Kiley Welker, Kennedy Blades and Macey Kilty of the University of Iowa have been named as three of the eight finalists for the USA Wrestling 2025 Women’s College Wrestler of the Year.

Welker, Blades and Kilty were a combined 80 this season in leading Iowa to their second straight NCWWC National 

The award will be selected by a vote from three major groups: wrestling journalists, women’s college head coaches and the fans. 

Each of these groups will account for one-third of the vote. 

Fan voting opens today and runs through Sunday April 6 at https://usawrestlingevents.com/wcwoty. 

The winner of 2025 USA Wrestling’s Women’s College Wrestler of the Year will be announced on FloWrestling on Thursday, April 8.

 

 

Welker, a redshirt sophomore from Franksville, Wisconsin, was 27-0 with 21 tech falls and six pins while not surrendering a single point all season for the NCWWC title at 180.

Last season Welker won the title at 170 and is on track to be a four-time national champion.

This past summer Welker won a U23 World Freestyle title and bronze medal at the 2024 Senior World Championships.

Welker was also a 2021 Junior World champion, 2021 U23 World Bronze medalist, and placed 10th at the 2021 Senior World Championships.

Kylie Welker was the first recruit to commit to the University of Iowa Women’s Wrestling program in February of 2022.

 

 

In her first year of college wrestling Blades won a national title at 160 by going 25-0 with all 25 wins coming by fall or technical fall. She was also named the 2025 NCWWC Most Outstanding Wrestler.

This past summer Blades won a silver medal at the Olympics.

Blades, originally from Chicago, Illinois, was a 2021 U20 world champion,  2023 U20 bronze medalist and a 2023 U23 silver medalist.

Kilty, from Stratford, Wisconsin, transferred into the program this summer with one year of eligibility remaining and won a national title at 145. 

Kilty went 28-0 with 20 tech. falls, three pins and four decisions for the season. 

She won silver at 65kg at the 2023 Senior World Championships and was a 2018 Cadet World champion. She has won six age-level World medals for Team USA.

Best of luck to Kiley Welker, Kennedy Blades and Macey Kilty in the voting for Women’s College Wrestler of the Year..

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Jeff McGinness has been named as the 2025 U20 Women’s World Team Coach. The U20 World Championships will be in Sophia, Bulgaria on August 20-22.

McGinness will coach the U20 World Team in a series of U20 World Team Camps this summer at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

The U20 World Team will be decided at the U20 Women’s National Championships in Spokane, Washington this weekend.

 

 

 

McGinness has been the head coach since the beginning of the program and just finished up his third year as head coach of the Simpson Women’s Wrestling program. Simpson tied for 24th place at the 2025 NCWWC National Tournament.

McGinness is one of the most successful wrestlers in Iowa High School wrestling when he was a four-time undefeated state champion at City High in Iowa City. McGinness won a Junior World Freestyle title in 1992 at 58 kg/127 lbs. and was named as the tournament O.W.

 

 

At the University of Iowa McGinness was a three-time All American and two-time NCAA National champion for Dan Gable. 

McGinness won a national title at 126 lbs. in 1995 and at 142 lbs. in 1998 and was a member of four NCAA National Champion Iowa Hawkeye teams. 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The University of Iowa Wrestling team had their postseason awards banquet on Friday, March 28 in the Feller Room in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Stephen Buchanan was named for the Mike Howard Award as Most Valuable. Buchanan won the 197 lbs. title at the NCAA Championships. Buchanan was also recognized for the Most Pins award on the team with four.

For the season Buchanan was 26-1 with four pins, nine tech falls and five major decisions.

Patrick Kennedy and Joey Cruz were named as Most Improved.

Kennedy placed fourth at 174 lbs. at the National Championships and Cruz was an NCAA Qualifier at 125.

 

 

Easton Fleshman was named for Coaches Appreciation.

Cullan Schriever was awarded the Donald McPike, Sr. Award for the highest senior GPA(4.11 GPA).

Nelson Brands was named for the Mike J. McGivern Award (Most Courageous).

Five wrestlers were recognized for the John and Dorothy Sill Award (Most Dedicated): Drake Ayala, Michael Caliendo, Patrick Kennedy, Stephan Buchanan and Angelo Ferrari.

