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Terry Brands (born April 9, 1968) is an American Olympic wrestler who won a bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics, losing the semi-final match to Alireza Dabir. While wrestling at the University of Iowa, Brands won NCAA titles in 1990 and 1992, both at 126 pounds.
Mar 5, 2022 · Being the wives of Tom and Terry Brands — two of the most iconic and recognizable figures in the sport — certainly can be demanding. Or “entertaining,” as Jeni puts it. And, “stressful,” as Michelle states.
- Chad Leistikow
- Hawkeyes Columnist
Jul 27, 2018 · Now married, he and Michelle have two children, Nelson and Sydney. Brands tries to keep his family as close knit as they can.
- Beginning with Modesty
- Enduring with Loyalty
- Charming with Personality
- Moving with Clarity
- Inspiring with Accountability
- Ending with Family
Most mornings, Brands rises before the sun does. (Brands 1, Day 0.) As early as 4 a.m., he’ll look out the window of his elevated back porch and think about the stuff that’s constantly racing through his 49-year-old head: the latest in politics, his faith, looming administrative tasks in the day ahead and, most of all, wrestling. He doesn’t head to...
The offices are quiet. Soon, the area will be bustling with bodies. A morning workout for the Hawkeye Wrestling Club starts in a few hours. Around 6:30, a door opens. “Who’s there?” Tom says without leaving the chair at his desk. “Terry Brands,” the monotone voice replies, as if there’s another Terry expected at this hour in the Iowa wrestling hall...
The Bluebird Diner on Market Street is a regular late-morning haunt for the Iowa wrestling staff. And that’s the plan today. By 10 a.m., after the early training session and a shower, the coaches are famished. Even before a waitress arrives, Tom Brands has his cellphone stopwatch engaged, ready to serve as referee for a recurring menu challenge: Wh...
No matter the situation, Tom Brands has a hard time sitting still. On family vacation — even on his honeymoon — two days in one location is the max. As he drives back to the arena, he picks the route based on green lights and where he can make right turns on red. Keep moving forward. The philosophy works, whether behind the wheel of his truck or in...
It’s a question that only a select few can fully answer, yet it’s one of those things you can’t help but wonder. What’s it like to wrestle for Tom Brands? He’ll be the first to acknowledge it's not for everybody. “You’ve got to hold up your end of the bargain,” Brands says. “But we will deliver.” At 3 p.m., the day’s second Hawkeye Wrestling Club w...
After taking one more shower and grabbing his keys, Brands is ready to head home just after 5 p.m. — pretty early by his standards. Tonight, there are no I-Club obligations, no competitions, no check-ups on injured wrestlers. How does Tom Brands unwind? He reads. A lot. If you catch his nose in a book, it'll probably be about history, the military ...
- Chad Leistikow
Mar 4, 2014 · Brands also praised his wife, Jeni, who is a key contributor to his success. She's a leader of their family.
Apr 7, 2023 · During Lee’s semifinal match, ESPN cameras were trained on Lee’s mom, Cathy. In the final moments, when Ramos ultimately prevailed, Cathy went from watching intently to immediate sadness to crushing her glasses to hugging Michelle Brands, Terry’s wife.
Mar 29, 2016 · Brands and his wife, Michelle, bought their house from two 70-year-old ladies who had about 10 cats that lived inside the house with them. As you would imagine, the house reeked. As Terry put...
