Iowa Hawkeyes’ Dan Gable Wrestling Complex

One of college wrestling's elite facilities received an upgrade and looks fantastic.

I made my way to Iowa City this morning and met up with University of Iowa wrestling coach Tom Brands, who took me into the newly renovated Dan Gable Wrestling Complex, the Hawkeyes' practice facility named after the legendary Iowa coach.

The Hawkeyes trained last season at the Fieldhouse, as the wrestling facility was part of the renovations to Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

As Brands straight-forwardly stated it, a great facility got even better.

The first thing that stands out is a larger space, allowing for more wrestlers to take the mat during practice without running into each other. It appears there is more space for exercise equipment as well.

The room still has some of the same fixtures from before. The bleachers remain and the in-house weight room remains. The wall-mounted drilling dummy (Adam, I think is what we called ours in high school) and the ropes hanging from the ceiling are there.

Electronics have made there way into the room (unless I am forgetting their presence in the old room). A large flat screen TV hangs from above in front of the bleachers. I am guessing that is to look at match video. Two countdown clocks are on the wall near the mats.

Notice the Olympic rings on the wall. I believe they were in the old room, but it represents so much more now with the 2012 USA Wrestling Olympic Team Trials being held at CHA in April. Plus, the Hawkeye Wrestling Club makes its home here.

The boards listing former Hawkeye Big Ten champions and All-Americans promote the outstanding tradition of Iowa wrestling. They are displayed at the end of the room, including returning All-Americans Matt McDonough, Montell Marion, Derek St. John and Grant Gambrall.

I am thoroughly impressed and think Brands hit it on the head by saying a great facility got even better.

Here is a crude video of the facility as I looked around it today. I don't have any vocie over, interviews or soundtrack video. It's simply B-roll from the Hawkeye practice room.