We are in the heart of the tournament season for Division I Wrestling. Big Tens was entertaining as expected.
The Iowa Hawkeyes qualified nine for the 2024 NCAA National Wrestling Championships to be held in Kansas City, Missouri on March 21-23. Iowa finished fourth in the team race.
You always hope for as many qualifiers as possible and for everyone to stay healthy. We got the nine qualifiers with every weight except 184 and I am hoping we came out of Big Tens in good health.
Overall, Iowa wrestled above their seeds at Big Tens. Three wrestlers placed exactly at their seed (141,157,165). We had four wrestlers finish above their seed (133,184,197, Hwt) and three finish below their seed (125,149,174).
Placement/Seed at Big Tens
125 – Drake Ayala 3rd/#2
133 – Brody Teske 5th/#14
141 – Real Woods 3rd/#3
149 – Caleb Rathjen 5th/#3
157 – Jared Franek 4th/#4
165 – Mike Caliendo 3rd/#3
174 – Patrick Kennedy 5th/#3
184 – Aiden Riggins 10th/#13
197 – Zach Glazier 2nd/#3
Hwt – Brad Hill 5th/#7
The biggest match for me all weekend was the first round at 133. #14 seed Brody Teske was behind #3 seed Nic Bouzakis of Ohio State 13-6 at the start of the third period. Teske chose down. When the dust cleared from a wild third period Teske won the match 15-13 with two back points at the end. That is the definition of Iowa Wrestling and a match I will not soon forget.
Next up is the release of the brackets.
The 2024 NCAA wrestling Division I championship brackets will be revealed during a selection show streamed live on NCAA.com at 7 p.m. CST on Wednesday, March 13.
As a fan I cannot wait. This is all part of the fan experience for this time of year. I will be sure and let you know about the brackets when they are released.
Wednesday at 7 PM cannot get here fast enough.
I am looking forward to Nationals and being entertained by Iowa Wrestling.
2024 Big Ten Wrestling Championships Results for Iowa
Drake Ayala placed 3rd and scored 13.5 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Drake Ayala (Iowa) 23-4 received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Michael DeAugustino (Michigan) 11-6 won by decision over Drake Ayala (Iowa) 23-4 (Dec 4-2)
- Cons. Round 2 – Drake Ayala (Iowa) 23-4 won by fall over Brendan McCrone (Ohio State) 18-10 (Fall 1:46)
- Cons. Round 3 – Drake Ayala (Iowa) 23-4 won by decision over Eric Barnett (Wisconsin) 26-6 (Dec 8-1)
- Cons. Semi – Drake Ayala (Iowa) 23-4 won by decision over Dean Peterson (Rutgers) 14-7 (Dec 4-1)
- 3rd Place Match – Drake Ayala (Iowa) 23-4 won by decision over Matt Ramos (Purdue) 25-5 (Dec 4-1)
133
Brody Teske placed 5th and scored 9.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Brody Teske (Iowa) 14-5 won by decision over Nic Bouzakis (Ohio State) 23-9 (Dec 15-13)
- Quarterfinal – Brody Teske (Iowa) 14-5 won by decision over Dustin Norris (Purdue) 10-17 (Dec 11-5)
- Semifinal – Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) 22-5 won by decision over Brody Teske (Iowa) 14-5 (Dec 12-6)
- Cons. Semi – Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) 22-8 won in sudden victory – 1 over Brody Teske (Iowa) 14-5 (SV-1 9-6)
- 5th Place Match – Brody Teske (Iowa) 14-5 won by decision over Braxton Brown (Maryland) 20-10 (Dec 4-1)
141
Real Woods placed 3rd and scored 14.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Real Woods (Iowa) 18-3 won by tech fall over Felix Lettini (Wisconsin) 3-18 (TF-1.5 6:16 (16-0))
- Quarterfinal – Real Woods (Iowa) 18-3 won by decision over Danny Pucino (Illinois) 15-10 (Dec 13-9)
- Semifinal – Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) 25-2 won by decision over Real Woods (Iowa) 18-3 (Dec 6-3)
- Cons. Semi – Real Woods (Iowa) 18-3 won by decision over Brock Hardy (Nebraska) 19-8 (Dec 8-4)
- 3rd Place Match – Real Woods (Iowa) 18-3 won by decision over Sergio Lemley (Michigan) 18-7 (Dec 11-8)
149
Caleb Rathjen placed 5th and scored 9.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Caleb Rathjen (Iowa) 16-5 won by decision over Jake Harrier (Illinois) 3-12 (Dec 12-6)
- Quarterfinal – Ethen Miller (Maryland) 17-7 won by decision over Caleb Rathjen (Iowa) 16-5 (Dec 7-6)
- Cons. Round 2 – Caleb Rathjen (Iowa) 16-5 won by decision over Braden Stauffenberg (Michigan State) 7-18 (Dec 8-2)
- Cons. Round 3 – Caleb Rathjen (Iowa) 16-5 won by decision over Joseph Zargo (Wisconsin) 20-9 (Dec 7-2)
