U.S. wrestler and Northfield native Jordan Holm, seeking to overturn his conviction in the 2002 sexual assault of a University of Iowa student, argued Thursday at the Johnson County courthouse in Iowa City that he was pressured by his college coach and his lawyers to waive his right to a jury trial.

As a 20-year-old wrestling star at the University of Northern Iowa, Holm was convicted of assaulting a woman after an off-campus party in Iowa City. He spent nearly seven years in prison, maintaining his innocence.

Holm testified that he waived his right to a jury trial "with great reluctance" at the insistence of his lawyers, who had been recommended by then-UNI coach Brad Penrith. Holm's lawyers believed he couldn't get a fair trial because Johnson County was inflamed over the special treatment a star Iowa basketball player received in a sex abuse case. A judge later found Holm guilty of third-degree sexual abuse after a bench trial.

Judge Lars Anderson finished hearing testimony Thursday, saying he would "sort through the evidence" and rule in coming months after receiving written closing arguments.

After his release in 2010, Holm became a four-time U.S. Open champion in the Greco-Roman discipline and made the U.S. team for the world championships from 2013 through 2015.

Smith is 10th in butterfly

Regan Smith, a 15-year-old swimmer from Lakeville, finished 10th Thursday in the 100-meter butterfly at the U.S. championships in Indianapolis. On Wednesday, Smith was second in the 200 backstroke, earning her a place on the U.S. roster for the world championships July 23-30 in Budapest, Hungary.

Etc.

• Mille Lacs was named the best bass fishery in the country by Bassmaster Magazine. The iconic central Minnesota lake ranked sixth on the same list a year ago. It dethroned Toledo Bend Reservoir, holder of the top spot for the past two years.

• Mark Hamburger picked up his seventh win of the season and the St. Paul Saints (26-13) ended a two-game losing streak with a 6-3 victory over the Sioux City Explorers at CHS Field. Anthony Gallas had a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly for the Saints.