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
- Penn State – 177.0
- Nebraska – 117.0
- Oklahoma State – 102.5
- Iowa – 81.0
- Minnesota – 51.5
- Ohio State – 51.5
- Cornell – 50.0
- NC State – 46.5
- Northern Iowa – 45.5
- 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!
