The Iowa Men’s and Women’s Wrestling teams started the 2024-25 season on Saturday.
The Men’s team defeated #23 Oregon State 30-7 in Corvallis, Oregon. Iowa won eight of ten matches with tech falls from Drake Ayala, Michael Caliendo and Gabe Arnold.
Gabe Arnold was the most impressive on the team. Arnold was competing at 184 and looked great with explosive takedowns in a 20-5 tech fall. Nelson Brands made his return to the lineup at 174 with a 2-1 decision.
Drake Ayala looks the part at 133 after moving up a weight from last year. Ayala is 3rd-7th in the rankings at 133. It will be interesting to see him develop at his new weight throughout the season.
Ryder Block made his Iowa Hawkeye debut with a 5-4 decision at 141. As I have previously stated I am high on Block. Give this guy some time as he adjusts to making 141 and develops this season. Right now he is not ranked in the top 30. We will see where he ends the season at.
Kyle Parco(149) and Stephen Buchanan(197) had good wins in their Iowa Hawkeye debut. In the biggest match of the night #1 Buchanan defeated #7 Trey Munoz, 9-5.
Michael Caliendo is fun to watch as he racks up points in a hurry. Caliendo won by a 18-3 tech fall at 165. Ben Kueter looked solid with a 10-4 decision at Hwt.
Iowa is in action next this Saturday, November 9 at 1 PM with the home opener in sold out Carver-Hawkeye Arena against #22 Stanford.
The University of Iowa Women’s team started the 2024-25 season off with six champs at the Luther Hill Invitational in Indianola, Iowa.
Rianne Murphy(103), Ava Bayless(110), Skye Realin(131), Ella Schmit(145), Kennedy Blades(160) and Naomi Simon(180) won titles.
The anticipated debut of 2024 Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades was a success. This was the first collegiate competition in Blades’ career when she recorded three tech falls and a fall to win the title at 160.
Elite true freshman recruit Naomi Simon of Decorah, Iowa won the title at 180 in her collegiate debut with four falls and a tech fall.
Overall Iowa was 58-17 for the tournament and five losses were head to head matchups.
Iowa had 18 wrestlers who competed on Saturday with 14 of them advancing to the semifinals and ten finalists.
Iowa competes next on Friday, November 8 when they are on the road in Marietta, Georgia to face Life in a dual meet at 6 PM CST that will be covered by FloWrestling.
Iowa will have their home opener on Saturday, November 18 when they host Cornell College and William Jewel starting at 1 PM.
#2 Iowa 30, #23 Oregon State 7
125 – #27 Max Renteria (O) dec Joey Cruz (I), 6-4
133 | #7 Drake Ayala (I) tech. fall Damion Elliot (O), 26-10
141 – Ryder Block (I) dec. Nash Singleton (O), 5-4
149 – #4 Kyle Parco (I) dec. Victor Jacinto (O), 5-1
157 – Ethan Stiles (O) major dec. Caleb Rathjen (I), 12-3
165 – #2 Michael Caliendo (I) tech. fall Kekana Fouret (O), 18-3
174 – Nelson Brands (I) dec. #32 Sean Harman (O), 2-1
184 – Gabe Arnold (I) tech. fall TJ McDonnell (O), 20-5
197 – #1 Stephen Buchanan (I) dec. #7 Trey Munoz (O), 9-5
285 – #11 Ben Kueter dec. Brett Mower (O), 10-4
Luther Hill Invitational
Saturday, November 2
103 lbs. – Rianne Murphy, 1st Place
WIN Emily Porras (Waldorf University), Fall 1:36
WIN Brianna Vollendroff (Chadron), Fall 1:38
WIN Judy Sandoval (Grand View), Fall 0:53
WIN Sterling Dias (Iowa), Inj. 4:59
103 lbs. – Sterling Dias, 2nd Place
WIN Mana Chanthasone (Chadron), TF 10-0
WIN Edyn Hartman (Waldorf University), TF 10-0
