Ref. Wrestling 107

Vance named assistant coach for NIACC wrestling program

North Iowa Area Community College moved one step closer to re-starting its wrestling program by hiring assistant coach Chad Vance, athletic director Dan Mason announced on Thursday.

Vance, a 1999 graduate of the University of Iowa, was part of the Hawkeyes’ nationally-rated wrestling program after earning All-America honors for Iowa Central Community College in Ft. Dodge. Vance competed for Charles City High School and compiled a 117-20 mark as a prep wrestler, placing second at state as a senior. He has been an assistant wrestling coach in the Charles City Community School District since February 2005 while working in Mason City as a probation/parole officer for the State of Iowa’s Second Judicial District. He also is owner and manager of HealthQuest Fitness Center in Charles City.

“We are excited about adding another piece to the puzzle in regard to our wrestling program,” said NIACC athletic director Dan Mason about Vance’s hiring. “We needed to identify someone that has the background and the passion for the sport to guide us through this transitional period.

“Chad had all of the qualities that we were looking for and he will help us recruit our newest class of wrestlers. We are also excited about the camp and clinic possibilities on our campus. We feel that Chad’s extensive experience in promoting and facilitating these types of activities will serve the college well.”

A Park & Recreation board member in Charles City for three years, Vance has directed the Northeast Iowa Wrestling Technique Camp since 2000. He is still wrestling competitively, having won his weight classification at the Iowa Games the past two years. At Iowa Central, he placed fourth at the National Junior College Athletic Association national meet in both 1996 (158 pounds) and 1997 (177), earning National Junior College Wrestling Coaches Association Academic Wrestling Team honors as well.

NIACC decided to reinstate wrestling into its athletic program last fall after running a highly successful program three decades ago. The Trojans wrestling program began in 1967 and the program had compiled a 126-18-2 mark and won a national title at the community college level before the sport was dropped in 1976. Mason stated that the Trojans will have wrestling for the 2007-08 season.

For more on NIACC wrestling, call 1-888-GO NIACC, ext. 4344 or contact Mason at 641-422-4281.

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