Inductees
Ben Askren
The story goes that, when college coaches tried to recruit him to their campuses, they cautioned against the University of Missouri.
Ben Askren heard it over and over: Mizzou’s wrestling program had never had a national champion, let alone a team national title.
However, he ignored them and listened to his gut, sensing that he could help coach Brian Smith (MSHOF 2022) build something special.
“I thought that was really dumb logic and didn’t buy into it,” Askren said. “I trusted the coaches and liked the athletes. I thought it was a place I could really reach my dreams.”
Askren certainly did just that, becoming one of the sport’s best ever and elevating Mizzou Wrestling in the process, and it’s why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inducted him with the Class of 2024.
One of the most dominant athletes to ever compete in an individual sport in Mizzou history, Askren reached the championship match in each of his four seasons, making him a four-time NCAA All-American. He won it all in his junior and senior years, in 2006 and 2007, when he was a combined 87-0 at 174 pounds.
Overall, he was a sterling 153-8 as the winningest and most decorated wrestler in Mizzou history.
Twice he won the Hodge Award – the sport’s equivalent to football’s Heisman Trophy as the top athlete – and held numerous Mizzou career records, including 91 falls (44 more than the previous record) and 15 technical falls.
Askren later became the first Tiger wrestler to qualify for the Olympics (Beijing, 2008).
And the program’s success? When Askren won his second national title, Mizzou placed third, its highest finish in history. It also kick-started a run of finishing in the top 20 in 21 of the next 22 seasons, including a dozen times in the top 10.
Years earlier, Askren emerged as a blue chip recruit at Arrowhead High School in Wisconsin, garnering national interest after winning the prestigious Fargo, N.D., freestyle tournament.
“On my recruiting visit (to Mizzou), it felt like home,” Askren said. “Coach Smith sold his vision. I saw it, and I really clicked with the guys that were there.”
Askren was a wrestler skilled in traditional folkstyle on his feet but showed incredible creativity with almost gymnastics-esque rolls down on the mat, as he magically pretzeled his body to find advantages. Unorthodox might be the best description.
Clearly, his wrestling IQ was off the charts.
“I was innovative and creative,” Askren said. “I studied people who were better than me. I had a good redshirt year but not a great year.”
That drive to succeed propelled Askren to the national finals in his freshman and sophomore seasons before Oklahoma State’s Chris Pendelton stopped him both times, though Askren did beat him for the Big 12 title in 2004.
As a junior, on championship day, Askren was Joe Cool, much to the surprise of his coach.
“I was ready to rumble,” Askren said. “I was well-prepared and was confident I was going to give my opponent in the finals a whuppin’.”
The Hodge Trophy was the icing on the cake those years. It was developed in 1995, and the first to win it twice was Iowa State’s Cael Sanderson. Askren was the next.
“That was the greatest,” Askren said. “That means you are the best out of everybody.”
Ascending to the top of the podium even once in a college career is meaningful, largely because most wrestlers have been on the mat since their grade school days. That was the case with Askren, who competed in a youth club back home and then took off once he reached junior high school.
That’s why he is so thankful to so many for making his career possible. Those include his parents, Chuck and Michelle, as well has his brother Max, a Mizzou national champion. His high school coach, John Mesenbrink, played a large role in his development.
And, during college, it was Mizzou’s Smith and his assistants Lee Pritts, Bart Horton and Pat McNamara. He also credits opposing wrestlers and coaches, such as Oklahoma State coach John Smith, as well as Dan Schulz and Russian.
Askren later served for two years as a volunteer assistant on the Mizzou staff before beginning a career in Mixed Martial Arts fighting. He went 19-2 and was the Bellator Welterweight Champion and One Welterweight Champion. He now lives in Wisconsin and runs a wrestling academy that has seven branches.
“I love coaching wrestling,” Askren said. “I hope to pass the gift on to others.”