WIN Sage Beltran (Missouri Valley College), TF 10-0
LOSS Rianne Murphy (Iowa), Inj. 4:59
110 lbs. – Ava Bayless, 1st Place
WIN lona Castro (Waldorf University), TF 10-0
WIN Kylee Slyter (Baker University), TF 10-0
WIN Rylee Balcazar (Chadron), TF 10-0
WIN Valarie Solorio (Iowa), Dec 5-0
110 lbs. – Valarie Solorio, 2nd Place
WIN Sereena Baca (Quincy University), TF 12-0
WIN Tristan Nitta (Grand View), Dec 7-6
WIN Kate Cooper (Lindenwood University), Dec 11-4
LOSS Ava Bayless (Iowa), Dec 5-0
117 lbs. – Ava Rose, DNP
WIN Rodiat Adeduntan (Unattached), TF 10-0
LOSS Mayangelie Colon (Grand View), Fall 5:54
LOSS Gigi Bragg (Unattached), Dec 7-0
124 lbs. – Cali Leng, 3rd Place
WIN Amanda Durrant (Waldorf University), TF 10-0
LOSS Isla Baeza (Missouri Valley College), Fall 3:00
WIN Kylie Robledo (Baker University), Fall 1:51
WIN Emarie Bolosan (William Jewell College), TF 10-0
131 lbs. – Emily Frost, 3rd Place
WIN Sharon Leon (Northern Michigan University), TF 10-0
WIN Neve Barragan (Waldorf University) (TF 10-0)
LOSS Skye Realin (Iowa), TF 10-0
WIN Corinne McClure (Central Methodist University), TF 10-0
WIN Allie Baudhuin (Iowa), Fall 1:49
131 lbs. – Skye Realin, 1st Place
WIN Cayden Condit (Lindenwood University), Fall 0:44
WIN Emily Frost (Iowa), TF 10-0
WIN Ashley Whetzal (Missouri Valley College), TF 10-0
131 lbs. – Allie Baudhuin, 4th Place
WIN Abby Rhodes (Quincy University), TF 16-6
LOSS Ashley Whetzal (Missouri Valley College), Dec 10-6
WIN Cayden Condit (Lindenwood University), Fall 1:12
LOSS Emily Frost (Iowa), Fall 1:49
138 lbs. – Danni Swihart, DNP
LOSS Marissa Sanabria (Lindenwood University), Fall 2:37
LOSS Emily Neumann (Central Methodist University), Dec 9-4
145 lbs. – Ella Schmit, 1st Place
WIN Rebecca Strong (Lindenwood University), Fall 3:48
WIN Sofia Delgado (Grand View), TF 10-0
WIN Haidyn Snyder (Grand View), TF 11-0
WIN Sevreign Aumua (Missouri Valley College), Fall 3:29
145 lbs. – Kiara Djoumessi, DNP
LOSS Sevreign Aumua (Missouri Valley College), Fall 2:45
LOSS Rebecca Strong (Lindenwood University), Dec 4-2
160 lbs. – Kennedy Blades, 1st Place
WIN Emma Stevenson (Cornell College), Fall 0:40
WIN Alexa Valdez (Quincy University), TF 11-0
WIN Sophia Bassino (Northern Michigan University), TF 10-0
WIN Rose Cassioppi (Iowa), TF 10-0
160 lbs. – Rose Cassioppi, 2nd Place
WIN Maria Arellano (Chadron), TF 10-0
WIN Athena Willden (William Jewell College), TF 10-0
WIN Emma Thomas (Lindenwood University), TF 12-2
LOSS Kennedy Blades (Iowa), TF 10-0
180 lbs. – Naomi Simon, 1st Place
WIN Andjela Prijovic (Grand View), Fall 4:18
WIN Mickaela Keane (Northern Michigan University), Fall 5:58
WIN Clarissa Wangen (Northern Michigan University), Fall 4:34
WIN Alana Duggan (Lindenwood University), TF 14-4
207 lbs. – Jaycee Foeller, 2nd Place
WIN Sydni Scott (William Jewell College), Dec 4-0
WIN Sara Lake (Lindenwood University), Dec 5-2
LOSS Kelani Corbett (Missouri Valley College), Dec 6-3
207 lbs. – Katja Osteen, 4th Place
WIN Desiree Fuentes (Lindenwood University), TF 11-0
LOSS Kelani Corbett (Missouri Valley College), Dec 4-4
WIN Sydni Scott (William Jewell College), Dec 2-1
LOSS Sara Lake (Lindenwood University), FF
235 lbs. – Samantha Calkins, 3rd Place
LOSS Kiara Boldridge (Southeast CC), Fall 2:46
WIN Shaniayha Wysinger (Indian Hills ), TF 13-0
WIN Kennedi Washington (Indian Hills ), Dec 9-0
WIN Makenna Fetters (Hawkeye Community College), Fall 3:31
WIN Emmale Americano (Baker University), Fall 5:01
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
