I was able to interview HWC legend Chad Lamer about his time with the HWC and what he has going on with his life.
Before joining the HWC, Chad Lamer was a four-time All-American, winning three consecutive national titles at the Division II level for South Dakota State University.
With the HWC:
-University World Freestyle Championship in the 97-kilogram weight class
-Third at the U.S. National Freestyle Championships
-Fourth at the U.S. Olympic Freestyle Trials.
Chad was a member of the U.S. National Freestyle Team, winning second at both the U.S. National Freestyle Championships and the U.S. World Freestyle Trials.
What years were you in the HWC’s Iowa wrestling room? Who else was on the HWC roster at that time?
I started with the HWC in August, 1997. In 2002, we moved near Davenport and I started chiropractic school. I drove to Iowa City once or twice a week to wrestle and train through the 2004 Olympic trials. In October 2004 I was asked to wrestle in Real Pro Wrestling for the Iowa Stalkers.
Wrestlers on the HWC roster at that time: Mike Mena, Eric Akin, Bill Zadick, Lincoln McIravy, Alan Fried, Darryl Weber, and John Oostendorp. These guys joined when they finished school: Joe Williams, Mark Ironside, TJ Williams, Lee Fullhart, and Doug Schwab.
Who were your primary workout partners?
That was a great thing for me being in with the HWC. I wrestled with a lot of different guys that were tough. Since I was a bigger guy, I often wrestled with the Heavyweights. I partnered with Wes Hand and Steve Mocco quite a bit. I also wrestled some of the 184 lbers like Paul Bradley, Jessman Smith and 197 lbers like Lee Fullhart and Ryan Fulsaas.
What type of interaction did you have with the collegiate team?
When I was there if you were taking a graduate level class you were eligible to train with the college guys. During their season I was wrestling with them nearly everyday unless a tournament was getting close. Then the club guys would have freestyle workouts run by Jimmy, Tom, Terry or Gable.
Any funny stories about the characters around you? Coaches or athletes?
My wife and I would get together with Tom and Terry and their wives to play board games. They are just as competitive with board games against women as they are in wrestling. Not sure how the girls would always get talked into the husbands vs the wives teams but man it was funny watching those 2 go at it with their wives. My wife would get scared by their intensity. I would just stand there laughing as they coaches wouldn’t give an inch with the rules when it came to their wives, but would always try to bend them in their own favor. Funny stuff.
What did you do after wrestling ?
I attended Palmer College of Chiropractic and have been a chiropractor for over 11 years.
What do you do now, where do you live–family?
I have my own chiropractic business in Corvallis, OR. My wife and I have five boys. The crazy thing is… two are already in college. My oldest son Justice is a runner like my wife Ann. He is in his 3rd yr at Montana State University in Bozeman, runs cross country and track, studies Geology and will continue on to paleontology. My second son Brawley is starting his first year at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA. He will wrestle there while studying engineering. He placed in State three times and won as a senior. Legend is a junior in high school and is a two time State champion so far. Chance is a freshman and has had a great youth wrestling career which he hopes to continue in high school. Daschle is in 7th grade and has also won a lot as a youth and hopefully has continued success in wrestling.
I am also the head wrestling coach for Crescent Valley High School here in Corvallis. This will be the start of my 4th season. It’s a lot of fun to do with my sons on the team.
Do you still follow the sport and the Hawkeyes?
‘m a wrestling junky. I follow it constantly to keep up with the sport at all levels: youth, HS, college and international. I love wrestling!
Anything you want to add?
I have so many great memories from all of the crazy tough workouts, like wrestler’s hill or running stairs in Carver or the intensity in the room. Gable is such a great story teller. Listening to his stories in the sauna about getting crushed by Chris Taylor or some tough Iranian he wrestled was always fun. Spending time with Lincoln and his wife Lisa was always a lot of fun for me and my wife. I learned a lot about wrestling from Jimmy in drill sessions. Tom and Gable helped me so much with my training, mentally and physically. Being in Iowa and wrestling were some of the best years of my life.
Thank you Chad! We wish you and yours continued success, both on and off the mat! -Randy
P.S…
Iowa Wrestling and HWC invites you to the wrestling room this Saturday before the game.
Iowa Wrestling will hold and open practice from 11am to 12:30pm. Doors open at 10:30am. HWC members will join in the workout. Coach Brands will run a high intensity practice with his typical motivational speech.
Practice will be run at full pace, featuring the intensity of Iowa Style Wrestling. This is a great opportunity for HWC fans to come out and see the members in action. Bleachers will be pulled out to provide ample seating.
As always, the donations of HWC fans make all of this possible. Thank you. If you would like to learn more about making a donation, please visit our donation page…
