As soon as the Iowa Hawkeyes announced a massive $31 million investment, all eyes were on them for what was set to come. No wrestling program has had such a huge sum invested in it before, and this was a first of its kind at the college level. Last year, the Hawkeyes inaugurated their new training facility built at a whopping cost of $31 million, with state-of-the-art facilities. While the new facility was launched in the hope of some improved results in the coming years, this hasn’t been the case. As a result, former World Champion Ben Askren mocked the massive investment made by the Iowa Hawkeyes.
The 2-time NCAA Division 1 champion couldn’t come to terms with the Hawkeyes’ poor show in the recently-concluded Big Ten Championship. They finished third in the tournament, losing all three final bouts that they qualified in, as Penn State dominated the entire tournament. Given the massive sum spent by the Iowa Hawkeyes to improve their training facilities, the results didn’t show up on the mat when it mattered the most leading to Asker taking a dig at the program.
After the Hawkeyes’ failure in the event, a fan took a sarcastic gibe at Iowa, saying, “I can’t open track wrestling. Can someone tell me how many B1G Champs Iowa had?” Interestingly, they have won 8 titles, with the last win coming way back in 1979. With no signs of recent victories, Askren took a shot at them and said, “Maybe if they spend $5 million this off season they can get 1 big ten title.”
Maybe if they spend $5 million this off season they can get 1 big ten title https://t.co/lBghsG0Sns
— Funky (@Benaskren) March 10, 2025
Meanwhile, Iowa’s coach, Tom Brands, shifted his focus to the upcoming NCAA Championships after a poor show here. “We are heading to Philadelphia. I think you have to be looking forward. You evaluate, you look forward, you get better,” he said. Earlier, the head coach revealed how the new facility might prove to be a game-changer for the University.
Iowa Hawkeyes’ coach all praise of $31 Million facility
Despite many in the wrestling world questioning the massive investment in the Hawkeyes’ new training facility, their head coach, Brands was pleased to have these resources at his disposal. The modern-day training facility spreads across 38,500 foot and is named as the Goschke Family Wrestling Training Center. Brands couldn’t keep off on mentioning about the massive facility after its launch.
He said, “I think you have to have the full package and we have the whole package now. I think facilities, uniforms and everything that goes with being the latest and greatest is important. This (facility is) pretty late and great.” While the new facility may have impressed the coaches and the players, it has raised many eyebrows, with fans questioning the huge sum involved.
A fan even claimed that it was just a fancy building, and questioned its ideal usage as the Hawkeyes continue to fail to deliver when it matters the most. Nonetheless, the NCAA Championship will provide another opportunity for the Hawkeyes to turn around their fortunes and come back stronger.
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