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Wrestling legend Reiland passes away

Two-time Eagle Grove state champ won NCAA title at Iowa, became Hall of Fame prep coach

Submitted photo/University of Iowa Athletics: Hall of Famer Mark Reiland, a two-time state champion at Eagle Grove, competes for the University of Iowa. Reiland died on Wednesday.

Wrestling titan Mark Reiland, a two-time state champion at Eagle Grove High School and a University of Iowa national titleholder, passed away on Wednesday.

He was 52 years old.

Reiland was an icon on and off the mat in both the Messenger area and beyond. As a prep, he captured state gold for the Eagles in 1986 and 1987 at 145 and 155 pounds, respectively. Reiland, a four-time state placewinner for Eagle Grove, went 69-1 in his last two high school seasons. He also earned Junior Freestyle and Greco Roman national championships in 1987.

Reiland’s legend grew under head coach Dan Gable in Iowa City. He was a two-time All-American with the Hawkeyes, winning the 1991 NCAA title at 167 pounds to help secure Iowa’s 12th-ever team crown and start a three-year program run at the top of the national landscape.

After graduating from Iowa, Reiland entered the coaching realm. Following a brief stint at Solon High School, Reiland spent 19 seasons as head coach at Iowa City West before retiring in 2018.

During Reiland’s tenure, West had 26 state champions, 13 runner-ups and 84 placewinners. The Trojans brought home two traditional team titles — in 2006 and 2007 — and five state dual crowns (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2011).

Reiland was inducted into the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2010, and the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016. His career dual meet record as a head coach was 436-108-1.

Reiland is survived by his parents — Marv and Marlys — and his wife, Michele. Mark wrestled for Marv at Eagle Grove.

Marv, who took over as athletic director at West in 1990, hired his son to be the wrestling program’s head coach in 1999.

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