FAYETTE - Tony Gehling's Bachelor of Arts degree was already in his back pocket. He was ready to embark on a promising future.

But before the Grand Meadow, Minn., native could begin his job search, the urge to seek a lifelong dream pulled him back to the Upper Iowa University wrestling room.

In four years at Upper Iowa, Gehling excelled in the classroom, graduating with honors last spring with an agri-business major.

But on the mat, while there were highlights, the Stewartville High School graduate had never made the NCAA Division II championship field.

With another year of eligibility left, Gehling had the option of becoming an all-American or starting his life after college.

That was the dilemma Gehling faced during last year's NCAA championships in Cedar Rapids. Then at a post-season celebration, he got nudged in one direction.

Long story short, Gehling decided to come back for his fifth and final season as a collegiate wrestler.

Gehling qualified for the NCAA championships two weeks ago and begins his quest for all-American status with top-ranked Brent Pankoke of Nebraska-Omaha today at the University of Houston.

"He was done," Upper Iowa coach Heath Grimm said. "He was going to graduate Magna Cum Laude and all that. But we're having an end of the NCAA championship banquet in Cedar Rapids last year, and we have all the seniors stand up and say a little something.

"Tony gets up there and everybody started chanting one more year. A week or so later, at the end of the season team banquet, he announced he was coming back."

Gehling, who was named an academic all-American for the fourth time Wednesday, entered Upper Iowa's MBA program this fall and also went back to work in the Peacock wrestling room.

Peacock assistant coach Ryan Phillips took on an active roll in improving Gehling, and the results were dramatic. Gehling won three straight tournaments - the Simpson Invitational, the Jim Fox Open at the University of Dubuque and the Flash Open at Loras College.

"Coach Phillips deserves a lot of the credit for Tony's success," Grimm said. "The Simpson victory was his first college tournament championship and then he tacked on two more. It was a great stretch for him."

Gehling's season was topsy-turvy over the last couple months of the season. He was seeded fifth for the Peacocks' regional at Southwest Minnesota University, meaning he was going to have to beat somebody ahead of him as the top four wrestlers at each weight class qualify for the national tournament.

Gehling lost his regional opener, but rattled off two victories on the backside to reach the third-place match. He lost again, forcing him into a fourth-place match for the final NCAA slot against Northern State's Chad Gibson.

Gehling won 6-1 to earn the spot.

"It felt great," he said. "It made everything I worked for in high school and college seem worthwhile. It made all the sacrifices I made, the things I put off, worthwhile.

"Last year was a big disappointment. It was encouraging for the people who came up to me and were so supportive. It made me feel like I could do it. Put in one more season of practice and work and it paid off."

Now to accomplish his ultimate goal, becoming an all-American, Gehling (27-11) is going to have to reverse a previous loss to Pankoke, who beat him at last year's regional championship, 10-4.

"At the national championships, to become an all-American, to become a national champion, you have to beat everyone," Gehling said. "That isn't easy. I've got nothing to lose. I'm not ranked No. 1. There is no pressure on me. In my mind, it is another match against a good opponent."

Grimm is confident in Gehling.

"I think his confidence is high," Grimm said. "He is going down there with an adage of 'Nothing to lose.' I think it is going to bode well for him."

Contact Jim Nelson at (319) 291-1521 or jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com

College wrestling

What: NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships

When: Today and Saturday (First round begins at 11 a.m. today, with the finals at 6 p.m. Saturday)

Where: Houston, Texas

Notes: The Peacocks qualified six wrestlers for the tournament, including returning all-American Travis Eggers at 157 pounds. Eggers, a junior from Monona, was fourth a year ago in Cedar Rapids at 157. … Waverly native Mitch Norton, a junior who competed at Nashua-Plainfield High School, is making his third trip to nationals. Norton has finished one victory short of all-American status in each of the last two championships. … Joining Eggers and Norton in Houston are freshman Kyle Pedretti at 125, freshman Trevor Franklin at 133, sophomore J.R. Baker at 149 and senior Tony Gehling at 184. Upper Iowa was 14th last year. … Nebraska-Omaha is considered the favorite, while defending champion Nebraska-Kearney was ranked fifth in the final polls. Other contenders are Minnesota State-Mankato, Newberry College of South Carolina and Western State of Colorado. … Upper Iowa nearly didn't make it to the tournament. The Peacocks were stranded at the Cedar Rapids Airport Tuesday. The team's original flight to Houston at 9:30 a.m. was cancelled because of foggy conditions. Grimm, his coaches and athletes didn't catch another flight until 5 p.m. … The championships are being held at the University of Houston as part of an NCAA Division II Festival of Spring championships. The Division II swimming and diving championships as well as the indoor track and field championships are taking place simultaneously.

Quoting Upper Iowa head coach Heath Grimm:

On the Festival concept: "This is Myles Brand's (head of NCAA) baby. It is a great concept. I like it. I'm not tickled by the location. There is no college wrestling in the state of Texas. So I don't know how much fan support we're going to get."

On his qualifiers: "I feel we are prepared. That is the stage we are at now. The six guys who qualified are the guys who carried us through the season in duals, the regionals and we're asking them to do it one more time.

"Kyle is going to get after it. Trevor is ready to take on the world. Baker is in a good spot and I think we'll have his hand raised a few times. Eggers is in a good spot and has wrestled well at the last two NCAA championships. Mitch is hungry to get on the podium after being a match short the last two years."

- Compiled by Courier Sports Writer Jim Nelson