Dubuque Area Sports Podcast

Worm is back at the Stoltz Center at the University of Dubuque to sit down with UD Head Wrestling Coach Jon McGovern as the Spartans get ready for another season.

This time around, we’re going beyond the usual coach interview and rapid-fire questions.

Worm and Jon look back at last season’s 7-9 overall record, 3-5 mark in the American Rivers Conference, and two national qualifiers, before turning the page to the 2026-27 Spartans.

They talk about the incoming freshman class, returning wrestlers ready to take the next step, changes to the schedule, the challenges of competing in the ARC, and what Jon sees in this year’s room.

We also talk about Jon’s 25 years leading the UD wrestling program and his recent induction into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame.

And of course, we finish things off with a different kind of rapid fire — because after four appearances, we’ve already asked Jon just about every normal question we can think of.

State champion Natalie Ruba joins the Dubuque Area Sports Podcast! 🏆🥎🎳

The Wahlert Catholic standout takes us inside the Golden Eagles’ state championship run, including her huge performance on the biggest stage and earning Iowa State Softball Tournament Team Captain honors.

Natalie also talks about being an impact two-way player, contributing both in the circle and at the plate, and what it was like playing on a loaded Wahlert team alongside stars like Ruth Tauber and Julia Roth. We get into whether she ever felt overlooked despite putting together an outstanding season.

Plus, we roll into 🎳 bowling, growing up as a multi-sport athlete, her favorite memories, and what she hopes to accomplish next.

🥎 From the circle to the batter’s box to the bowling lanes — Natalie Ruba does a little bit of everything!

WEIGHIN’ IN WITH WORM — PAUL CLEARY

Western Dubuque Head Coach Paul Cleary is BACK on Weighin’ In with Worm —

This time around, we switch things up and go beyond the usual wrestling conversation.

Worm and Paul break down last season for Western Dubuque, including the big wins, the tough losses, seven state qualifiers, and what the program learned from the year.

Then we dive into a HUGE offseason for the Western Dubuque wrestlers.

From training with Dennis Hall and Eddie Smith, to kids getting work in at multiple clubs, State Champ Camp, Young Guns/Juergen, Pleasant Valley, and Fargo — Paul talks about why getting his wrestlers into different rooms and different environments has become such an important part of their development.

We also take a look at this year’s Western Dubuque squad, the competition inside the room, the guys ready to make a jump, the wrestlers who may not always get the headlines but play a massive role in the team’s success, and what Paul believes this group can become.

And because this is Paul’s FIFTH time on the show…

⚖️ THE SCALE gets a little different.

We get Paul’s thoughts on the funniest guy in the room, the biggest trash talker, the best practice wrestler, the guys who don’t get enough credit, coaching teenagers, wrestling parents, and what Western Dubuque absolutely has to do to have the season they want.

We finish with a conversation about what STILL gets Paul Cleary excited about walking into a wrestling room every single day.

Another great conversation from the Wormhole Podcast Studio.

🎧 LISTEN NOW and make sure you’re following Weighin’ In with Worm wherever you get your podcasts!

🎙️ WEIGHIN’ IN WITH WORM — PAUL CLEARY

Western Dubuque Head Coach Paul Cleary is BACK on Weighin’ In with Worm — and this makes FIVE appearances for one of our favorite guests!

This time around, we switch things up and go beyond the usual wrestling conversation.

Worm and Paul break down last season for Western Dubuque, including the big wins, the tough losses, seven state qualifiers, and what the program learned from the year.

Then we dive into a HUGE offseason for the Western Dubuque wrestlers.

From training with Dennis Hall and Eddie Smith, to kids getting work in at multiple clubs, State Champ Camp, Young Guns/Juergen, Pleasant Valley, and Fargo — Paul talks about why getting his wrestlers into different rooms and different environments has become such an important part of their development.

We also take a look at this year’s Western Dubuque squad, the competition inside the room, the guys ready to make a jump, the wrestlers who may not always get the headlines but play a massive role in the team’s success, and what Paul believes this group can become.

And because this is Paul’s FIFTH time on the show…

⚖️ THE SCALE gets a little different.

We get Paul’s thoughts on the funniest guy in the room, the biggest trash talker, the best practice wrestler, the guys who don’t get enough credit, coaching teenagers, wrestling parents, and what Western Dubuque absolutely has to do to have the season they want.

We finish with a conversation about what STILL gets Paul Cleary excited about walking into a wrestling room every single day.

Another great conversation from the Wormhole Podcast Studio.

🎧 LISTEN NOW and make sure you’re following Weighin’ In with Worm wherever you get your podcasts!

🙏 A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

This show would not be possible without the businesses and organizations that continue to support local wrestling and local athletes.

Lanez Custom Steel
MJR Mulching
Roeder Outdoor Power
Eric Daughtee Concrete
Kramer Pest Control
Dubuque Wrestling Club
Leonard Funeral Home
Gravel Grading & Excavating
Jared Levy at eXp Realty
River Falls Irrigation
Spine & Sport Chiropractic Center

Please support the businesses that support our wrestling community!

Bellevue standout Jack Kirk joins the Dubuque Area Sports Podcast to talk about his journey in football and baseball. 🏈⚾️

Jack discusses becoming one of the area’s top returning receivers, making an impact on both sides of the football, and what he enjoys most about competing for the Comets.