- Cons. Semi – Tyler Kasak (Penn State) 17-4 won by decision over Caleb Rathjen (Iowa) 16-5 (Dec 8-1)
- 5th Place Match – Caleb Rathjen (Iowa) 16-5 won by decision over Dylan D`Emilio (Ohio State) 24-11 (Dec 11-5)
157
Jared Franek placed 4th and scored 11.5 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Jared Franek (Iowa) 23-5 won by decision over Luke Mechler (Wisconsin) 6-17 (Dec 5-3)
- Quarterfinal – Jared Franek (Iowa) 23-5 won by decision over Peyton Robb (Nebraska) 21-6 (Dec 7-3)
- Semifinal – Levi Haines (Penn State) 18-0 won by decision over Jared Franek (Iowa) 23-5 (Dec 5-0)
- Cons. Semi – Jared Franek (Iowa) 23-5 won by decision over Joey Blaze (Purdue) 17-10 (Dec 5-2)
- 3rd Place Match – Peyton Robb (Nebraska) 21-6 won by medical forfeit over Jared Franek (Iowa) 23-5 (MFFL)
165
Mike Caliendo placed 3rd and scored 15.5 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Mike Caliendo (Iowa) 22-4 won by fall over AJ Rodrigues (Maryland) 11-15 (Fall 5:30)
- Quarterfinal – Mike Caliendo (Iowa) 22-4 won in sudden victory – 1 over Cameron Amine (Michigan) 14-7 (SV-1 5-2)
- Semifinal – Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) 22-0 won by tech fall over Mike Caliendo (Iowa) 22-4 (TF-1.5 6:48 (23-7))
- Cons. Semi – Mike Caliendo (Iowa) 22-4 won by major decision over Chris Moore (Illinois) 11-14 (MD 18-5)
- 3rd Place Match – Mike Caliendo (Iowa) 22-4 won in sudden victory – 1 over Cameron Amine (Michigan) 14-7 (SV-1 8-5)
174
Patrick Kennedy placed 5th and scored 11.5 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 15-5 won by tech fall over David Ferrante (Northwestern) 11-14 (TF-1.5 6:39 (19-4))
- Quarterfinal – Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 15-5 won by major decision over Jackson Turley (Rutgers) 15-6 (MD 12-2)
- Semifinal – Shane Griffith (Michigan) 14-3 won by decision over Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 15-5 (Dec 4-3)
- Cons. Semi – Rocco Welsh (Ohio State) 22-4 won in sudden victory – 1 over Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 15-5 (SV-1 4-1)
- 5th Place Match – Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 15-5 won in sudden victory – 1 over Andrew Sparks (Minnesota) 10-7 (SV-1 4-1)
184
Aiden Riggins placed 10th and scored 0.5 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Ryder Rogotzke (Ohio State) 18-8 won by fall over Aiden Riggins (Iowa) 11-13 (Fall 1:02)
- Cons. Round 1 – Aiden Riggins (Iowa) 11-13 won by decision over James Rowley (Purdue) 10-18 (Dec 2-1)
- Cons. Round 2 – Layne Malczewski (Michigan State) 14-8 won by decision over Aiden Riggins (Iowa) 11-13 (Dec 10-6)
Aiden Riggins placed 2nd.
- Quarterfinal – Aiden Riggins (Iowa) 2-1 won by major decision over James Rowley (Purdue) 0-1 (MD 10-2)
- Semifinal – Aiden Riggins (Iowa) 2-1 won by major decision over Roman Rogotzke (Indiana) 0-1 (MD 28-14)
- 1st Place Match – Chase Mielnik (Maryland) 3-0 won by fall over Aiden Riggins (Iowa) 2-1 (Fall 3:49)
197
Zach Glazier placed 2nd and scored 16.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Zach Glazier (Iowa) 24-2 won by major decision over Josh Otto (Wisconsin) 1-14 (MD 14-3)
- Quarterfinal – Zach Glazier (Iowa) 24-2 won by decision over Luke Geog (Ohio State) 15-8 (Dec 8-2)
- Semifinal – Zach Glazier (Iowa) 24-2 won in sudden victory – 1 over Jaxon Smith (Maryland) 17-5 (SV-1 4-1)
- 1st Place Match – Aaron Brooks (Penn State) 17-0 won by tech fall over Zach Glazier (Iowa) 24-2 (TF-1.5 6:08 (19-3))
285
Bradley Hill placed 5th and scored 10.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Bradley Hill (Iowa) 20-7 won by decision over Nash Hutmacher (Nebraska) 7-6 (Dec 4-2)
- Quarterfinal – Nick Feldman (Ohio State) 24-5 won by injury default over Bradley Hill (Iowa) 20-7 (Inj. 5:54)
- Cons. Round 2 – Bradley Hill (Iowa) 20-7 won by major decision over Josh Terrill (Michigan State) 25-15 (MD 11-1)
- Cons. Round 3 – Bradley Hill (Iowa) 20-7 won by decision over Nick Willham (Indiana) 12-10 (Dec 4-2)
- Cons. Semi – Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) 17-6 won by decision over Bradley Hill (Iowa) 20-7 (Dec 5-1)
- 5th Place Match – Bradley Hill (Iowa) 20-7 won by decision over Nash Hutmacher (Nebraska) 7-6 (Dec 4-1)
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
