Days After Unprecedented Eviction of Historic Wrestling Gym, University of North Iowa Wrestles Its Way Into a New ?Home?

The University of Northern Iowa has launched its new gym facility. The Panthers were displaced and evicted from their long-lived gym. They had to vacate to a new place across the town. The structural issues were witnessed in their 98-year-old gym area.

A massive fundraising campaign was also organized for the construction of a new gym building in September 2022. So far, this massive project has collected approximately ?$242 million out of the planned ?$250 million cost. Over 27,000 donors were fully indulged in the campaign.

UNI Wrestlers move to the new Wrestling Gym

The new wrestling gym is located across Cedar Falls town. It has been named the USA Mat Club. Earlier, the UNI wrestlers used to practice in the 98-year-old West Gym. Now the Panthers, with their coach Doug Schwab, have finally settled at the new gym. Shawn Kelly, a former Northern Iowa wrestler, is the owner of the gym. He is also the president of Black Hawk Roof Company. Dough Schwab on his Twitter handle posted this, “Progress being made on all fronts. (hashtag Panther train).”

The coach was seen giving instructions to his team members. He emphasized the importance of proper training through seeking opportunities and responding to new circumstances. He seems very confident of his team that the team will easily adjust to the new place. ?For me, this made a whole lot of sense,? he said.

The coach sees a bunch of facilities at the new gym

The new gym area holds promises for the UNI wrestling stars. It has more mat space as compared to the previous west gym. For the coach, it was important to have a home feeling in the area. He focused on more traditional wrestling rooms so that the wrestlers could spend much of their time in the gym area to sharpen their craft.

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He also thanked Shawn Kelly and his entire crew for supporting the vision of UNI wrestlers. This was his statement to the flo wrestling official page, ?I am extremely grateful to Shawn Kelly and his whole crew (at the USA Mat Club).??According to him, the west gym campus was not enough to meet the needs of the wrestlers due to its poor condition.

The UNI Wrestlers will officially begin their practice in the new USA Mat gym on the 10th of October. The wrestling program will begin its 100th season of competition in 2023-24, so it is a piece of great news for the UNI wrestling students and the entire team.

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