IOWA CITY, Ia. — The biggest prizes of Daniel Dennis' competitive life slipped through his hands time and again and left him with shattered wrestling dreams.

Twice a state finalist but never a titlist. An NCAA runner-up who suffered one of the most heart-wrenching defeats in Iowa program history. A World Team Trials second-place finisher a year ago.

His career had been defined by coming so close to gold, only to watch it transform into silver.

Until Sunday night.