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  John Heffernan

John Heffernan

Player Profile

Hometown:
North Olmstead, OH

High School:
St. Edward HS

Weight:
169

1988-89 season: Injuries plagued his senior campaign...qualified for nationals, but did not earn all-America honors...defeated by eventual runner-up Baron Blakely of Oklahoma...finished second in the Big Ten meet after knee injury forced him to default to national champion Dave Lee of Wisconsin...ended regular season ranked third nationally...finished campaign with a record of 23-7-0, including dual meet slate of 12-1-0...recipient of Mike J. McGivern Award, presented annually to Iowa's Most Courageous Wrestler...wins over ranked wrestlers came against then-number one Mike Farrell of Oklahoma State (6-5) and Minnesota's Marty Morgan (9-4)...other losses were to Farrell, Lee (twice), and non-collegians Jody Karam and Jerry Umin...finished third at Northern Open.

1987-88 season: Second straight all-America campaign with fourth place finish at nationals...captured first Big Ten crown with 3-2 win over Michigan's Joe Pantaleo...that triumph clinched the Hawkeye's 15th consecutive Big Ten team title...posted a 31-8 record including 15 triumphs in his last 17 bouts...a 12-match winning streak included victories over seven NCAA Meet participants...fasted fall was 1:08 over Mike Krause (Michigan State)...his last three losses were one-point decisions...finished second at the Northern Open...had dual victory over No. 2-ranked Vince Silva (Oklahoma State).

1986-87 season: All-American with sixth place in NCAA tourney...pinned No. 1-ranked Rob Koll (North Carolina) in 6:47 at nationals...finished fourth at Big Ten meet...shared Iowa's most improved wrestler award...first year as a regular for the Hawkeyes...won his first seven matches...finished second at Northern Open.

1985-86 season: Finished third at both Minnesota Quad and Northern Open...silver medalist at the Junior World Cup.

1984-85 season: redshirted.

High school: Second team all-America (Amateur Wrestling News) at St. Edward...27-0 record (22 pins) when he won a state title as a senior...posted an 87-10 career record...captain of wrestling team...won the Lee Kemp Award, given to the outstanding wrestler in the Cleveland metro area...all-state and 1984 Ohio Wrestler of the Year...brother of former Iowa NCAA champ, Jim...born 7/30/66...general studies major.

Year	W	L	D	F	Big Ten	NCAA
1984-85	Redshirted
1985-86	8	4	0	2	DNP	DNP
1986-87	16	13	2	5	4th	6th
1987-88	31	8	0	9	1st	4th
1988-89	23	7	0	4	2nd	DNP
Career	78	32	2	20