“The new wrestling facility really is the house that Tom built.”  Bob Nicolls

The Goschke Family Wrestling Training Center and Bob and Kathy Nicolls Wrestling Room is what I have named “The greatest wrestling training facility…in the world.” Home of Iowa Men’s and Women’s Wrestling in Wrestle Town USA – Iowa City, Iowa, USA.

You will have to tour the new facility to get a feel for how incredible it truly is.

In a blog I released on May 31: The $31-million, 38,500-square-foot building was funded entirely by private gifts.

I am amazed that there was not a single loan, note, bond, nothing. This new facility was paid for by Iowa Wrestling fans. I say again P-A-I-D for.

How? Let’s take a look at how it all got started.

In a press release by the University of Iowa $31 million was used for the total bill. I am now finding out that it actually cost $34 million.

At the opening ceremony of the new facility on Thursday, May 30 Tom Brands gave us some insight on how he raised over $34 million.

It all started the day of the Grapple on the Gridiron on Saturday, November 14, 2015. The University of Iowa defeated #1 ranked Oklahoma State in Kinnick Stadium in front of a record 42,000 plus fans.

After the meet Tom Brands attended the Iowa-Minnesota football night game at Kinnick. That is when he spotted a guy he did not know wearing a Hawkeye Wrestling Club jacket. 

Tom, being kinda the shy type, told the guy that only boosters get a coat like that. The guy wearing the HWC coat was Bob Nicolls. They shook hands and started a relationship and the fate of Iowa Wrestling was changed forever. 

At the end of a brief conversation Bob told Tom to call if he ever needed anything.

Tom called Bob and asked if he could come out to Denver and talk. He then asked if Bob was a morning person. Bob said he was and when did he want to come out. Tom responded that he would be there in the morning. Tom and then Iowa Wrestling Director of Operations Luke Eustice drove 800 miles through the night and walked into Bob Nicolls’ office at 7AM the next morning.

An hour later Tom walked out of Bob’s office with a check for $60,000 for the Hawkeye Wrestling Club and $1 million to build a new wrestling facility. They then drove straight through back to Iowa to get back to work.

The rest as they say is history.

Bob Nicolls:

Without Tom the new facility does not get built. Tom’s energy and passion made it happen.

Tom is doing a great job roster building. 

500 people contributed to the new facility. It took every single person and dollar to make this happen. 

The Training section right off the mats for Jesse (Donnenwerth – Iowa Wrestling Athletic Trainer) was well done. A lot of thought went into making the facility to take the best care of the athletes.

I thought it should have been named the “Tom and Terry Brands Wrestling Room.” I did not care about my name being on anything. I just wanted the facility built.

When Covid hit in 2020 we were at $11 million. Kevin Collins contacted me about a match program. I gave $3 million more and he was able to get that matched by other boosters. I then gave another $3 million for a total of $7 million to get us to $18 million. We picked up two $1 million donors and just kept going. 

The Goschke family then donated $7 million and that got us the final approval to build the facility.

I will be releasing additional blogs about how “The greatest wrestling training facility…in the world” was built. I say again the cost was over $34 million and every single dollar was raised by Iowa Wrestling fan donors. No loan, notes, bonds, nothing. No other program has ever done that. 

As a matter of fact I believe two of Iowa’s yearly rivals (Iowa State and Illinois) recently put plans on hold to build a new facility because they simply could not raise the money needed.

Tom Brands raised the $34 million and was very much involved in the design and construction of the new wrestling facility. He did all of this on top of and in addition to his regular duties as Head Wrestling Coach at the University of Iowa.

I do not believe enough has been said about what Tom Brands has done. Possibly because people do not know.

There are a lot more stories to be told about how “The greatest wrestling training facility…in the world” was paid for entirely by Iowa Wrestling fans. I will dig in and see what I can do to publish more blogs about this. 

I hope to do a blog about the Goschke family that donated $7 million for the new facility.

