Ben askren

Benjamin Michael “funky” Askren was born July 18, 1984 in Hartland, Wisconsin. His father, Chuck, introduced him to wrestling in grade four, but Askren didn’t really take the sport seriously until he started the sixth grade and joined a club. At Arrowhead High School, Wisconsin, he became a two–time WIAA state champion. Across the nation, he placed in the podium at multiple US National tournaments in folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.

Askren wrestled for the Missouri Tigers in college. Some of his teammates were future UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley and future Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler. From 2003 to 2005 (freshman and sophomore years), Askren achieved second place at the NCAA and the Big 12 Conference Championships. After coming in second for half his career, Askren came into his own. In his junior and senior years he became the third person to earn the Dan Hodge Trophy on multiple occasions, receiving it in both seasons and compiling a 87-0 record. Askren finally graduated with a superb 153-8 record, two Dan Hodge Trophies, a Schalles Award, two NCAA championships, two Big 12 Championships, and 91 pins — the third most in NCAA Division I history. Askren was one of the best collegiate wrestlers of all time. He earned the nickname “funky” for his style, which employed many unorthodox scrambling techniques. His uncommon body shape, for a wrestler, allowed him to do moves his competitors could not, constantly putting them in uncomfortable positions which often lead to pins.

On January 9, 2012, Askren was informed he would be one of six new inductees to the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.