Bill Smith and Moza Fay to go ‘On the Mat’ this week

1952 Olympic champion Bill Smith and two-time All-American Moza Fay will be radio show guests Wednesday night.

Council Bluffs, Iowa, native Bill Smith was a two-time NCAA champion for Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa), winning titles at 165 pounds in 1949 and 1950. He also won the national AAU championship three times. Smith went on to win Olympic gold at 160.5 pounds in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. He coached for many years at the high school, college and international levels. Smith is one of the only Americans who can claim a victory over the legendary Dan Hodge. Smith, along with the late Glen Brand, a 1948 Olympic champion, will be honored this weekend at the World Team Trials in Council Bluffs.

Moza Fay recently was awarded the wildcard selection in the 163 pound freestyle division to compete this weekend at the World Team Trials. Fay placed second to Mike Poeta of Illinois at the Northern Plains Regional tournament in Waterloo, IA, on May 16. Fay was Anamosa High School's (IA) first state champion, where he won titles as a junior and senior. He won 130 matches as a UNI Panther and placed fifth and sixth in the last two NCAA tournaments at 165 pounds.

"On the Mat" can be heard live on the Internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday from 5-6 p.m. Central time on AM 1650, The Fan. Feel free to e-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with any questions or comments about the show.