep
Perhaps just as impressive, Alex was only the third high school wrestler ever to be invited to participate at the Midlands, the prestigious post-Christmas tournament held at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois just outside Chicago. (The other two prep grapplers who've competed during the 40+ years of the Midlands: Jimmy Carr and Cary Kolat, both of Pennsylvania.)
In a pre-event article in the Chicago Tribune, Alex mentioned that he had attended the Midlands with his father for years. "It's like a true test before the NCAA tournament," Alex told the Tribune. "I don't know if there's a tougher college tournament besides the NCAA Championships. I just wanted to get a head start and see where I stand."
Alex Tsirtsis (Photo/Johnnie Johnson)It would not be Alex Tsirtsis' last Midlands.
Now wrestling for the Hawkeyes …
With all these achievements in his sport in high school, Alex experienced the rush of being recruited by some of the top college wrestling programs in the country. "The most pressure in making the decision was put there by myself," says Alex. "As I was looking at schools, I always kept in my mind, �Which program best meets my goals?' Iowa meets my goals. They put me in the best position of realizing my goals of winning national titles and, eventually, wrestling at the Olympics."
When Alex arrived at the University of Iowa, he did not have the luxury of redshirting his freshman year -- the opportunity to grow accustomed to rigors of college academics and the demands of collegiate wrestling -- but was inserted into the lineup right away at 141 pounds. As a true freshman, Alex got off to a great start, winning the title at the Kaufman-Brand Open. In his first year, Alex compiled a 27-13 overall record, going 22-12 in college competition. In dual meets, Alex built a 9-6 record (4-4 in Big Ten competition), scoring seven major decisions and two pins, and making an immediate contribution for the Hawkeyes by scoring 35 team points in dual competition. In addition, Alex made an impressive return to the Midlands tournament, placing sixth.
Alex capped off his freshman year by placing fifth at the Big Ten championships. He also earned the coaches' appreciation team award.
As a sophomore, Alex posted 23-10 overall record, securing a 22-10 mark in collegiate competition. He compiled a 12-6 record in dual meets, winning six of eight bouts in Big Ten dual meet competition, and contributing 41 team points. At the 2006 Big Ten Conference Championships at Indiana University, Alex placed third at 141. Two weeks later, at the NCAA Division I Championships at Oklahoma City, Alex earned All-American honors by placing seventh in the 141-pound weight class -- one of three Hawkeyes to claim All-American status. For all these accomplishments in his second year as an Iowa Hawkeye, Alex Tsirtsis earned the team's Mike J. McGivern Most Courageous Wrestler award, and his second athletic letter.
The impact of changes in the coaching staff
When Alex Tsirtsis made the commitment to head west from Griffith, Indiana on I-80 to wrestle at the University of Iowa, Jim Zalesky was the head coach of Hawkeyes. Not long after the 2006 NCAA's were history, so was Zalesky's association with his alma mater. Another Iowa mat champion, Tom Brands, was hired away from Virginia Tech, bringing along a new coaching staff of his own: Wes Hand, Doug Schwab and Mike Zadick, all products of the Iowa program. Joining the coaching staff is legendary former head coach Dan Gable.
When discussing the new coaching situation, Alex says, "It was a challenge. I was close to the previous coaching staff." Then Alex quickly adds, "Both Zalesky and Brands are great coaches, both products of Gable and the Iowa way of wrestling with intensity."
A day in the life of a Hawkeye
Alex Tsirtsis' college routine changes from day to day. According to Alex, typically there's "lots of lifting and conditioning in the morning. Then, in the afternoon, there's practice sessions with live wrestling … It all adds up to about three hours a day."
Alex Tsirtsis (Photo/Johnnie Johnson)It's not all wrestling for Alex. As an economics major, he has to balance the demands of the classroom with those of being a wrestler at one of the top programs in the country. "To make it all work, you have to be regimented," says Alex. "You have to plan your schedule and make the most efficient use of your time."
"I like Iowa City a lot," says Alex. "I bought a house here. It's really a home away from home for me."
Looking forward
After knee surgery this summer, Alex Tsirtsis "definitely feels ready" for his junior year as the Iowa Hawkeyes' man at 141. He's expecting that there will be more national attention focused on Iowa this year because of the changes in the program. "We've got to stay focused, and not get caught up in the hype," according to Alex. "There are high expectations for us. Attitude and actions are now more important than ever."
Alex Tsirtsis (Photo/Johnnie Johnson)Alex ultimately dreams of one day representing the US on the mats at the Olympics. "I plan to get back into freestyle competition at some point, but, right now, I'm concentrating on college," says Alex.
As for life beyond wrestling, Alex is not sure about his career goals just yet, but says, "I like the idea of coaching. I see it as a way to give something to the sport."
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