Stephan Buchanan is the #2 seed at 197.

At Wyoming as a true freshman in 2020 Buchanan was an NCAA Qualifier at 197. As a true sophomore in 2021 Buchanan became an All American by placing eighth. In 2022 Buchanan placed third in the country at 197.

At Oklahoma Buchanan placed third last season at 197.

Originally from Loyal, Wisconsin, Buchanan will be competing in his final NCAA Tournament.

In the final InterMat Rankings on March 4 Buchanan was ranked #1 at 197 and was ranked  #1 or #2 the entire season. 

Buchanan is 21-1 with four pins, seven tech falls and five major decisions.

With his first loss of the season coming in the Big Ten finals Buchanan will enter Nationals as the #2 seed and face Remy Cotton of Michigan State in the first round.

It would be great to see Buchanan come out at Nationals and rack up the points in the early rounds like he did in the regular season even against high ranked opponents.

Stephan Buchanan has as good a chance as anyone to win the national title at 197.

I will be releasing a preview of all of our NCAA qualifiers.

197 lbs. at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships:

2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships

Wells Fargo Arena

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Thursday, March 20

Prelims – 11 AM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Prelims Round of 16 – 6 PM  ESPN/ESPN+

Friday, March 21

Quarterfinals and wrestle-backs  – 11 AM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Semifinals and wrestle-backs – 7 PM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Saturday, March 22

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!

Gabe Arnold is the #11 seed at 184.

Arnold is appearing in his first NCAA Tournament as a redshirt freshman out of Albany, Georgia.

In the final InterMat Rankings on March 4 Kennedy was ranked #8 at 174 and was ranked as high as #6 during the season. 

For the season Arnold is 17-5 with one pin, three tech falls and five major decisions.

Arnold placed fifth at Big Tens and avenged an earlier season loss by defeating Silas Allred of Nebraska 4-3 for fifth place.

In the first round Arnold will face Donnell Washington of Indiana. Arnold won by an injury default at Big Tens in the consolations over Washington. The winner of that first round match will face #6 seed Chris Foca of Cornell in the Round of 16. An Arnold-Foca match is one that I want to see.

Gabe Arnold is fun to watch when he cuts loose. So much potential.

I will be releasing a preview of all of our NCAA qualifiers.

184 lbs. at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships:

2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships

Wells Fargo Arena

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Thursday, March 20

Prelims – 11 AM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Prelims Round of 16 – 6 PM  ESPN/ESPN+

Friday, March 21

Quarterfinals and wrestle-backs  – 11 AM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Semifinals and wrestle-backs – 7 PM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Saturday, March 22

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!

Patrick Kennedy is the #11 seed at 174.

Kennedy was an NCAA Qualifier in 2023 at 165 and at 174 last year. 

From Kasson-Mantorville, Minnesota, I believe Kennedy will have one more year of eligibility remaining after this season. 

In the final InterMat Rankings on March 4 Kennedy was ranked #11 at 174 and was ranked as high as #5 during the season. 

Kennedy is 13-5 for the season with one pin and  eight tech falls.

Kennedy placed fifth at Big Tens at a tough weight. The rugged competition from the Big Ten will prepare Kennedy well for Nationals.

As the #11 seed I really like Kennedy’s draw for Nationals. I see Kennedy in the Quarterfinals and we will go from there.

I have to believe that Patrick Kennedy will be on the awards stand at 174 lbs. on Saturday night.

I will be releasing a preview of all of our NCAA qualifiers.

174 lbs. at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships:

2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships

Wells Fargo Arena

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Thursday, March 20

Prelims – 11 AM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Prelims Round of 16 – 6 PM  ESPN/ESPN+

Friday, March 21

Quarterfinals and wrestle-backs  – 11 AM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Semifinals and wrestle-backs – 7 PM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Saturday, March 22

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!

Michael Caliendo is the #3 seed at 165.

In 2023 Caliendo placed seventh for North Dakota State and fourth at 165 for the Hawks last year.

Originally from Geneva, Illinois Caliendo is a redshirt junior.

