The University of Iowa announced that the new wrestling facility will be named the Goschke Family Wrestling Training Center and the wrestling room will be named after Bob and Kathy Nicolls.
From HawkeyeSports.com:
Shortly after the Iowa men’s wrestling team claimed the 2021 NCAA team title, the Goschkes met Head Coach Tom Brands and Spencer Lee, a three-time NCAA individual champion. It was an experience the Goschkes, of Iowa City, have not forgotten and served as a catalyst for their $7 million gift commitment to the Carver Circle campaign.
“After we met with Coach Brands and Spencer, we immediately gained a greater appreciation of the philosophy of Iowa wrestling,” says Doug. “We saw many similarities between Iowa wrestling and how we raised our family and built our business. It took our passion for Iowa wrestling to a new level, and both Ann and I are thrilled to support Iowa’s wrestlers in this way.”
“Our vision was to build the best training facility in college wrestling,” says Brands. “As Doug and Ann Goschke’s relationship with Iowa athletics grew—and they started to understand our vision—they were 100% on board. They recognized why this project was a must for our program and were eager to get behind it. The Goschkes have helped us reach the finish line. They are great Hawks, and we are proud to have their name on this facility.”
The new 13,000 square foot wrestling room will double the amount of training space and will allow Iowa’s collegiate wrestlers and members of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club to train at the highest level. That space will be named in honor of Bob Nicolls and Kathy Nicolls, of Franktown, Colorado.
Bob Nicolls has been a passionate Iowa wrestling fan since his time as a student, and the couple are generous supporters of Iowa’s track and field and wrestling teams, as well as the UI Department of Accounting. To honor the Nicolls’ $7 million gift to the Carver Circle campaign, the wrestling room will be named in their honor.
“Bob Nicolls got this campaign started,” says Brands. “He stepped up right away, brought others to the table, and never wavered in his commitment and drive to help us get this project done. He’s been the lead volunteer on this project and a great friend to our program and me. We are honored to have the Nicolls’ name on our wrestling room. It can’t be anyone else. That’s how important Bob Nicolls was to getting this campaign done.”
$31 million has been raised for the 38,500 square foot training facility and construction began in June.
I have called the new facility “The greatest wrestling training facility…in the world!” since the beginning years ago. Once this facility is built I am confident it will indeed be just that.
Thank you to the Goschke family and Nicolls family for your support of Iowa Wrestling.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