 

 

2025 Iowa Wrestling Awards

 

Mike Howard Most Valuable – Stephan Buchanan

 

Mike J. McGivern Award (Most Courageous) – Nelson Brands

 

John and Dorothy Sill Award (Most Dedicated) 

Drake Ayala

Michael Caliendo

Patrick Kennedy

Stephen Buchanan

Angelo Ferrari

 

Most Improved – Patrick Kennedy and Joey Cruz

 

Donald McPike, Sr. Award (Highest Senior GPA) – Cullan Schriever(4.11 GPA)

 

Coaches Appreciation – Easton Fleshman

 

Most Pins Award – Stephan Buchanan(4)

 

All-American Award

Drake Ayala

Michael Caliendo

Patrick Kennedy

Stephen Buchanan

Ben Kueter

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Nasir Bailey and Jordan Williams of Little Rock announced on Instagram that they will transfer to the University of Iowa.

Bailey placed fourth in 2024 and did not place at Nationals this season at 133. Williams finished in the Round of 12 this year and the Round of 16 in 2024 at 149.

I can only speculate that Bailey will move up to 141 next season and Williams will compete at 149.

 

 

Originally from Park Forest, Illinois Bailey was a four-time state champion at Rich Township High School. Bailey was ranked #17 overall in the Recruiting Class of 2023.

As a true freshman in 2024 Bailey was 29-4 with two falls, 10 tech falls and four major decisions. He was the #7 seed at 133 at the 2024 NCAA Tournament where he went 5-2 to place fourth at a very tough weight. 

His only two losses were to Ryan Crookham of Lehigh in the Quarterfinals(4-2) and third place match(4-3).

In 2025 Bailey was 23-4 as the #3 seed at Nationals where he went 2-2 and did not place.

Bailey has two years of eligibility and a redshirt season remaining.

 

 

 

Williams was ranked #12 overall for the Recruiting Class of 2022 from Tulsa, Oklahoma and originally committed to Oklahoma State. 

In 2024 Williams made the Round of 16. This past season as the #8 seed at Nationals Williams was 2-2 and made the Blood Round of 12. 

In the Quarterfinals Williams dropped a 8-5 SV1 match to Caleb Henson of Virginia Tech, the defending national champion who placed second at 149 this year.

Williams will have two years of eligibility remaining.

I expect Iowa to continue to make additions to the roster from the Transfer Portal before classes begin in August.

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Former Iowa Hawkeye All American John Oostendorp has been elected to the NWCA Division III Hall of Fame.

Oostendorp will be inducted at the Honors Banquet on Friday, August 1, at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

Oostendorp has been the head coach at Coe College for twenty-four years where he was named the 2009 NWCA Division III National Coach of the Year. He is a three-time American Rivers Conference Coach of the Year

For dual meets Oostendorp has a 295-124 record since the 2001-2002 season.

Oostendorp has coached 94 All Americans and seven National Champions at Coe.

Oostendorp led the Kohawks to back-to-back fourth place finishes at the 2008 and 2009 NCAA Championships, the two highest finishes in school history.

At the 2025 DIII Wrestling Championships Coe placed 6th with four All Amercians.

 

 

Originally from Nichols, Iowa Oostendorp was the first state champion in West Liberty High School history in 1988.

At the University of Iowa Oostendorp was a four-year starter at Hwt for Dan Gable with a career record of 108-26 with 40 pins. He was a member of the 1991, 1992 and 1993 NCAA national championship teams.

Oostendorp became a two-time All American at Hwt by placing fifth in 1992 and third in 1993.

 

 

 

In International wrestling Oostendorp placed fifth at 100 kg at the 1989 Greco-Roman U20 World Championships.

In 1995 Oostendorp represented Team USA at the Greco-Roman World Championships. In 1996 he won a U.S. Open title and placed second at the Olympic Trials to become an Olympic Alternate.

In 2023 Oostendorp was inducted into the Glen Brand Hall of Fame of Iowa.

Congratulations to John Oostendorp for being inducted into the D-III Hall of Fame.

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

It is time to take a look at the upcoming freestyle season. We get one weekend off after Nationals for college wrestling and we will be in the freestyle season.

On April 4-6 we will have members of the Iowa Women’s Wrestling team and incoming recruits competing at U20 and U23 Women’s National Championships in Spokane, Washington.

