It's a question that Matt Krumrie -- wrestling writer and author of "The Ultimate Guide to Wrestling Camps" -- took on in a feature article for USA Wrestling Thursday.
Jordan Burroughs stands atop the podium after winning an Olympic gold medal in London (Photo/Andrew Hipps)The list that Krumrie created is chock-full of major wrestling events, must-see sites, and books and movies that wrestling fans should experience for themselves. At the top of the list of events no wrestling fan should miss is the Summer Olympics. Kerry McCoy, two-time Olympic wrestler who is now head coach at University of Maryland, said, "I am very fortunate to say that I have been able to attend the last five summer Olympic games and currently making plans for the sixth. If you have the means to get to the Olympics, definitely do it."
For college wrestling aficionados, if you haven't been to a NCAA Wrestling Championships, be sure to add that tournament to your must-see bucket list. And… to witness some of the best high school mat talent before they become tomorrow's college stars, many experts say the Iowa State High School Wrestling Championships is tops. "For those who have a chance and can get a ticket, the finals of the Iowa state championships are incredible," said Jim Nelson, sportswriter for the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, who has covered 21 consecutive state tournaments. "The Grand March sends chills down my spine every year. Like Minnesota for hockey, Indiana for basketball and Texas for football, the wrestling finals in Iowa are definitely special."
Another fun idea for collegiate mat fans is to experience the oldest and greatest sport in some of the nation's iconic wrestling venues, such as Gallagher-Iba Arena at Oklahoma State, Penn State's Rec Hall, and Carver-Hawkeye at University of Iowa, to name a few. Even better: schedule your visit when the home squad is hosting one of its fiercest rivals for a truly amped-up experience.
For wrestling fans seeking new adventures, Matt Krumrie's bucket-list recommendations can't be beat. And… if you've got lots of time on your hands, check out InterMat's Wrestling Road Trip feature from a few years ago, featuring a number of wrestling landmarks all across America.
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