Ben Askren

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Ben Askren is a volunteer assistant wrestling coach and was an American amateur wrestler for the University of Missouri. Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, his family moved to Wisconsin, where he won two state championships. In college, he wrestled in the 174 lb. weight class. He lost the NCAA championship match to Chris Pendleton in both 2004 and 2005 before winning it in 2006 and 2007. He is known for his incredible pinning ability (he holds the single-season NCAA pin record); his massive afro; and his "funky", or unorthrodox, wrestling style. For example, while being ridden in the 2005 championship match, he attempted to reach back and apply a headlock to Pendleton, a move that any wrestling coach would disavow. His tall, lanky body - in sharp contrast to the squat, muscular physiques of most top wrestlers - allows him to attempt moves that most wrestlers could not. His younger brother Max also wrestles for Missouri.

Ben had a dominant Junior season in 2005-2006, winning all 45 of the matches he wrestled, pinning in 25 of those matches. He won the 174 pound weight class easily at both the Big 12 and NCAA Championships. He won his Big 12 finals match 17-6 over Jacob Klein of Nebraska and his NCAA finals match 14-2 over anothe wrestler who was undefeated going into the NCAA finals Jake Herbert of Northwestern. His oustanding season earned him the Outstanding Wrestler award at the NCAA Championships as well as the Dan Hodge Trophy and the Rev Wrestler of the Year.

He continued that dominance going into his Senior year in 2006-2007, going undefeated again with a record of 42-0. He won his second consecutive NCAA Championship at 174 pounds by defeating second-ranked Keith Gavin of Pittsburgh, 8-2. Ben finished his collegiate career with an 87 match winning streak. He also became only the second person ever to win the Dan Hodge Trophy twice, as W.I.N. Magazine named the 2007 winner. Ben was also once again named the Rev Wrestler of the Year.

Ben finished his collegiate wrestling career with a record of 153-8, with 91 of those victories coming by way of fall. Those 91 pins put him at third on the all-time NCAA Division I pins list. He was also a four-time All American, including being only the twelfth Division I wrestler ever to be a four-time finalist. Askren was also nominated for an ESPY in 2007 in the category Best Male College Athlete. Ben Akren recently won the US Open and hopes to make the 2008 US Olympic Team. A purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a wrestling coach at the American Top Team school in Columbia, Missouri ^[1], Askren one day hopes to compete in the UFC.