Matt Fields
- Weight class: Heavyweight
- Age: 22
- Hometown:
Lowden - Season record: 36-9
- Year:
Senior
Perhaps the biggest loss Matt Fields suffered during his junior season came when he lost his drive.
“I was kind of burned out with (wrestling),” the Iowa heavyweight said. “I was losing interest, not only because I wasn’t having individual success but our team wasn’t having success as well, and that didn’t help with guys like me on the team who weren’t motivated every day.”
Fields compiled a 24-12 record in 2007. He went 2-2 at the NCAA Championships and failed to place among the top eight. He looked up at the awards podium at the end of the tournament and saw some wrestlers he had beaten in the past receiving their All-America medals.
“That was kind of a slap in the face, and it was what I deserved,” Fields said. “I wasn’t putting full effort into the sport, and I didn’t deserve to be on (the medal stand).”
Fields produced his best season as a senior. He compiled a 32-8 record. With a reversal in the final seconds against Bloomsburg’s Mike Spaid, Fields pulled out a 5-4 win to secure All-America honors for the first time in his career.
“I was just thinking I’ve worked too hard to end it like this,” said Fields, who placed fifth. “(Coach Wes) Hand said to hit the switch, so I hit the switch and it worked. It was perfect timing, the perfect situation. ... It was just perfect everything.”
Fields said his attitude changed after an off-season conversation with Iowa coach Tom Brands. “He sat me down and said, ‘You have to change or don’t bother being on the team if you’re not going to change your attitude,’” Fields said.
Fields said he was more motivated in his final year at Iowa.
“I’ve got a lot better frame of mind,” he said in December. “Last year, I was in la-la land basically. I was motivated 50 percent of the time. Some days I’d come in and be real motivated and other days I’d come in and wouldn’t give a crap.”
— Andy Hamilton