A spot on the U20 and U23 World Team will be on the line and you can expect great competition.

Las Vegas will once again host a huge weekend of wrestling on April 24-27. Men’s Senior and U20 along with Senior Women’s Nationals will be contested.

USA Wrestling is once again stringing out the process to make the Senior World Team. Nationals in Vegas will set up the World Team Trials in Louisville, Kentucky on May 16-17. The winner of that will qualify for Final X in Newark, New Jersey on June 14. The winner of Final X will represent Team USA in men’s and women’s freestyle at the 2025 World Championships.

 

 

Junior Duals will be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin after being in Tulsa, Oklahoma for years. This is always an opportunity to follow incoming recruits.

Cadet and Junior FS/GR will be in Fargo, North Dakota on July 12-19. This was the largest tournament in the world before they added the girls division. It is amazing how many matches take place in this tournament.

Wrestling is truly a year around sport now. With the addition of the Iowa Women’s program we have someone to follow nearly every month of the year.

We had Hawks competing in the Olympics, Senior Worlds, U20 and U23 World Championships last year.

I will keep you up to date right here on my Iowa Wrestling Fan Blog every step of the way as Iowa Hawkeyes compete to represent Team USA in the World Championships.

Let’s get ‘em in the middle.

 

 

April 4-6  U20 and U23 Women’s National Championships in Spokane, Washington

April 24-27  Men’s Senior and U20, Women’s Senior Nationals in Las Vegas, Nevada

May 16-17  Men’s and Women’s Senior Challenge Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky

May 31-June1  U20 and U23 World Team Trials in Geneva, Ohio

June 14  Final X for men’s and women’s freestyle Senior World Team in Newark, New Jersey

June 19-21  GR and FS Junior Duals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

July 12-19  Cadet and Junior FS/GR Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The University of Iowa wrestling team will hold its annual postseason awards banquet on Friday, March 28 from 5:30-7:30 PM.

The banquet will take place in the Feller Club Room in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

I was unable to find a link to purchase tickets.

 

 

Awards that will be presented:

Mike Howard Most Valuable

Mike J. McGivern Award (Most Courageous)

John and Dorothy Sill Award (Most Dedicated)

Most Improved Award Donald McPike, Sr., Award (Highest Senior GPA)

Coaches Appreciation

Most Pins Award

All-American Award

 

 

I will have a follow up blog after the awards are announced.

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

It is a tradition for me to take a look at the lineup for next year on the Monday after the NCAA Championships.

Iowa will have to replace four starters from the lineup for graduating seniors Cullan Schriever(141), Kyle Parco(149), Jacori Teemer(157) and Stephan Buchanan(197).

I can only speculate the lineup for the 2026 season with the existing roster and incoming recruits. 

 

Returning All Americans and NCAA Qualifiers

125 – Joey Cruz   NCAA Qualifier

133 – Drake Ayala  2nd

165 – Michael Caliendo  2nd

174 – Patrick Kennedy 4th

184 – Gabe Arnold  NCAA Qualifier

Hwt – Ben Kueter  8th

 

 

125 – Joey Cruz was an NCAA Qualifier with a 16-14 record and went 0-2 at Nationals. I was impressed with the development of Cruz throughout the season that included three wins over ranked opponents.

In the final InterMat Rankings on March 4 Cruz was ranked #15 at 125.

Iowa has elite recrute Leo DeLuca in the Recruiting Class of 2025. DeLuca is ranked #1 in the country at 120 lbs. and looks to have all of the tools to carry on the great tradition that Iowa has at 125.

As a fan I hope DeLuca gets a year to redshirt and grow into 125. 

Possible weight for Iowa to bring in a one year transfer at a high level that will allow DeLuca to redshirt.

 

133 – Drake Ayala will return for his senior season. Ayala placed second at 125 in 2024 and second at 133 this season.

On the season Ayala was 21-3 with seven tech falls and five major decisions. 

I look for Ayala to have a great senior year and go out as a national champion.

 

141 – Cullan Schriever was our varsity wrestler at 141 at Big Tens but did not qualify for Nationals. Schriever will graduate this spring.

Ryder Block was our top wrestler at 141 earlier this season. He had surgery last week. I am unsure when Block will be ready to return to action as he also had surgery in the offseason last year.

