Max Askren was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Chuck and Michele Askren. The family later moved to Hartland, Wisconsin, where he grew up along with his older brother, Ben. Both Max and Ben wrestled from a young age and competed in many Wisconsin Wrestling Federations events including Kids State Tournaments, as well as USA Wrestling competition. At Arrowhead High School, Max was a three-time state placer and won a WIAA state championship in 2005. While at Arrowhead, Max helped lead the wrestling team to a second-place finish at the team state championships in 2005. As a senior, Max was named Wrestler of the Year by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, ending his high school career with a 168-10 record. Competing in the Junior National Championships in freestyle wrestling, he was a three-time All American, finishing in second place as a high school senior.

At the University of Missouri, Max put together an impressive collegiate career where he was a three NCAA All-American, starting with a 7th-place finish at 197 pounds in 2008, followed by a 5th place showing at 197 in 2009. Max wrapped up his career by dropping to the 184-pound weight class, where he closed out his stellar college career by claiming the 184-pound NCAA title in 2010 as a senior. Max’s 104 career victories rank as the 17th most in the University of Missouri annals. Max was also a two-time Big 12 conference champion at 197 pounds in 2007 and 2008. He won the team’s Most Outstanding Wrestler award for his 2010 title-winning season, three years after he began his career by winning the team’s Most Outstanding Freshman award in 2007.

After college Max continued to compete at the international level, winning gold at the World Cup for Team USA in 2013.

Max and his brother Ben, along with their high school coach John Mesenbrink now run Askren Wrestling Academy with locations in Hartland, Mequon and Green Bay. It was during their high school and college careers that both Ben and Max realized the impact coaching can have on a young athlete. Out of this realization came the dream of coaching at their own wrestling academies and the dedication to working with kids to show them the passion that can come from wrestling.

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