I definitely want to do a blog about the tunnel that goes underground from the wrestling room to the floor of Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Competitors may eventually build a massive wrestling facility but the best of luck to anyone on this planet duplicating that tunnel. It is unreal.

The University of Iowa Wrestling team will host an open practice on Saturday, October 26 at 10 AM. It is Homecoming at Iowa and I am expecting a great day to be a Hawk fan in Iowa City.

If you have not experienced the new facility I suggest that you do. Words do not do it justice. Especially walking through the tunnel.

Fans are welcomed to come in and watch practice and to take a tour of the new facility.

Iowa Wrestling will be hosting recruits for the biggest recruiting weekend of the year. Recruits will be in town Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Saturday will really be the first time that the Goschke Family Wrestling Training Center and Bob and Kathy Nicolls Wrestling Room –  “The greatest wrestling training facility…in the world”  will be on display for fans and recruits at this level.

The $34 million house that Tom built.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The University of Iowa Women’s Wrestling team released their 2024-25 schedule. The Hawks enter their second season in program history as the defending NCWWC and National Dual champions.

Iowa will have only two home dual meets again this season but will have several competitions nearby including the national tournament. 

The Hawks will begin their season on Saturday, November 2 at the Luther Hill Invitational in Indianola, Iowa.

The home opener for Iowa will be a double dual with Cornell College and William Jewell on Saturday, November 16 at 1 PM. 

On Saturday, January 18 the Hawks will host Augustana and Grand Valley State.

Iowa will once again be at Soldier Salute in Coralville on December 29-30 and at the NWCA Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa on January 10-11.

Iowa will compete at the NCC Open on Sunday, December 15. Host North Central College placed second to Iowa at the 2024 NCWWC Nationals just six points behind the Hawks.

For the postseason Iowa will be at the NCWWC Region VII Championships as a qualifier for Nationals.

The 2025 NCWWC National Championships will be in Coralville, Iowa on Friday and Saturday, March 8-9. 

The season cannot start soon enough.

2024-25 Iowa Women’s Wrestling Schedule

Nov. 2 – Luther Hill Open – Indianola, Iowa

Nov. 8 – Life Dual – Marietta, Ga.

Nov. 9 – Eagle Madness Open – Marietta, Ga.

Nov. 16 – Home Dual vs. William Jewell and Cornell College – Iowa City, Iowa

Nov. 22-23 – Missouri Valley Open – Marshall, Mo.

Dec. 7 – Jewell Dual Tournament – Liberty, Mo.

Dec. 15 – NCC Open – Naperville, Ill.

Dec. 29-30 – Soldier Salute – Coralville, Iowa

Jan. 10-11 – National Duals – Cedar Falls, Iowa

Jan. 18 – Home Dual vs. Augustana College and Grand Valley State – Iowa City, Iowa

Jan. 25 – College Duals vs. Lock Haven, Sacred Heart, Presbyterian and Buffalo St. – Alban

Feb. 1 – Grand View Open – Des Moines, Iowa

Feb. 22 – NCWWC Region VII Championships – Indianola, Iowa

Mar. 7-8 – NCWWC National Championships – Coralville, Iowa

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Kylie Welker, Skye Realin, Macey Kilty, and Patrick Kennedy will compete at the U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania on October 23-27. 

Realin(59kg) will compete on Wednesday-Thursday (Oct 23-24), Welker(72kg) and Kilty(62kg) on Thursday-Friday (Oct 24-25) and Kennedy(79kg) will compete on Saturday-Sunday (Oct 26-27).

FloWrestling will have full coverage of the U23 World Championships available on their premium service.

Welker won an NCWWC national title at 170 lbs. last season for the Hawks and is a redshirt sophomore listed at 180 on the roster.

She was a 2021 Junior World champion, 2021 U23 World Bronze medalist, and placed 10th at the 2021 Senior World Championships.

Kilty transferred into the program this summer with one year of eligibility remaining and is listed at 145 on the roster. She won silver at 65kg at the 2023 Senior World Championships and was a 2018 Cadet World champion. She has won five age-level World medals for Team USA.

