Marcos Hayes… This man has had quite the journey…not only with wrestling, but life in general. However, as we all know, wrestling has a knack for impacting several aspects of life, and this claim is vibrantly reflected when reading the journey of Marcos Hayes. Marcos was born and raised in the traditional wrestling powerhouse of Waterloo, IA and he was a part of some of the most widely respected teams of his era (late 70’s/1980). Since his days of competing as a HS wrestler, Marcos Hayes has found success in the club wrestling scene in Texas, has fought in various Judo/Jiu Jitsu competitions, has coached HS wrestling, has taught martial arts, has trained stuntmen and stuntwomen for tv shows/movies and most importantly, has been a family man. And through it all, he never forgot the things that enabled him to achieve the accolades he has in life…most notably, The Waterloo East wrestling community.
PINDOX:What clubs, schools, etc. did you wrestle for?
– Logan jr high and East Waterloo. Wrestled for the University of Texas “club” in Austin, Texas.
PINDOX: What year did you graduate?
-Never graduated College. Graduated Waterloo East in 1980.
PINDOX: Who or what encouraged you to give wrestling a try?
-Both of my brothers wrestled, had to learn to wrestle to survive life with them. Grew up in Dan Gables home town.
PINDOX: Do you have any family who wrestled or wrestles currently? Parents, children, brothers, etc.? How did they do?
-My older brother Jeff Kay was better than me, he wrestled at East as well.
PINDOX: What were your youth results?
– In Junior high- (9th grade I was undefeated. In 10 grade I made varisty at East Waterloo. In 11th grade, I went 11-6 ( this was when there were very few tournaments (thank god) I was ranked 6th in the state I believe in my junior year.
PINDOX: Any rivals there?
– Well, the top guy at my weight Was David Morkel from west Waterloo. He was something like 25 – 0 with all pins I believe, He beat me 11-6.
PINDOX: What was your record in HS?
– Don’t remember total record.
PINDOX: How did you place at state every year?
– Never went to state, the year I was ranked I injured my knee and lost at regionals to a guy I beat easily in the dual meet.
PINDOX: What were some of the most notable adverse challenges or moments you experienced in wrestling and how did it turn out?
– The most challenging part of wrestling was always the weight cut. Back then, there was no supervision, only pure starvation and desire to make weight and make your competitor pay. In my junior year I would weigh around 155 on a Tuesday and on a Friday morning would make 138
How would you describe your wrestling style? Pure strength for 6 minutes LOL.
PINDOX: Who was your most influential coach?
– So many coaches. Obie Sadler, Mr. Harris, Punchy Sallis, the boys club coaches and all of the older wrestlers who would come to practice to share their knowledge.
PINDOX: Was your team competitive in HS/college?
– My team was competitive but do not remember the record.
PINDOX: Who was your most influential wrestler that you looked up to growing up?
– Dan Gable.
PINDOX: Who would you consider the GOAT Iowa HS wrestler?
– Dan Gable, Barry Davis are there any wrestlers you’ve seen, past or present that you would compare your style to? Nowadays, I am a mix of power and tenacity of an Iowa wrestler with John Smith slickness.
PINDOX: What are some interesting hypothetical matchups between guys from different eras that you would have been interesting in seeing?
– Joe Hatchett versus Dan Gabel or Lee Kemp vs. Joe Hatchett.
PINDOX: Who are some Iowa HS wrestling guys from your era that you have an immense amount of respect for?
– Joe Hatchet, Kirk Salis, Tony Hughes, Randy Creighton and more.
PINDOX: Who are your favorite current wrestlers?
– David Taylor, Jorden Burroughs, Spencer Lee.
PINDOX: What music would you listen to back in the wrestling days?
– We had 45’s we would always play “Grooveline” by Heatwave or “Hollywood Swinging” by Kool and the Gang or “Always and Forever” by Heatwave.
PINDOX: If you could go back and change one thing about your wrestling career, what would it be?
-Endurance and diet training!
PINDOX: Who were some of your most notable competitors in high school?
– These were wrestlers in my city. Joe Gibbons, David Morkel. John Diagicomo, Tony Hughes, Kirk Sallis.Tim Klinghammer, Ted Keys, Wendel Leflore, Wayne Love. Sydney Simpson, Denny Boy, Bob C. and More.
PINDOX: Did you wrestle all year or was it seasonal for you?
– Wrestling was seasonal.
PINDOX: How would the guys from your day stack up against the guys today?
– They would beat them Im sure. In Waterloo there were/are world class wrestlers everywhere. Tim Klinghammer, Stuart Carter, Kirk Salis, Tony Hughes, Monty Sproles, Joe Hatchett, Jim Gibbens, Dan Gable, Chuck Yagle, the Morkel Brothers, Kyven Gadson is from my highschool, Johnny Galloway Jr. wrestled at my High school.
PINDOX: Did you wrestle after high school?
– I continued to wrestle in Texas. I won the Texas takedown tournament 5 years in a row. I won the Texas collegites at 158 pounds. I’ve won Judo tournaments and several martial art matches.
PINDOX: What other sports did you play?
– I played football until 12th grade. I quit football to start my own gymnastics team. I placed 6th in the state my first year on the rings.
PINDOX: What are your hobbies other than wrestling?
– Martial arts.
PINDOX: How good does it make you feel to give back to the sport?
– I taught wrestling for over 25 years here in Austin Texas. I was a high school coach for 2 years. I love to give back to the sport.
PINDOX: How has wrestling shaped you as a person to this day?
– I used my wrestling experience to assist me in a career as a professional stuntman for the past 30 years. The discipline you learn as a wrestler prepares you for the Kaos of life.
PINDOX: What do you do now?
– I teach private martial arts and seminars realted to takedowns for martial artist. Mainly for people training in Ju Jitsu. I just finished training an actress for stunt fighting in a new TV series. I am a licensed real estate inspector in Texas. Also, I’m a grandfather (this is the best thing).
PINDOX: Any advice for upcoming wrestlers?
– Endurance training, Discipline, and diet.
PINDOX: Any chance we see you wrestle again at an Old Timer’s tournament?
– Would love to I am at 155 Would you like to give a shoutout to anyone you wrestled with, against, coached, etc.? Shout out to my teammates, Ted Keys, Mark Loftus, Wendal Leflore, Jeff Ott, Ricky Ceaser, Rusty Allen, Jimmy Jewel, Joe Hatchet, Woody Rogers, Randy Finger, Punchy Sallis, Kirk Sallis.
PINDOX: Funny/interesting stories?
– One time, I went to West Waterloo High school to watch a dual meet, Barry Davis was wrestling, He was in such incredible shape he wore his opponent out, and at the start of the 3rd period the guy didn’t know where he was, Barry Davis Slapped him and pulled him to the center position. I thought I hope I never wrestle that guy!
