Daily Iowan

Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Matt Ryerson/The Daily Iowan [Click to enlarge]

For much of Mark Perry's career, he was the overshadowed underdog.

As a redshirt freshman, he placed second in both the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments. Moving up to 174 pounds for his sophomore season, Perry again ended as a runner-up in the conference championships but finished third in the national tourney.

And last season in his junior campaign, when he went back down to 165 pounds, the story line stayed the same - for the most part.

Seeded at No. 2 in the Big Ten Tournament, seemingly destined to once again repeat his past achievements, Perry pulled off an upset over Michigan's top-seeded Eric Tannenbaum to seize the conference crown.

Then, his success continued. Winning and pinning his way to the NCAA finals, Perry managed an unlikely victory over long-time nemesis and graduated Oklahoma State grappler Johny Hendricks - Iowa's only individual championship last season, and the pinnacle of Perry's cumulated three years as a Hawkeye wrestler.


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Now, as the nationally No. 1-ranked wrestler entering his final postseason, the 165-pound defending national champion said he just wants his collegiate career to end with top-ranked Iowa hoisting a group title trophy.

"The thing that is the biggest motivation is, you know, it's my senior year, and I've always wanted to be a part of a national-championship team," Perry said. "And finally, I think we have the caliber of athletes at every single weight who have the ability to accomplish that."

But there is another spur prodding Perry's pursuit from the outside - one stemming from his recent bout with misfortune.

Prior to rehabilitating a surgically repaired knee in mid-January, Perry only competed in 10 dual meets and two tournaments.

Since then, questions have risen concerning his ability to be mat-ready for the Hawkeyes, as well as his mindset coming off of an injury.

Continued...

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