Realin transferred in this summer from Central Methodist University where she placed fifth in NAIA at 130 lbs. in 2023 and is listed as a junior at 131 on the roster.

Kennedy was an NCAA National Qualifier at 165 in 2023 and at 174 in 2024. He is a senior listed at 174 on the roster.

Welker and Kilty will also be competing at the Senior World Championships in Tirana, Albania on Tuesday-Wednesday (October 29-30).

U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania

***All times listed are CST

Wednesday, October 23

3:30 AM – Qualification Rounds (Women’s freestyle 50 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 68 kg and 76 kg)

9:45 AM – Semifinals (Women’s freestyle 50 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 68 kg and 76 kg)

Thursday, October 24

3:30 AM – Repechage (Women’s freestyle 50 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 68 kg and 76 kg)

Qualification Rounds (Women’s freestyle 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg, and 72 kg)

9:45 AM – Semifinals (Women’s freestyle 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg, and 72 kg)

11 AM – Finals (Women’s freestyle 50 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 68 kg and 76 kg)

Friday, October 25

3:30 AM – Repechage (Women’s freestyle 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg, and 72 kg) and 

11 AM – Finals (Women’s freestyle 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 65 kg, and 72 kg)

Saturday, October 26

3:30 AM – Qualification Rounds (Men’s freestyle 57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg and 97 kg)

9:45 AM – Semifinals (Men’s freestyle 57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg and 97 kg)

Sunday, October 27

9 AM – Repechage (Men’s freestyle 57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg and 97 kg)

11 AM – Finals (Men’s freestyle 57 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 79 kg and 97 kg)

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The University of Iowa Wrestling team will host an open practice on Saturday, October 26 at 10 AM. 

The practice will be open for fans inside the Goschke Family Wrestling Training Center and Bob and Kathy Nicolls Wrestling Room –  “The greatest wrestling training facility…in the world.” Home of Iowa Wrestling in Wrestle Town USA – Iowa City, Iowa, USA.

If you have not experienced the new facility I suggest that you do. Words do not do it justice. Especially the tunnel that leads to the main floor of Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Unreal.

Iowa Football will face Northwestern for Homecoming with a 2:30 PM kickoff. Homecoming, perfect weather and an Iowa Wrestling practice will provide a great day in Iowa City on Saturday. 

Attending a practice in the Iowa Wrestling room before a football game has been a game day tradition for Hawk fans for decades.

To add to the excitement Iowa Wrestling will be hosting recruits for the biggest recruiting weekend of the year. Recruits will be in town Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

An Iowa practice before a home football game will attract more fans than some D-I wrestling programs get for a home dual meet.

Hawkeye fans let’s impress the recruits.

Let’s get ‘em in the middle.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Spencer Lee, Kylie Welker, and Naomi Simon have been named as a 2024 Iowa/USA Wrestling Award winner.

Spencer Lee was named as the UWW Open Men’s Wrestler of the Year. Lee captured silver at the Paris Olympics at 57kg. Lee was the highest placing American wrestler at the Olympics.

Lee won the Olympic Team Trials and also qualified Team USA at 57kg by winning the World Olympic Games Qualifier in Istanbul, Turkey.

Lee was a three-time NCAA national champion at Iowa and a two-time Hodge Trophy winner.

Kylie Welker was named as the UWW Open Women’s Wrestler of the Year. Welker shared the award with Adaugo Nwachukwu.

Welker led Iowa to the NCWWC team title in the first year of the program by winning the national title at 170 lbs. and was named as the 2024 NCAA Women’s Wrestler of the Year by The Open Mat. 

She was a 2021 Junior World champion, 2021 U23 World Bronze medalist, and placed 10th at the 2021 Senior World Championships.

Welker will represent Team USA at 72kg at the U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania on October 23-27 and also at the Senior World Championships in Tirana, Albania on October 29-30.

Naomi Simon was named as the Jr Women’s Wrestler of the Year.

