From 1975 through 1978, Frank Santana was one of the most imposing wrestlers to ever wear an Iowa State singlet. Competing at 190 pounds, Santana was a three-time finalist and an NCAA champion 1977. He was also a two-time Big Eight champion and finished his college career with an 86-8 record. Santana was an integral part of leading Iowa State to an NCAA team title in '77 and runner-up finishes in '76 and '78. He is currently heavily involved with marketing and promoting wrestling around the state of Iowa and the nation, on several fronts. A businessman, he lives in Des Moines.

At the 1956 NCAA tournament Simon Roberts broke new ground in the college wrestling world. As a junior, competing at the 147-pound weight class for the University of Iowa, Roberts became the first black wrestler to ever win an NCAA title. Entering the tournament seeded sixth, Roberts upset the second and fourth seeded wrestlers on his way to a hard-fought championship victory. A native of Davenport, Roberts was also the first black wrestler to win an individual state title in Iowa. He was a state champion in 1954 at 133 pounds. He is retired from a long career in education and lives in Los Angeles.