End of West Gym era is bittersweet for UNI wrestling with proposal for new facility

CEDAR FALLS — Northern Iowa wrestling coach Doug Schwab had a sentimental connection to the West Gym.

He grew up at the facility that housed the Panther wrestling team, watching older brothers, Mark and Mike, compete. His wife and four children have spent time there over the last 14 years, making it more like a second home. Schwab also cut his teeth as a head coach in the venue, thriving in the small, intimate, hot powder-keg of a gymnasium.

Schwab faces a bittersweet situation as structural concerns have led to plans to raze the 98-year-old building and its history but created visions for a standalone training facility to usher UNI wrestling into its next century.

“When I look at this, we just got out of a 100-year building,” Schwab said during a news conference with UNI President Mark Nook and Athletics Director David Harris before the program’s annual media day at McLeod Center. “I’m thinking how we can get the next 100-year building. How that is going to happen is a lot of fans, a lot of donors and people who believe in what we’re doing beyond the wrestling mat.”

UNI officials are expected to ask the Iowa Board of Regents later this week for approval to tear down the West Gym and include a new wrestling facility in the $250 million “Our Tomorrow” fundraising campaign through 2026, investing in all areas of the university.

“It gives us the ability to put the full force of the university behind this project,” Harris said. “It certainly shows it’s a priority and we can go and talk with people in a very important time for us to get their support and get behind the needs for this project. We’re looking forward to having those conversations.”

Schwab said he didn’t understand the impact of being included in the grander fundraising effort. He added that it shows the support of the administration and all UNI fans. Schwab’s focus is on the season, winning over more donors by their performance that ranked fourth nationally in team grade-point average, eighth in national attendance and 16th at the NCAA Championships behind national finalist Parker Keckeisen.

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“My focus has been firmly on our team and how we can move forward and what we can do,” Schwab said. “We can really help a lot by whipping a whole lot of ass this season, too, and that’s our plans.

“In and out of the classroom, I think we were fourth in GPA. The way the guys are going now, hopefully, they even blow that out of the water.”

Past inspection of the West Gym found multiple building code deficiencies and a need for extensive renovations. The figures to fix and renew outweigh the cost to raze. Nook highlighted the West Gym’s history, which includes other sports like volleyball, basketball, dance and others, and noted the possibility of incorporating elements of the old home into the future one.

“There are a lot of people committed and connected to that facility,” Nook said. “Unfortunately, the bones aren’t there anymore.

“So, there’s a lot of things that I think we can do. At this point, it’s a matter of making sure we’ve got people that can go in and evaluate what is there and what’s salvageable, and also asking what is important to our wrestlers. What are the physical pieces that will really be meaningful?”

The efforts the staff and wrestlers demonstrated to find a temporary home when the West Gym couldn’t be used and an alternative space on campus wasn’t good enough had to erase doubt in the project. The Panthers were dedicated to put in the work themselves to turn USA Mat Club into an off-campus training center. They were hands on without complaint. Schwab, his staff and athletes showed they can achieve anything with their dedication.

“This could be a big lift,” Nook said. “Let’s put that out there. It’s going to be a big lift but I’m not scared by that big lift. I’m not even worried about that.”

Initial plans have the new facility in an open lot kitty-corner from McLeod Center, where duals are held. Nook said the plan was to keep it within the vicinity of the competition arena and other students and student-athletes. Many other details like the timeline and total cost are fluid. The biggest challenge remains generating money to make the plans a reality.

Schwab said he is confident that supporters will rally to raise more than $5 million for the facility. He also added this isn’t an arms race with other programs and gaudy price tags aren’t necessary.

“We just have to have our needs taken care of,” Schwab said. “It’s the people. You’re going to hear me say that. It is the people they are going to be around that are the most important. It’s not the building. The building does not get things done. We have to have what we need. Absolutely. To me, 10,000 is not enough. We need to get it bigger for our needs to be taken care of.”

Schwab and Harris said they have talked to the wrestlers about the plans. Schwab said the wrestlers trust the coaches to get what they need. He added he will listen to their input on amenities but he will provide most of the suggestions.

“The future of the wrestling program is bright,” Harris said. “It continues to excel at a high level. We continue to be in position, every time we go out on the mat, we are competing at a high level. Our student-athletes are doing a great job across the board, so it’s a great time, if you have not been a fan of Panther wrestling, this is a great time to throw your support behind the coaches and these young men.”

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