At the time, he was told he would never walk again, but being single-minded and strong willed, Dan proved the experts wrong. He lives in Cedar Rapids to this day. Balvanz would go on to compete for UNI and then become a successful long time high school head coach in Washington, Iowa.

1971 A strong dual meet squad posted a 10-1 record to win Coach McNiel’s second MVC conference crown. Good things were on the horizon as the sophomore team posted an impressive 9-0 dual record. The super-sophs would make themselves known to all Iowans over the next two years. Jefferson sent two individuals to state getting a third place finish from Bill Williams-138. Mark Beltz-185 also qualified. The next three seasons McNiel’s J-Hawks would produce a string of victories and unparalleled success in school history.

1972 The 1971-72 grapplers completed only the second undefeated season in the school’s history. But the optimism was so great, history teacher Ken Marsh turned on a blue victory light bulb in his hallway window that would not to be dimmed until someone defeated the J-Hawks in a dual. It would glow brightly for several years. The team featured many underclassmen that posted fine records throughout the season as well as at the state tournament. Five individuals qualified for state, including seniors Mike Gallagher-98, Brad Suma-126, and Steve Riess-Hwt, along with juniors Gary Bentrim-119 and Kent Miller-145. Gallagher, Suma, and Bentrim made the championship finals. Both Mike and Brad won titles. Bentrim finished second, although he was handily ahead in his title match before “getting caught” and losing by fall. Miller garnered third, Riess sixth. Jefferson scored 51 points in the tournament, good enough for second place in the “Big Barn”. Gallagher and Riess would go on to compete for Luther College. Mike then returned to Jefferson as an assistant coach under Tim Fowler. The Norsemen inducted Gallagher into their athletic Hall of Fame in the fall of 2006. State runner-up status would not be good enough for McNiel’s grapplers the next two seasons.

1974 Jefferson repeated as state champs in 1974 with what could be categorized as truly a team effort. Seven matmen went to Des Moines for the title defense and six returned with medals. Cassim Igram became an instant hero as the senior who carried a 14-9 record to state, topping three previously undefeated 185 ponders to make the finals. Those three wrestlers left the tournament with a combined 79-3 record for the season. Coach McNiel was quick to point out that winning a state title is always a team effort. Seniors Don Hittenmiller-105, Paul Viktora-112, and Dick Briggs-138 took second, third, and fourth respectively. Juniors Jed Brown-126 and Jim Comried-145 were third and sixth. Junior Tom Sadler-155 rounded out the list of qualifiers. Ironically, Igram was Jeff’s only loser in a memorable 40-3 dual meet thrashing of the Warriors earlier in the season. That win was one of the J-Hawks twelve dual meet victories in their third consecutive undefeated season. Bill McNiel recorded his fourth MVC title in six years as head J-Hawk. Briggs would go on to become a four-year letterman and two-time All American for UNI at 150 lbs. He would later make a return in 1983 as the skipper of the J-Hawk grapplers. Igram wrestled two seasons at UNI, one season as their varsity 190-pounder.