This is a wide-open weight with a potential transfer situation.

 

149 – If you have been reading my blog you know that I am high on true freshman Miquel Estrada who moved up to compete at 157 this season. I believe Estrada used up a year of eligibility as a true freshman and he will have three years remaining.

On the season Estrada was 13-3 with three pins, four tech falls and three major decisions.

At 149 Estrada won titles at the Luther Open and Grand View Open.

At 157 in the starting lineup Estrada lost 4-2  to national champion Antrell Taylor of Nebraska and 4-1 OT to NCAA semifinalist Trevor Chumbley of Northwestern.

We know Estrada was close to the best at 157 this year. At 149 I believe Estrada can have a real breakout season next year for the Hawks.

 

157 – This is a wide-open weight for Iowa next season. For right now the frontrunners would be Victor Voinovich and Kael Voinovich. Victor did not compete this season due to injury as a junior. Younger brother Kael was 12-4 as a true freshman at 149.

 

 

 

165 – Michael Caliendo will return for his senior season. He placed seventh as a freshman at North Dakota State and was an NCAA finalist this season and last year at 165 for the Hawks.

This year Caliendo was 24-3 with eleven tech falls and six major decisions.

Caliendo will be ranked #2 at 165 heading into next season.

 

174 – Patrick Kennedy will return for his final season as a Hawk. It was great to see Kennedy place fourth at Nationals.

This season Kennedy was 18-7 with one pin and eight tech falls.

I believe 174 is the natural weight of Gabe Arnold who was an NCAA Qualifier at 184 this year. Will we see Kennedy and Arnold battle it out for the top sport at 174 next season?

 

184 – Elite recruit Angelo Ferrari will be ready to go next year. As a true freshman at 184 Ferrari was 11-1 with four tech falls and three major decisions.

The only loss on the year was a 2-1 loss to five-time NCAA national champion Carter Starocci at Penn State in the dual meet.

Ferrari served notice of his potential with a 6-3 SV1 win over previously undefeated and #3 ranked Dustin Plott of Oklahoma State.

I am hoping we see Ferrari make a run at the U20 World Freestyle team this spring.

The anticipation for Ferrari entering the lineup full time as a redshirt freshman next season is sky high.

 

197 – As with 157 this is a wide-open weight. Iowa will welcome in elite recruit Harvey Ludington from New Jersey next  season. Ludington looks to be a great prospect for the Hawks in the Recruiting Class of 2025.

As with DeLuca I am hoping he gets to redshirt next season and grow into 197. Ludington has a great future, and he is a pinner.

Jarell Miller of St. Ed’s is also in the Recruiting Class of 2025. He won a state title at 190 this season. Along with his brother Ty who won a state title at 175 the Millers have a lot of potential and I would not count them out for a future spot in the lineup.

I am anticipating a transfer to fill the varsity spot at 197 for the 2026 season.

 

Hwt. – Ben Kueter placed eighth at a tough Hwt division as a freshman this season. Kueter was 21-9 this season with one pin, one tech fall and three major decisions against the toughest competition for any Hwt in the country.

I believe the game plan was for Kueter to return to football full time this spring and next fall and to return to the wrestling team in January of 2026.

We will have to wait and see about that. Kueter definitely has a great future at Hwt for Iowa.

 

As with other wrestling fans I will wait for any news about transfers. Last year the news about Kyle Parco, Jacori Teemer and Stephan Buchanan was announced in May through August. 

 

The 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships will be in Cleveland, Ohio on March 19-21.

The 2025-26 season began today.

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania provided great entertainment.

The Iowa Hawkeyes placed fourth in the team race with five All Americans.

The tournament ended on a high note with Stephen Buchanan defeating Josh Barr of Penn State 5-2 to become an NCAA national champion  at 197.

A second period takedown, escape and a point for riding time was the difference for Buchanan.

That is how you end a national tournament.

Drake Ayala lost by riding time in TB2 in the 133 lbs. finals. Michael Calinedo lost by an 8-2 decision in the finals at 165.

Ayala and Caliendo both had a really good tournament and scored a lot of team points for the Hawks.

As a fan I appreciated Patrick Kennedy placing fourth at 174. Kennedy is a fan favorite for his grit and you know that he is leaving all that he has on the mat.

