Outstanding Wrestler Award Winner at the 2006 NCAA Championships
For his success on the mats as a junior and senior, Askren was honored by W.I.N. Magazine as its Dan Hodge Award winner, an award given annually to the top collegiate wrestler. In those same years, Askren won the Schalles award twice for the NCAA’s ‘best pinner’ as well as the Outstanding Wrestler award at the 2006 NCAA Championships. He completed his career with a record of 153-7 and added four Academic All-Big XII honors to his mantle.
After earning his degree from MU in 2007, Askren remained in Columbia and served as a volunteer assistant coach, working along side coach Shawn Charles for two years before both went to Tempe, AZ to coach at Arizona St. Additionally, he and Max began their wrestling camps, allowing kids a glimpse of the highly stylized approach toward the sport of wrestling. Simultaneously, during his two years after graduating, Askren continued to hone his skills and went on to capture the 74kg freestyle championship at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. With the victory came a spot on the Team USA roster and trip to the Beijing Olympics where he posted a 1-1 record on the world’s largest stage.