Heart of a Cyclone - David Carr - Iowa State University Athletics

Cardinal & Gold runs deep through David Carr's blood.

Being a Cyclone means everything to him. The No. 2 overall recruit in the class of 2018, Carr came to Ames to help rebuild a struggling program and bring Iowa State wrestling back to national prominence. Five years later - after an individual national title, two other top-three NCAA tournament finishes and four Big 12 Championship rings on his fingers - he chose to ignore other suitors to stay at ISU for his final season.

After all, being a Cyclone does run in the family.

The Carr family legacy at Iowa State is well documented. David's father, Nate, is one of the most decorated wrestlers to ever wear the colors. Nate won three consecutive NCAA titles from 1981-83 and piled up 122 career victories. After his college wrestling days were finished, Nate went on to capture a bronze medal at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.

David's brother, Nate Carr Jr., wrestled at Iowa State from 2009-11 and their uncles, Solomon and Michael Carr, were Cyclone wrestlers in the 1980s.

Nate and David are among rare company in the collegiate wrestling world. They are one of six father-son duos in NCAA history to win Division I national titles and one of two pairs to do it at the same school.

"Being an NCAA Champion father-son duo was a dream of mine ever since I was a little kid," David said. "My dad was legendary, explosive and a bit of a showman. Those are things I have really tried to emulate in my style of wrestling. The way he entertained the crowd and gave people their money's worth, I try to do the same thing."

Nate hasn't only influenced David's style on the mat, but also how he carries himself off the mat and how to properly attack the day-to-day grind of being a student-athlete in 2024.

"He always gives me advice," David said. "He's always telling me to make sure that I'm feeling good and giving full effort in everything I do. And it's not just wrestling we talk about, but school, faith and life. He is there through all the highs and lows and has helped me tremendously."

As David nears the conclusion of his final season at Iowa State, the final chapter of his unique story is still unwritten - goals not yet reached.

Under head coach Kevin Dresser, Iowa State has shown steady improvement throughout David's time in Ames. The year prior to David's arrival, ISU tied for 45^th at the NCAA Championships. Since then, the Cyclones have placed 16^th, T-13^th, 17^th and 11^th at the national tournament.

But David didn't come to Iowa State for top-15 finishes.

"I feel like the job's not done," David said. "I came to Iowa State to turn the program around and get a trophy. I want this team to win a Big 12 title and get an NCAA trophy. I think this team is on the verge of doing that if we all wrestle to our potential."

Legacy-Defining Moments
Since claiming his 157-pound national title as a freshman in 2021, David has not yet returned to wrestling glory.

He has 109 victories in his career, only 13 less than his father, but it's the four tallies in the loss column that drive him through every workout, practice and run.

He's only lost twice in the regular season during his career - the other two setbacks occurred at the 2022 and 2023 NCAA Championships and left him short of a second national title on both occasions.

In 2022, Carr entered the national tournament as an undefeated No. 1 seed but suffered a shocking loss in the second round to Oregon State's Hunter Willits.

The loss was a defining moment for David. He could sulk and feel sorry for himself or use it as a springboard for something greater.

Carr went on a winning streak after that match, beating future All-Americans Wyatt Sheets, Kaleb Young, Jared Franek and Will Lewan, in addition to receiving a medical forfeit from Austin O'Connor along the way, to finish third. It's a run that won respect from the wrestling community and showed Carr's character on the biggest stage in college wrestling.

"What David did in that tournament was incredibly difficult," ISU assistant coach and two-time national champion Brent Metcalf reflected. "When you go into that tournament, you plan on winning it. When you lose and that option is off the table, it is easy to have thoughts along the lines of, 'I lost, nothing else is worth it, I came here to win.'"

"No one wants to get third, but it's not easy to do," Metcalf continued. "David was able to push through adversity and do what was best for him in the long run, even when he maybe didn't want to. You could tell during every match along that run, he was convincing himself that it was something he wanted to go do. He showed who he is as a competitor and his passion for the sport."

David won 33 consecutive matches following his loss to Willits.

The Best Rivalry in College Wrestling
After the heartbreak of the previous season had passed – though always present in the back of his mind, driving him – David pieced together an undefeated 2022-23 regular season that would see him capture his fourth Big 12 crown. But once again, it wasn't David standing on top of the podium at the end of the season.

David and Missouri's Keegan O'Toole - the top two wrestlers at 165 pounds - wrestled three times in the final 32 days of that season. Carr was victorious, 7-2, in what was dubbed as the "Match of the Year" in the ISU vs. Mizzou dual. Two weeks later, he pinned O'Toole in overtime of the Big 12 finals.

David Carr - 2023 Big 12 Title Celebration

At the national tournament, David found himself as the No. 1 seed in a loaded 165-pound bracket, which contained three past NCAA champions, another returning NCAA finalist and five more returning All-Americans. Just to reach the finals he had to beat Shane Griffith, a 2021 national champion, and Quincy Monday, a 2022 national finalist.

Awaiting David in the finals was O'Toole - eager to flip the script and defend his national title from a year ago. The Tiger reversed the two results from the weeks prior and handed David an 8-2 defeat.

Another learning opportunity.

"Those types of things are what help you grow and get better," David said. "My competitors are what push me to do the extra sprints and train hard in the weight room. I appreciate O'Toole because he makes me better."

David's time as a Cyclone is drawing to a close. He has only one more chance to reach the pinnacle of college wrestling and one more opportunity to take Iowa State to the next level.

"I'm excited to see what lies ahead," David said. "I want to leave my mark on this program and there is a lot I think we can accomplish as a team. Coming to Iowa State six years ago, I told myself that I wanted to leave this place better than I found it. I can safely say we've done that, but there's still so much we can achieve."

Cyclone fans only have three more opportunities to see David Carr inside Hilton Coliseum, the first being senior night Friday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. against West Virginia, followed by a tilt against Northern Iowa on Feb. 11. Carr, who has never lost a dual match inside Hilton, will wrestle his final home match Feb. 25 against Mizzou.

Likely toeing the line across from him?

None other than his rival, Keegan O'Toole.

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(Story originally published 10.26.2023. Updated 2.1.2024)

Heart of a Cyclone - David Carr

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David Carr

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Heart of a Cyclone - David Carr

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David Carr

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