Ben Kueter placed eighth at Hwt. With the competition at Hwt it was a great step for Kueter to become an All American as a freshman.

Buchanan is the only senior of our All Americans. A lineup with Ayala, Caliendo, Kennedy and Kueter should have Iowa ranked high in the 2025-26 pre-season polls.

The 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships will be in Cleveland, Ohio on March 19-21.

 

Iowa Wrestling stats:

Stephan Buchanan became Iowa’s 56th NCAA National Champion. 

Iowa has earned a team trophy at the NCAA Championships 15 times in the last 17 championships.

The Hawkeyes have won 49 team NCAA trophies in program history and have 70 top 10 finishes in program history.

Iowa has had an NCAA finalist in 35 consecutive national tournaments (every year since 1990).

Iowa has crowned at least one All-American in 54 consecutive tournaments, a stretch dating back to 1972. Iowa has totaled 332 All-Americans during that stretch.

Iowa has had at least four All-Americans in 17 straight seasons and 17 times in Brands’ 18 years.

 

 

2025 ALL-AMERICANS

1st – Stephen Buchanan II (197)

2nd – Drake Ayala (133)

2nd – Michael Caliendo (165)

4th – Patrick Kennedy (174) 

8th – Ben Kueter (285)

 

TEAM STANDINGS – TOP 10

1. Penn State – 177.0
2. Nebraska – 117.0
3. Oklahoma State – 102.5
4. Iowa – 81.0
5. Minnesota – 51.5
6. Ohio State – 51.5
7. Cornell – 50.0
8. NC State – 46.5
9. Northern Iowa – 45.5
10. Illinois – 44.5

 

 

 

125  Joey Cruz (14-14) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Vincent Robinson (NC State) 23-3 won by major decision over Joey Cruz (Iowa) 14-14 (MD 12-1)

Cons. Round 1 – Brendan McCrone (Ohio State) 22-11 won by major decision over Joey Cruz (Iowa) 14-14 (MD 12-4)

 

133  Drake Ayala (20-3) placed 2nd and scored 19.5 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Drake Ayala (Iowa) 20-3 won by tech fall over Kade Moore (Missouri) 12-19 (TF-1.5 5:30 (21-5))

Champ. Round 2 – Drake Ayala (Iowa) 20-3 won by major decision over Julian Farber (Northern Iowa) 18-8 (MD 13-4)

Quarterfinal – Drake Ayala (Iowa) 20-3 won by major decision over Nic Bouzakis (Ohio State) 24-8 (MD 23-10)

Semifinal – Drake Ayala (Iowa) 20-3 won by decision over Zan Fugitt (Wisconsin) 24-9 (Dec 6-1)

1st Place Match – Lucas Byrd (Illinois) 23-1 won in TB-2 by riding time over Drake Ayala (Iowa) 20-3 (TB-2 (RT) 3-2)

 

149  Kyle Parco (21-4) place is unknown and scored 1.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Kyle Parco (Iowa) 21-4 won by decision over Dylan Gilcher (Michigan) 10-12 (Dec 7-2)

Champ. Round 2 – Ethan Stiles (Oregon State) 19-8 won by major decision over Kyle Parco (Iowa) 21-4 (MD 8-0)

Cons. Round 2 – Gavin Drexler (North Dakota State) 24-12 won by medical forfeit over Kyle Parco (Iowa) 21-4 (M. For.)

 

157  Jacori Teemer (8-6) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Johnny Lovett (Central Michigan) 31-7 won by major decision over Jacori Teemer (Iowa) 8-6 (MD 11-3)

Cons. Round 1 – Noah Castillo (Chattanooga) 17-6 won by decision over Jacori Teemer (Iowa) 8-6 (Dec 8-5)

 

165  Mike Caliendo (24-3) placed 2nd and scored 18.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Mike Caliendo (Iowa) 24-3 won by major decision over Aiden Riggins (Iowa State) 17-19 (MD 11-3)

Champ. Round 2 – Mike Caliendo (Iowa) 24-3 won by major decision over Jack Thomsen (Northern Iowa) 21-12 (MD 15-3)

Quarterfinal – Mike Caliendo (Iowa) 24-3 won by decision over Beau Mantanona (Michigan) 17-6 (Dec 7-2)

