Iowa wrestling starter Gabe Arnold opened up in a lengthy Instagram post.
Arnold, who wrestled his first full season in Iowa City after redshirting his freshman year, took to social media to reveal a mental health battle he had been fighting within the past several months.
On the mat, Arnold’s season got off to a hot start, with him rising to No. 5 at 184 pounds.
But his postseason was underwhelming. He finished fifth at the Big Ten Championships and at the National Championships in Philly two weeks later, he wasn’t one of the eight to make it to the All-American podium.
‘COULD HAVE, SHOULD HAVE, WOULD HAVE’
In the first part of Arnold’s post, he expressed regret about how his postseason turned out.
“Could have. Should have. Would have. But, I didn’t. I didn’t train hard enough. I didn’t live right. I didn’t do what needed to be done to be at the top of the podium or even on the podium at all. Walking away, empty handed from the national tournament was never a feeling I thought I’d feel. A wise man once told me, “You get what you earn,” and I did. I got what I earned. That’s just the short story though. But the long one?
‘THE LONG ONE’
“On December 30th, 2024, I found myself in the hospital. Questioning my worth, my ability, my will to live, everything. The only answer I could come up with was simply not being alive. I didn’t want to live and deal with the hurt, pain, and regret that had been swirling around and around my head for years upon years. I was lost, nowhere to turn, no want to fight anymore. The demons were winning. I had given up. I was exhausted of fighting this so called ‘good fight’”.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.‘I FIND MYSELF HAPPY’
In the last big section of the post, Arnold shared his his mindset has turned around.
“So today, I find myself content, grateful, filled with pride and most importantly, I find myself healthy with who and what I am becoming. The wins, the losses, they will never define me. Some days are easier than others. Some days the finish line seems clear to me and other days, the sight seems so so far away. I’ve been blessed with a family here at Iowa that no one can or will ever understand unless they’re here to see and witness it first hand (go Hawks 🐤). Off the mat, or on the mat, I will fulfill the plans that God has for me. To anyone who will listen, I will share my testimony as it continues to build within me. I will share the gospel and continue to learn about how faithful my father is. This year, I’ve learned more about myself than ever before. I’ve been torn down until I was bare. Lessons that I will never forget and will mold me into the man, the wrestler, and the person I will become when my journey is all said and done.”
THE PREDICTION
Gabe Arnold ended his post with a prediction.
“With all the sappy shit said now… 2026 National Champion, it’s time to start writing the next chapter of my story :). #IJNIP #phil413.”