In the final InterMat Rankings on March 4 Ayala was ranked #2 at 165 and was ranked #2 for the season. 

Somehow Caliendo is the #3 seed for Nationals. It doesn’t matter between #2 and #3 seed for Caliendo but it still does not make sense. 

Caliendo is 20-2 with 11 tech falls and four major decisions.

At Big Tens Caliendo placed second at 165 and really closed the gap with #1 seed and #1 ranked Mitchell Mesenbrink of Penn State with a 4-1 decision in the finals.

I believe everyone is predicting a Caliendo-Mesenbrink finals at 165. Calinedo is now a takedown away from being a national champion. It will be interesting to see how that potential matchup will play out.

I will be releasing a preview of all of our NCAA qualifiers.

165 lbs. at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships: 

2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships

Wells Fargo Arena

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Thursday, March 20

Prelims – 11 AM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Prelims Round of 16 – 6 PM  ESPN/ESPN+

Friday, March 21

Quarterfinals and wrestle-backs  – 11 AM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Semifinals and wrestle-backs – 7 PM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Saturday, March 22

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!

Jacori Teemer is the #18 seed at 157. 

At Arizona State Teemer was an NCAA Qualifier in 2020. In 2021 he placed 4th and in 2022 he placed sixth. Last season Teemer placed second at 157.

Originally from Long Beach, New York Teemer will be competing in his fifth NCAA Tournament.

In the final InterMat Rankings on March 4  Teemer was ranked #3 at 157 and was ranked #1 for a majority of the season. 

On the season Teemer is 8-4 with one pin and two major decisions. 

At Big Tens Teemer placed seventh at 157. 

For me Teemer is the most difficult Hawkeye to predict at Nationals. 

Willie Saylor of MatScouts has Teemer placing third after losing in the Round of 32 to #2 seed Meyer Shapiro of Cornell. 

Before an injury Teemer was ranked #1 for a reason. To me it is all about his health and how he is able to perform. Teemer was in the National Finals last year so he knows how to turn it up when it counts.

Teemer will be on the awards stand Saturday night. As to where it is would be a guess.

As an Iowa fan it would be great to see Parco at 149 and Teemer at 157 get on a roll at Nationals in their final showing for college wrestling.  They both certainly have all of the skills needed to do great.

I will be releasing a preview of all of our NCAA qualifiers.

157 lbs. at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships:

2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships

Wells Fargo Arena

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Thursday, March 20

Prelims – 11 AM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Prelims Round of 16 – 6 PM  ESPN/ESPN+

Friday, March 21

Quarterfinals and wrestle-backs  – 11 AM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Semifinals and wrestle-backs – 7 PM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Saturday, March 22

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!

Kyle Parco is the #5 seed at 149. 

Parco, from Danville(De La Salle HS), California, is a four-time All American that began his career at Fresno State. He placed sixth as a redshirt freshman in 2021. 

At Arizona State Parco placed eighth in 2022, fourth in 2023, and fifth in 2024 at the NCAA national tournament and won three Pac-12 titles at 149. 

In the final InterMat Rankings on March 4 Parco was ranked #3 at 149. He was ranked 3-4 throughout most of the season.

Parco is 20-3 with seven tech falls and three major decisions. 

At Big Tens Parco placed fourth at 149. His performance of winning or losing by a major decision against ranked opponents makes predicting how he will do at Nationals a challenge.

I believe Parco has a really good seed in that he does not have Big Ten opponents on his side of the bracket that he just lost to by a major.

I definitely see Parco on the awards stand. It is a matter of where he will land up. 

I predict Parco in the semifinals against #1 seed and defending national champion Caleb Henson of Virginia Tech in a close match.

It will be interesting to see what type of tournament Parco has.

I will be releasing a preview of all of our NCAA qualifiers.

149 lbs. at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships:

2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships

Wells Fargo Arena

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Thursday, March 20

Prelims – 11 AM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Prelims Round of 16 – 6 PM  ESPN/ESPN+

Friday, March 21

Quarterfinals and wrestle-backs  – 11 AM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Semifinals and wrestle-backs – 7 PM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Saturday, March 22

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!