Semifinal – Mike Caliendo (Iowa) 24-3 won by decision over Peyton Hall (West Virginia) 35-2 (Dec 14-10)

1st Place Match – Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) 27-0 won by decision over Mike Caliendo (Iowa) 24-3 (Dec 8-2)

 

174  Patrick Kennedy (18-7) placed 4th and scored 12.5 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 18-7 won by decision over Nick Incontrera (Pennsylvania) 25-8 (Dec 4-2)

Champ. Round 2 – Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 18-7 won by decision over Brevin Cassella (Binghamton) 27-6 (Dec 3-0)

Quarterfinal – Dean Hamiti (Oklahoma State) 27-1 won by decision over Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 18-7 (Dec 8-6)

Cons. Round 4 – Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 18-7 won by decision over Luca Augustine (Pittsburgh) 20-10 (Dec 7-6)

Cons. Round 5 – Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 18-7 won by decision over Danny Wask (Navy) 23-9 (Dec 7-3)

Cons. Semi – Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 18-7 won in sudden victory – 1 over Cade DeVos (South Dakota State) 22-10 (SV-1 4-1)

3rd Place Match – Levi Haines (Penn State) 25-2 won by major decision over Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 18-7 (MD 11-3)

 

184  Gabe Arnold (19-6) place is unknown and scored 1.5 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Gabe Arnold (Iowa) 19-6 won by decision over Donnell Washington (Indiana) 18-11 (Dec 4-1)

Champ. Round 2 – Chris Foca (Cornell) 24-3 won by major decision over Gabe Arnold (Iowa) 19-6 (MD 12-1)

Cons. Round 2 – Gabe Arnold (Iowa) 19-6 won by decision over Malachi DuVall (George Mason) 20-7 (Dec 8-4)

Cons. Round 3 – DJ Parker (Oklahoma) 21-8 won by fall over Gabe Arnold (Iowa) 19-6 (Fall 0:48)

 

197  Stephen Buchanan (26-1) placed 1st and scored 24.0 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) 26-1 won by major decision over Remy Cotton (Michigan State) 12-14 (MD 22-9)

Champ. Round 2 – Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) 26-1 won by tech fall over Joseph Novak (Wyoming) 29-7 (TF-1.5 7:00 (16-1))

Quarterfinal – Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) 26-1 won by tech fall over Seth Shumate (Ohio State) 20-17 (TF-1.5 6:35 (18-3))

Semifinal – Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) 26-1 won by decision over AJ Ferrari (CSU Bakersfield) 22-1 (Dec 3-0)

1st Place Match – Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) 26-1 won by decision over Josh Barr (Penn State) 20-4 (Dec 5-2)

 

Hwt  Ben Kueter (21-9) placed 8th and scored 5.5 team points.

Champ. Round 1 – Ben Kueter (Iowa) 21-9 won by decision over Daniel Herrera (Iowa State) 26-15 (Dec 6-0)

Champ. Round 2 – Ben Kueter (Iowa) 21-9 won by decision over Nick Feldman (Ohio State) 20-9 (Dec 8-2)

Quarterfinal – Owen Trephan (Lehigh) 25-2 won by decision over Ben Kueter (Iowa) 21-9 (Dec 4-2)

Cons. Round 4 – Ben Kueter (Iowa) 21-9 won by decision over Dayton Pitzer (Pittsburgh) 17-6 (Dec 5-1)

Cons. Round 5 – Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State) 27-6 won by major decision over Ben Kueter (Iowa) 21-9 (MD 10-2)

7th Place Match – Joshua Heindselman (Michigan) 26-6 won by decision over Ben Kueter (Iowa) 21-9 (Dec 2-1)

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

There were peaks and valleys in day two of the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When the wrestling was done the Iowa Hawkeyes had three NCAA Finalists and two additional wrestlers competing for All American honors.

Iowa has fourth place locked up in the team race with 73.5 points.

The Hawks started out the day without Kyle Parco who was unable to continue in the tournament from an injury he sustained on Thursday night in the Round of 16.

In the Friday night session for the Semifinals and wrestlebacks Iowa was 6-1 including 3-0 in the semifinals and 2-0 in the Blood Round of 12.

Iowa will have three finalists in Drake Ayala(133), Michael Caliendo(165) and Stephen Buchanan(197).