Simon was an undefeated four-time state champion for Decorah, Iowa with a career record of 150-0 and is a freshman at Iowa.

In international competition Simon placed fifth at the Grand Prix of Spain in July. This was an Open international event with wrestlers from around the world.

Simon won the Bronze medal at 76kg at the 2024 U20 World Freestyle Championships in Pontevedra, Spain.

Congratulations to these three Hawkeyes for being named as Wrestler of the Year.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

We have a huge week of Iowa Wrestling in front of us in…the end of October. To me this may be the best time of the year to be an Iowa Wrestling fan. The anticipation of the upcoming season and recruiting are always a high priority this time of year.

To add to that we have several Hawks competing at the U23 and Senior World Championships in Tirana, Albania.

We will have a lot going on and I will keep you up to date right here on my Iowa Wrestling Fan Blog.

This will be the biggest weekend of the year for recruiting for Iowa Wrestling. Iowa will host recruits on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Usually we get a commit over the weekend and several more over the next week after in-home visits.

This Saturday, October 26 is Homecoming at Iowa. Iowa Football will host Northwestern in Kinnick Stadium at 2:30 PM. Homecoming always add to the excitement of a football Saturday for recruiting.

I will have more information on a blog later this week.

Kylie Welker, Skye Realin, Macey Kilty, and Patrick Kennedy will compete at the U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania on October 23-27. 

Realin(59kg) will compete on Wednesday-Thursday (Oct 23-24) and Welker(72kg) and Kilty(62kg)  on Thursday-Friday (Oct 24-25). Kennedy(79kg) will compete on Saturday-Sunday (Oct 26-27).

Welker and Kilty will also be competing at the Senior World Championships in Tirana, Albania on Tuesday-Wednesday (October 29-30).

That is a lot of Iowa Wrestling for the end of October and I love it.

The Men’s program will begin the season at Oregon State on Saturday, November 2. The Women’s program has not released their schedule at this time.

Let’s get ‘em in the middle.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

It was huge news when Kennedy Blades announced on July 23 that she had committed to Iowa. At that time Blades was preparing for the Olympics where she would win silver at 76kg/167 lbs. 

Blades defeated six-time World champion Adeline Gray to make the Olympic team.

On the new Iowa Wrestling roster Blades is listed as a junior at 160 lbs.

Blades is a 2021 U20 world champion and 2023 U20 bronze medalist. She was also a 2023 U23 silver medalist.

Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Blades was the first girl to win an Illinois state title and also competed for Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania.

Blades had Iowa in her final three choices coming out of high school in 2022. Blades chose Arizona State that does not offer women’s wrestling and has competed for Sunkist Kids that has been discontinued.

With her commitment to Iowa Kennedy Blades was immediately the biggest name in all of women’s college wrestling. Her sights are now set on being a gold medalist at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

What an amazing addition to the already strong Iowa program. 

Best of luck to Kennedy Blades as an Iowa Hawkeye.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The Big Ten Conference released the schedule for wrestling meets to be televised on BTN this season.

Iowa will be on BTN in five home and two away dual meets. All times listed are CST.

The Iowa Hawkeyes will be televised live on BTN for home duals against Stanford, Illinois, Ohio State, Nebraska and Oklahoma State and road duals at Penn State and Minnesota.

The entire Big Ten Championships, which will be held March 8-9 in Evanston, Illinois, will be televised on BTN.

Iowa dual meets against Iowa State, Wisconsin, Maryland and Northwestern will be streamed on B1G+ (subscription required). 

The Journeymen Wrestling “Uncivil War” against Princeton and Army will be streamed on UFC Fight Pass (subscription required).

