Buena Vista University

Rick Caldwell wrestled for the Beavers from 1985-1990. He was limited to just six matches his first season on campus due to injury, and after wrestling just 16 combined matches over his first two campaigns, Caldwell went on to post a combined 60-21 overall record his over his final two years and finished his career with an overall record of 85-46-3.
 
As a senior, Caldwell went 35-8-1 and captured an Iowa Conference individual championship at 190 pounds while going on to place third at the NCAA Division III National Championships that season after having placed sixth as a junior. In both years, he dropped semifinal matches by just a single point. Caldwell, who was also named a Scholar All-American as a senior, was a member of three Iowa Conference team titles and his teams placed in the top-10 of the NCAA’s each year he was on campus.
 
Following his collegiate career, Caldwell went on to establish a Hall of Fame resume as a coach. He began at BGM High School before moving onto Iowa Falls and Ames. Those stops led him to his ultimate destination at Waverly-Shell Rock where he would go on to help guide the Go-Hawks to nine state team championships (five traditional and four team-dual titles) and was fortunate to coach his son, Cody, to three state individual titles. The 2008 group sent 13 individuals to the state meet, had 12 placewinners and set a state tournament record with 225 team points, shattering the previous mark of 188. Caldwell retired from coaching in 2011.