Barry Davis (amateur wrestler)
Encyclopedia
Barry Davis is an Olympic silver medalist and World champion medalist in freestyle wrestling. Since 1994, he has served as head wrestling coach at the University of Wisconsin.
. He credits the support and work ethic of his parents as contributing to his drive to succeed in athletics. Davis attended Cedar Rapids Prairie High School
, where he was a three-time state wrestling champion (the second individual from the Cedar Rapids metro area to achieve that distinction), and earned a career prep record of 102-6-1.
, Davis wrestled on coach Dan Gable
's team. During his college career, Davis was a four-time NCAA
Division I all-American, and a three-time Division I champion wrestler. He was named NCAA Outstanding Wrestler in 1985, and was also named the Big Ten Athlete of the Year
that same year. Barry Davis' career record at Iowa was 162-9-1. As of 2007, he continues to hold University of Iowa records for season victories (46 in 1982), and career victories (162).
, and a member of the 1983 U.S. World wrestling team. In 1984, he took a redshirt year from college athletics, to compete on the 1984 U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling team
, winning a silver medal at the Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles
. Davis competed in World championships again in 1986 and 1987, earning a bronze medal and a silver, respectively. In 1988 he was once more a member of the U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling team
, but did not earn a medal.
, but did not achieve a place on the team. Davis has been head wrestling coach at the University of Wisconsin since 1994.
Davis was married to Nan Doak
in 1986. Nan also attended University of Iowa where she was a six-time All-American in track and field
and cross country
prior to becoming a United States national champion in the marathon
.
Early life
Davis was born to Elmer and Carol Davis, and grew up in Cedar Rapids, IowaCedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
. He credits the support and work ethic of his parents as contributing to his drive to succeed in athletics. Davis attended Cedar Rapids Prairie High School
Cedar Rapids Prairie High School
Cedar Rapids Prairie High School is a public high school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school opened in 1954 after combining many schools in the surrounding area. The College Community School District serves the communities of Walford, Fairfax, Swisher, Shueyville, Ely, Southwest Cedar Rapids, and...
, where he was a three-time state wrestling champion (the second individual from the Cedar Rapids metro area to achieve that distinction), and earned a career prep record of 102-6-1.
College career
At the University of IowaUniversity of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, Davis wrestled on coach Dan Gable
Dan Gable
Dan Gable is an American amateur wrestler. He is famous for having only lost one match in his entire Iowa State University collegiate career—his last, and winning gold at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany while not giving up a single point...
's team. During his college career, Davis was a four-time NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I all-American, and a three-time Division I champion wrestler. He was named NCAA Outstanding Wrestler in 1985, and was also named the Big Ten Athlete of the Year
Big Ten Athlete of the Year
The Big Ten Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year award is given annually to the man voted as the top male athlete in the Big Ten Conference.-History:...
that same year. Barry Davis' career record at Iowa was 162-9-1. As of 2007, he continues to hold University of Iowa records for season victories (46 in 1982), and career victories (162).
International competition
Davis was champion in freestyle wrestling (125.4 lb) at the 1983 Pan American Games1983 Pan American Games
The ninth Pan American Games were held in Caracas, Venezuela from August 14 to August 29, 1983. The games were the first major international competition to include relatively accurate steroid testing...
, and a member of the 1983 U.S. World wrestling team. In 1984, he took a redshirt year from college athletics, to compete on the 1984 U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling team
Wrestling at the 1984 Summer Olympics
At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, 20 wrestling events were contested, for all men only. There were 10 weight classes in each of the freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling disciplines.-Freestyle:-Greco-Roman:-Medal table:...
, winning a silver medal at the Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Davis competed in World championships again in 1986 and 1987, earning a bronze medal and a silver, respectively. In 1988 he was once more a member of the U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling team
Wrestling at the 1988 Summer Olympics
At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, 20 wrestling events were contested, for all men only. There were 10 weight classes in each of the freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling disciplines.-Freestyle:-Greco-Roman:-Medal table:...
, but did not earn a medal.
Coaching career
Barry Davis served as graduate assistant coach at the University of Iowa from 1986-1987, and as assistant coach from 1988-1992. In 1992, he attempted a third-time membership in the U.S. Olympic teamWrestling at the 1992 Summer Olympics
At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, 20 wrestling events were contested, for men only. There were 10 weight classes in each of the freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling disciplines.-Freestyle:-Greco-Roman:-Medal table:...
, but did not achieve a place on the team. Davis has been head wrestling coach at the University of Wisconsin since 1994.
Davis was married to Nan Doak
Nan Doak-Davis
Nanette Doak-Davis is a former American long-distance runner who is a United States national champion in the marathon. Doak-Davis attended University of Iowa where she was a six-time All-American in track and field and cross country...
in 1986. Nan also attended University of Iowa where she was a six-time All-American in track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
and cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
prior to becoming a United States national champion in the marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
.
Athletic achievements
- Three time Iowa state high school champion in wrestling
- 1982 NCAANational Collegiate Athletic AssociationThe National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I Champion, 118 lb class - Two-time NCAANational Collegiate Athletic AssociationThe National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I Champion, 126 lb class (1983, 1985) - 1983 Pan American Games1983 Pan American GamesThe ninth Pan American Games were held in Caracas, Venezuela from August 14 to August 29, 1983. The games were the first major international competition to include relatively accurate steroid testing...
champion, freestyle, 125.4 lb - 1983 Member of U.S. World wrestling team
- Four-time NCAA Division I all-American
- 1984 Olympic silver medalist, 125.5 lb
- 1985 Big TenBig Ten ConferenceThe Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
Athlete of the Year - 1985 NCAA Championships Outstanding Wrestler
- 1986 World championship bronze medalist, 125.4 lb
- 1987 World championship silver medalist, 125.4 lb
- 1988 Member of U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling team
Recognition
- Davis is a member of the National Iowa Varsity Club's Athletic Hall of FameUniversity of Iowa Athletics Hall of FameThe University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame is a sports history museum located at the Roy G. Karro Building in Iowa City, Iowa, U.S. The museum pays tribute to the most legendary and influential Iowa Hawkeye sports heroes. Opened in September 2002, The building is located at the northwest...
, inducted in 1998. - In June, 2007, Barry Davis was inducted as a Distinguished Member, into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
External links
- Barry Davis at databaseOlympics.com
- Nan Doak-Davis and Barry Davis article from the Des Moines register
- http://www.barrydaviswrestlingcamp.com