When it comes to medalling, everyone remembers who won and the third place finisher always feels good that at least he got something, but, for university of Iowa senior Matt McDonough, a three-time All-American wrestler, it appears he would rather have nothing than the second-place medal he won at a last weekend's Big Ten tournament.
So angry to come in second, McDonough threw the medal in the trash.
According to Daily Iowan' reporter Sam Louwagie, McDonough lost the bout to sophomore Jesse Delgado of Illinois, the only wrestler to have ever beaten him twice. Delgado took down McDonough five times in the 10-4 victory.
"Lots of response on McD's medal last night," Louwagie wrote on Twitter. "My take: It just shows his and the program's mindset. Fed up with second, not accepting it."
The senior wrestler was not the only Hawkeye who struggled at this year's NCAAs. Per the Daily Iowan, none of McDonough's teammates won a title match, and the squad finished in in third place behind Minnesota and winner Penn State.
"It's not rocket science," head coach Tom Brands told the paper. "We've got to be tougher. We've got to do certain things to be tougher ... It starts with finishing and urgency in those situations."
However, on columnist did defended the wrestler. K.J. Pilcher of The Gazette wrote that McDonough was simply in the heat of the moment and that his action showed the tough standards he placed on himself. Pilcher also reported that McDonough attempted to get the medal back shortly after throwing it in the garbage.
"If he releases steam by tossing it out, so be it," Pilcher wrote. "His medal, his choice. I don't believe one of the wrestlers who placed third through eighth is offended and wants the discarded award. They all received what they earned, too."
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