DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque is hosting it's annual Jim Fox Invitational on Saturday, Nov. 7 in Stoltz Sports Center beginning at 9:00 a.m. Schools expected to compete include: Blackburn College, Cornell College, University of Chicago, University of Dubuque, Eureka College, Loras College, and UW-Platteville. The tournament field is expecting over 150 wrestlers to compete in the competitive field.

The Jim Fox Invite is named in honor of UD Hall of Famer Jim Fox. Fox (C'63) a fierce competitor in Spartans wrestling and football, chose to hit the mats and wrestle his way into the UD record books compiling a 55-6 career record. He started every meet during his four years at the UD. Jim was elected team captain his senior year and won the Iowa Conference Championship at 157 pounds. He was the runner-up his sophomore and junior years. Tournaments were one place Jim excelled. He won the Knox College Invitational three times, the Wheaton College Invitational twice, and the Coe Invitational the only time he participated. Overall he wrestled in nine tournaments, earning seven first place finishes, and two second place finishes. While at UD, Jim helped his team to two first place tournament wins and four second place finishes. 

Jim used his speed and tenacity as a wrestler to excel on the football field as well. The hard-hitting freshman earned a starting role in the Spartans linebacking core, a position he did not relinquish. During the course of his football career he earned four varsity letters to accompany his four wrestling letters. 

After 34 years of coaching and teaching Jim retired in 1996. His officiating career involved both football and wrestling. As a football official in the Iowa Conference he was rated number one at his position of back judge, helping to earn him the privilege of officiating four NCAA Division-III playoff games. In 1990, he was rated one of the top three officials in the conference. Jim was also chosen to work as a table official at three NCAA wrestling tournaments in Iowa City as well as a Big Ten meet. 

Jim passed away on February 19, 2026 at the age of 89. Jim is survived by his cherished wife of 63 years, Jane Fox; daughters, Kelly (Charles) McDonald and Kerry Fox-Ausman; grandchildren, Lexi Ausman, Katie Ausman, Jessica Ausman, Tyler (Jasmine) McDonald; great granddaughter, Ella McDonald; sisters, Sandra Cross and Peggy Fox; sister-in-law, Janet Fox; nephew, Gerald Allen, who is like a son, and many other nephews and nieces.

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2026-27 UD Men's Wrestling Schedule HERE

2026-27 UD Men's Wrestling Roster HERE

2026-27 NWCA D3 Men's Tournament Pre-Season Rankings (TEAM - TOTAL - PTS. )

1. WARTBURG COLLEGE- 62
2. UW- LA CROSSE - 54
3. ROANOKE COLLEGE - 53.5
4. AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY - 45
5. COE COLLEGE - 41
6. THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY - 33
7. NEW YORK UNIVERSITY - 27.5
T8. WASHINGTON & LEE - 25
T8. ELMHURST COLLEGE - 25
T8. BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY - 25
11. JOHNSON AND  WALES UNIVERSITY - 24
12. LORAS COLLEGE - 22.5
13. UW-STEVENS POINT - 22
14. UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO - 21
15. WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY - 18.5
16. OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY - 17.5
T17. WABASH COLLEGE - 16
T17. MESSIAH UNIVERSITY - 16
19. UW- WHITEWATER - 14.5
20. UW-EAU CLAIRE - 13
21. UNITED STATES COAST GUARD ACADEMY - 12.5
T22. URSINUS COLLEGE - 12
T22. PENN COLLEGE - 12 -
T22. MANCHESTER COLLEGE - 12 -
T25. NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE - 10.5 -
T25. EASTERN COLLEGE - 10.5 -

PRESEASON CRITERIA: Preseason rankings include returning wrestlers and Division III-to-Division III transfers only. Freshmen are not eligible. Starting with the next poll, wrestlers must have competed at a weight during the 2026-27 season to be ranked there.

Ranking Committee
Region 1: Scott Legacy, VTSU Castleton & Mike Sugermeyer, Western New England
Region 2: Anthony Bonaventura, Stevens Institute & Corey Luce, NYU
Region 3: Anthony Terlizzi, Ursinus & Andrew Taylor, Eastern
Region 4: Nate Yetzer, Roanoke & Ryan Riggs, Mount Union
Region 5: Grant Zamin, North Central & Jake Fredricksen, Wabash
Region 6: Dave Mitchell, Luther & Eric Keller, Wartburg
Region 7: Tony Valek, Augsburg & Dave Malecek, UW-La Crosse