As the final buzzer rang throughout Rocket Mortgage Field House in Cleveland, Ohio, the world went silent for University of Iowa sophomore Gabe Arnold. Arnold, wrestling two weight-classes above his competition weight, became an All-American in the 197-pounds bout and was deemed the lowest seed ever to All-American in NCAA Tournament history. Arnold’s journey unveils the hidden struggles facing young male athletes today, as his story sheds light on the truths behind the absence of mental health awareness among men.
Comparative to his freshman season, Arnold was set as the back-up 184-pounder under Iowa’s Angelo Ferrari. Upon an injury in a dual against Penn State’s Rocco Welsh, Ferrari was placed on medical injury for the remainder of the dual season leading into the 2026 Big Ten Championships. In his leave, Arnold stepped in the starting-position at 184-pounds and received notable wins and close losses in the Iowa dual team season.
Upon the Ferrari’s return to the line-up, fans speculated Arnold’s next steps for the remainder of the post season. With the absence of a consistent 197-pounder since Massoma Endene’s release from the line-up, Iowa was faced with a gap that was at a disadvantage in the projections of their NCAA tournament run.
Arnold, upon the guidance of Tom Brands, was selected as Iowa’s 197-pounder for the Big-Ten Tournament. As the No. 13 seed, Arnold placed 9th overall and qualified for the NCAA tournament as the 27th seed. “Fighting against the negative thoughts, I realized I can’t expect all these great things of myself if I don’t even believe in myself,” said Arnold when asked about his thoughts going into the NCAA tournament. Arnold had a 5-2 run in the NCAAs, achieving All-American honors and a 7th place finish.
“The clock was at zero and everything was silent,” stated Arnold in his reflection of his All-American blood round match. Arnold defeated Rutgers’ Remy Cotton by 4-3 decision and collapsed in tears upon his victory. “It’s indescribable being an All-American; The unseen practices, the unseen tears and blood, it finally paid off.”
Arnold was raised in Albany, Georgia by parents Phil and Elizabeth Arnold alongside his older brother, Caleb. Arnold recalled the importance of his family in his life, keeping him grounded in his faith, education, and importance of life outside the physical and mental tolls of athletics.
As a former wrestler for the University of Missouri, Gabe’s father guided him in his early development in wrestling as his full-time coach for Alpha-Omega and Team Georgia. “He is the reason why my journey started,” said Arnold in relocation of his father’s involvement. “He has been pivotal, and to think he hasn’t played a huge role in my journey would be asinine.”
Gabe’s mother, Elizabeth Arnold, was influential in his journey alongside the development of his faith and love for sciences. As an educator, Elizabeth’s prioritization of the importance of education strongly supported Gabe’s passion for the biological sciences, specifically that of herpetology. “My mom has always been my rock,” said Arnold. “That woman is one of the most selfless women I have ever met, I wouldn’t be the man I am today if it wasn’t for her and her prayer.”
In his childhood, Gabe recalls memories of him and his brother, Caleb, catching garter snakes, rattle snakes, cotton mouth snakes in South Georgia. Arnold currently houses seven pet snakes in Iowa City with dreams of opening his own reptile zoo and milking venomous snakes.
In his true freshman season, Gabe started to experience the mental tolls that college athletics has on young students, specifically with the combination of athletic, academic, and social expectations of friends, teammates, and social media. With a history of depression in his family, Arnold began to experience these struggles silently, building up across the season.
“There is a disconnect of men’s mental health in general,” expressed Arnold. “We are raised in a society where we are supposed to be tough, you are supposed to not have hard things affect you, and you are supposed to be the pinnacle of your family and it is flawed.”
At the 2025 Soldier Salute Tournament in Coralville, Iowa, Arnold was set to face Angelo Ferrari in the 184-pound championship. Ferrari received a medical forfeit to win the championship bout, leading to harsh backlash from Iowa fans on Gabe’s release. Unbenoying to fans and social media, Arnold was admitted into the hospital for at-risk patients by the Iowa coaching staff for fears of attempted self-harm.
“I had every intention of being done, I knew what I was going to do and had all my notes written out,”
Arnold said in recollation of his mental state during the 2025 Soldier Salute Tournament. “It came to be at the very bottom that I found out that I can fight another day.”
“It came to be at the very bottom that I found out that I can fight another day.”
Arnold’s individual struggles, alongside his first-hand witness of the effects of depression among multiple family members, has inspired his continuous fight to share his story and increase awareness for mental health support.
“As long as I am some sort of beacon for somebody, I know I am doing the right thing. I pray that me being as vocal as I am is helping someone get through their next minute, hour, or day,” Arnold said.
Gabe Arnold has become a symbol of resilience in the world of wrestling, overcoming the expectations of society and college athletics in the face of mental health struggles.
Arnold, through it all, stands not untouched, but unbroken.
