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!