Ayala will face #1 seed Lucas Byrd of Illinois in the finals.  Ayala defeated Byrd 4-2 in the dual meet in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on January 17, 4-2 and Byrd pinned Ayala in the Big Ten finals two weeks ago.

Caliendo will have a rematch with #1 seed Mitchell Mesenbrink of Penn State who topped Caliendo 4-1 in the Big Ten finals.

Buchanan had a big win in the semifinals over former national champion AJ Ferrari of Cal State Bakersfield, 3-0. #2 seed Buchanan will now face #4 seed Josh Barr of Penn state in the finals. Buchanan defeated Barr 5-1 at Penn State in the dual meet on January 31.

There were a lot of huge wins for the Hawks today. As a fan for me there was none bigger than in the Blood Round of 12 when Patrick Kennedy defeated Luca Augustine (Pittsburgh), 7-6 to become an All American. Kennedy won his next match and will be in the Consolation Semifinals tomorrow morning.

Also I need to mention Ben Kueter winning his Blood Round of 12 match over Dayton Pitzer (Pittsburgh), 5-1 to become an All American. Kueter dropped his next match and will compete for 7th place in the Consolation Finals on Saturday.

The Iowa Hawkeyes had matches not go their way but battled back to have an outstanding Friday night performance.

The Consolation Semifinals begin at 10 AM CST followed by the Consolation Finals.

The Finals begin at 6 PM CST.

Let’s get ‘em in the middle.

 

 

QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
133 – #2 Drake Ayala (Iowa) major dec. #7 Nic Bouzakis (Ohio State), 23-10
165 – #3 Michael Caliendo (Iowa) dec. #6 Beau Mantanona (Michigan), 7-2
174 – #3 Dean Hamiti (Oklahoma State) dec. #11 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa), 8-6
197 – #2 Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) tech. fall #23 Seth Shumate (Ohio State), 18-3
285 – #4 Owen Trephan (Lehigh) dec. #5 Ben Kueter (Iowa), 4-2

CONSOLATION RESULTS
149 –  #22 Gavin Drexler (North Dakota State) MFF #5 Kyle Parco (Iowa)
184 – #11 Gabe Arnold (Iowa) dec. #21 Malachi DuVall (George Mason), 8-4
_
184 – #14 DJ Parker (Oklahoma) pinned #11 Gabe Arnold (Iowa), 0:47

SEMIFINAL RESULTS
133 – #2 Drake Ayala (Iowa) dec. #14 Zan Fugitt (Wisconsin), 6-1
165 – #3 Michael Caliendo (Iowa) dec. #2 Peyton Hall (West Virginia),14-10
197 – #2 Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) dec. #3 AJ Ferrari (Cal State Bakersfield), 3-0

CONSOLATION RESULTS
174 – #11 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) dec. #15 Luca Augustine (Pittsburgh), 7-6
285 – #5 Ben Kueter (Iowa) dec. #10 Dayton Pitzer (Pittsburgh), 5-1
–
174 – #11 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) dec. #7 Danny Wask (Navy), 7-3
285 – #9 Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State) major dec. #5 Ben Kueter (Iowa) 10-2

 

 

 

FINAL MATCHUPS
133 – #2 Drake Ayala (Iowa) vs. #1 Lucas Byrd (Illinois)
165 – #3 Michael Caliendo (Iowa) vs. #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State)
197 – #2 Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) vs. #4 Josh Barr (Penn State)

CONSOLATION SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS
174 – #11 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) vs. #13 Cade DeVos (South Dakota State) 

SEVENTH PLACE MATCHUPS
285 – #5 Ben Kueter (Iowa) vs. #6 Joshua Heindselman (Michigan) 

TEAM SCORES
1. Penn State – 135.5
2. Nebraska- 101.5
3. Oklahoma State – 91.0
4. Iowa – 73.5
5. Minnesota – 47.0
6. Cornell – 46.0
7. Northern Iowa – 44.5
8. Ohio State – 44.0
9. Illinois – 40.5
10. Virginia Tech – 40.0

 

Saturday, March 22

Consolation Semifinals and Consolation Finals – 10 AM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Finals – 6 PM  ESPN/ESPN+

*All times are CST.

 

Steven Grace and Mark Ironside call the action on AM 800 KXIC and audio streamed online at HawkeySports.com via YouTube.

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!