Drake Ayala enters the 2025 NCAA Championships with the #2 seed at 133. Last season Ayala placed second at 125.

In the final InterMat Rankings on March 4 Ayala was ranked #1 at 133. He was ranked between 1-6 throughout the season.

On the season Ayala is 17-2 with six tech falls and three major decisions. 

Ayala had a 16-match winning streak broken when he dropped the Big Ten Finals match to Lucas Byrd of Illinois. Ayala defeated Byrd in the dual meet on January 17, 4-2.

I predict an Ayala-Byrd rematch in the NCAA Finals at 133 with Ayala bringing home the title.

Ayala, originally from Fort Dodge, Iowa, is competing in his second NCAA Tournament.

I will be releasing a preview of all of our NCAA qualifiers.

133 lbs. at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships:

2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships

Wells Fargo Arena

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Thursday, March 20

Prelims – 11 AM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Prelims Round of 16 – 6 PM  ESPN/ESPN+

Friday, March 21

Quarterfinals and wrestle-backs  – 11 AM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Semifinals and wrestle-backs – 7 PM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Saturday, March 22

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!

Kylie Welker has been named as the USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare. 

Welker won an NCWWC national title at 180 lbs. last weekend.

Welker was 5-0 with four tech falls and a pin and did not surrender a single point in the tournament. 

This was the second title for Welker who is on track to be a four-time national champion.

For the season Welker was 27-0 with 21 tech falls and six pins while not surrendering a single point all season.

It was also announced today that Welker was named as an NWCA Scholar All American.

Welker was named as the December Student-Athlete of the Month. The award was announced by the University of Iowa Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. 

Welker was named as the 2024 NCAA Women’s Wrestler of the Year by The Open Mat and was named to the 2024 Academic All-Big Ten Team.

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

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

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Eleven members of the Iowa Women’s Wrestling program have been named as an NWCA Scholar All American.

The criteria to achieve this honor:

1. A top eight placer at nationals and at least a 3.0 Cumulative GPA

2. Competed in a minimum of 15 matches that are recorded in TRACKWRESTLING and has at least a 3.5 Cumulative GPA

3. Was a national qualifier and has at least a 3.25 Cumulative GPA

Nine of the Hawks listed won All American status last weekend at NCWWC Nationals.

NWCA Scholar All Americans – Major – Placement at NCWWC Nationals

Ava Bayless – Human Physiology  4th

Kennedy Blades – Business  1st

Cadence Diduch – Environmental Science

Emilie Gonzalez – Exercise Science  5th

Macey Kilty – Sports and Recreation Management  1st

Cali Leng – Enterprises Leadership  7th

Rianne Murphy – Business  3rd

Katja Osteen – Interdepartmental Studies

Emmily Patneaud – Education Studies  6th

Naomi Simon – Biology  3rd

Kylie Welker – Business  1st

The Iowa Women’s Wrestling team won their second straight NCWWC national title at Xtreme Arena in Coralville, Iowa last weekend.

Iowa won the team title with 201.5 points followed by North Central at 181 and McKendree in third at 158.5 points.

All fifteen Iowa wrestlers that qualified for nationals became an All American including three national champions. 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

I will be releasing a preview of our NCAA qualifiers.

Joey Cruz received an at-large bid for Nationals on Tuesday at 125 lbs.

When the brackets were released Cruz was seeded 29th. He will face #4 seed Vincent Robinson of North Carolina State in the first round.

Cruz is 16-12 on the season with four major decisions and placed 10th at Big Tens.

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

Cruz, originally from Fresno, California, is appearing in his first NCAA Tournament.

125 lbs. at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships:

2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships

Wells Fargo Arena

Capacity – 21,000

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Thursday, March 20

Prelims – 11 AM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Prelims Round of 16 – 6 PM  ESPN/ESPN+

Friday, March 21

Quarterfinals and wrestle-backs  – 11 AM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Semifinals and wrestle-backs – 7 PM  ESPNU/ESPN+

Saturday, March 22

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!