2024-25 Iowa Wrestling Schedule

***Times listed are CST

Saturday, November 2 – at Oregon State 9 PM

Saturday, November 9 – Stanford   6 PM  (BTN)

Friday, November 15 – at Bellarmine (Louisville, KY)

Saturday, November 23 – Iowa State  Streamed on B1G+ (subscription required)

Friday, December 6 – Journeymen Wrestling’s “Uncivil War” in St. Charles, MO

Princeton  6 PM  UFC Fight Pass (subscription required)

Army  8 PM  UFC Fight Pass (subscription required)

Sunday/Monday Dec 29-30- at Soldier Salute (Coralville, Iowa)

Sunday, January 12 – at Wisconsin  2 PM  Streamed on B1G+ (subscription required)

Friday, January 17 – Illinois  6 PM  (BTN)

Saturday, January 25 – Ohio State  1 PM (BTN)

Friday, January 31 – at Penn State  6 PM  (BTN)

Sunday, February 2 – at Maryland  1 PM  Streamed on B1G+ (subscription required)

Friday, February 7 – Nebraska  7 PM  (BTN)

Friday, February 14 – at Minnesota  8 PM  (BTN)

Sunday, February 16 – Northwestern  Streamed on B1G+ (subscription required)

Sunday, February 23 – Oklahoma State  7:30 PM (BTN)

*Sat/Sun, March 8-9 – at Big Ten Championships (Evanston, IL)  (BTN)

*Thurs/Sat, March 20-22 – at NCAA Championships (Philadelphia, PA)

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

On May 21 Kyle Parco announced that he was transferring to Iowa from Arizona State.

Parco, from Danville(De La Salle HS), California, is a four-time All American that began his career at Fresno State. He placed sixth as a redshirt freshman in 2021 when his head coach was former Hawkeye national champion Troy Steiner. He was named as the 2021 Pac 12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year.

At Arizona State Parco placed eighth in 2002, fourth in 2023, and fifth this past season at the NCAA national tournament and won three Pac-12 titles at 149. He was named the 2022 Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year. 

Parco has competed at 149 for his career and is listed at 149 on the new Iowa Wrestling roster. He has a 95-18 career record.

With the Covid year of 2020 Parco will have one year of eligibility remaining.

Parco has been named as a 2022, 2023, and 2024 NWCA Scholar All American.

149 is a deep weight class with a lot of returning All Americans. Parco is already in good shape and looks to be ready to challenge for the title.

2020 – Redshirt

2021 – 6th at 149 (Fresno State)

2022 – 8th at 149 (Arizona State)

2023 – 4th at 149 (Arizona State)

2024 – 5th at 149 (Arizona State)

Preseason Rankings at 149 for Parco:

Intermat – 4th

FloWrestling – 4th

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The Hawkeye Wrestling Club has released their schedule for Pre-Match Socials for the upcoming season. The Socials provide a great opportunity for Iowa Wrestling fans to get together before a home Iowa dual meet and meet members of the HWC.

I will post a blog the week of a social as a reminder throughout the season.

I will also post blogs about HAWK Klub Parties after home dual meets if I am able to get their schedule this season.

Iowa starts the season on the road at Oregon State on November 2 and hosts Stanford in the home opener on Saturday, November 9.

From HawkeyeWrestlingClub.com:

For the past two years we have been partnering with local bars and restaurants to provide our fans with Pre-Match Socials! Our goal is to create an atmosphere where our community can grow and enjoy Hawkeye Wrestling together. Our social events are open to the public and free of charge! Guests can win raffle prizes, meet Hawkeye legends, and enjoy drink specials Before the Whistle!

Hawkeye Wrestling Club Pre-Match Socials

Saturday, November 9th  – Tavern Blue (vs. Stanford) 

Saturday, November 23rd – Vine Tavern & Eatery (vs. Iowa State)

Monday, December 30th – 30hop (Soldier Salute)

Friday, January 17th – Donnelly’s Pub (vs. Univ of Illinois)

Saturday, January 25th – Sports Column (vs. Ohio State)

Friday, February 7th – Joe’s Place (vs. Nebraska)

Sunday, February 16th – Iowa Athletic Club (vs. Northwestern)

Sunday, February 23rd – Big Grove Brewery (vs. Oklahoma State )

Sunday, March 9th – NCAA’s Between Sessions Social (B1G Championship)

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!