We also get into his baseball career, including his transition to catcher in high school, why he made the move, and the challenges that came with learning a demanding new position.

Plus, Jack talks about growing up around sports, his favorite memories, his best performances, teammates he’s learned from, and what he hopes to accomplish in the future.

🏈⚾️ Football, baseball, and plenty of great stories — Jack Kirk joins the show!

Dubuque Hempstead Head Coach Brett Haas is back on Weighin’ In with Worm as the Mustangs get ready to hit the mat for another season.

Heading into his fourth year at the helm, Haas and Hempstead are coming off a season that saw four wrestlers reach the state podium, and this year’s team brings back a solid core of experienced wrestlers along with some young talent ready to make their mark.

Worm and Brett break down the upcoming season, the wrestlers to keep an eye on, the identity of this year’s Hempstead team, and what it takes to continue building a high school wrestling program.

The guys also dive into one of the biggest changes in Iowa wrestling this season — the decision to allow eighth graders to compete at the varsity level. Brett gives his perspective on the rule, the opportunities it creates, the challenges it presents, and what it means for the future of Iowa high school wrestling.

And because Brett has been on the show before, Worm puts him in the hot seat with questions about coaching, parents, wrestling advice, pet peeves, program building, and whether wrestler Brett Haas would have actually liked Coach Brett Haas.

It’s a wide-ranging conversation about Hempstead wrestling, coaching, development, and the ever-changing landscape of Iowa high school wrestling.

Western Dubuque standout Brady Rissman joins the Dubuque Area Sports Podcast to talk about competing across three sports and stepping into a huge new role for the Bobcats. 🏈⚾🤼

Brady talks about taking over at quarterback after watching players like Tanner Anderson and Brett Harris, what he has learned from those who came before him, and what it takes to handle the pressure that comes with leading the offense.

We also dive into his success on the baseball field as the reigning Dubuque Area Sports Podcast Baseball Player of the Year, his wrestling background, and what each sport has taught him about toughness, preparation, and competing in big moments.

Plus, Brady reflects on playing for Coach Casey Bryant in his final season, his favorite memories, and what he hopes to accomplish next.

🏈⚾🤼 Three sports. One competitor. Plenty of big moments still ahead.

Weighin’ in with Worm — Nick Moore

On this episode of Weighin’ in with Worm, Worm sits down with one of Iowa wrestling’s all-time greats — Nick Moore, Iowa’s 19th four-time state wrestling champion.

Nick won four state titles at Iowa City West and was part of some of the most dominant high school wrestling teams in the country. But before Iowa City, before the state championships, and before the University of Iowa, Nick grew up right here in Dubuque, Iowa.

We start with the Moore family’s wrestling roots and Nick’s dad, Denny Moore, whose name has been tied to the foundation of Dubuque wrestling dating back to the late 1980s and early 1990s. Nick talks about growing up around wrestling, the family’s move to Iowa City, and what eventually led him to Iowa City West.

From there, we dive into Nick’s incredible high school career — when wrestling started to click, winning his first state championship, his only loss during his freshman season, and the unique story of losing to Mark Ballweg at the state duals just one week after beating him in the state tournament semifinals.

We also talk about those legendary Iowa City West teams that featured multiple state champions and were nationally ranked, and what it was like competing every day in a room filled with elite wrestlers.

And no conversation about Nick’s high school career would be complete without talking about Mark Rieland. Nick shares the impact Mark had on him as a coach, mentor and person, what made him such a special coach, and the lessons that have stayed with Nick long after his wrestling career ended.

After high school, Nick took his talents to the University of Iowa, going from one of the best wrestlers in the country to being a freshman all over again. We talk about that transition, the grind of college wrestling, and being back in the room with familiar faces like his brother Nate Moore, Dylan Carew, Derek St. John and Grant Gambrall.

And finally, Nick talks about life roughly 10 years removed from competitive wrestling — family, work, whether he misses competing, and what wrestling means to him today.

Then we put Nick “On the Scale” with a special rapid-fire edition built for a guy who has been retired from wrestling for a decade.

A conversation about wrestling, family, Dubuque, Iowa City West, the Hawkeyes, Mark Rieland, and the life that comes after the whistle.

Dubuque Hempstead sophomore Danny Houselog joins the Dubuque Area Sports Podcast to talk about life as a three-sport Mustang. ⚾🏀🏈

Danny already has varsity experience in baseball and basketball, and now he’s looking to bring that same athleticism and big-play ability to the football field.

We talk about his growth in all three sports, the differences between competing on the diamond, hardwood, and gridiron, his favorite memories so far, teammates who have helped him improve, and what he wants to accomplish over the next few years at Hempstead.

⚾🏀🏈 Three sports. One competitive mindset. Plenty of big moments still ahead.

NEW EPISODE — Weighin’ in with Worm

This week on Weighin’ in with Worm, I’m sitting down with Zach Roeder for a conversation covering wrestling, life, competition, and everything that comes with being part of the wrestling community.

Zach and I talk about his wrestling journey, the people and experiences that have helped shape him, the lessons learned along the way, and what it takes to continue pushing forward both on and off the mat.

It’s a great conversation with plenty of wrestling talk, some laughs, and a look behind the scenes at the person beyond the singlet.

🎧 Tune in and weigh in with us!