The Iowa Women’s Wrestling program picked up another commitment on the recruiting trail today. Kyle Klingman of FloWrestling announced that Cadence Diduch has committed to the Hawkeyes.

Diduch has a great resume that includes winning Fargo three times and being a four-time finalist. She has also been invited to competed at Who’s #1 three times.

Diduch won by tech fall over current true freshman Hawkeye Lilly Luft of Charles City, Iowa in the Junior National finals last summer at 132 lbs.

In June Diduch was dominating in winning the 61 kg/134 lbs. Gold at the 2023 U17 Pan American Championships in Mexico City, Mexico.

Diduch is currently ranked #3 in the country at 135 lbs.

Diduch joins Val Solorio and Kiara Djoumessi in the recruiting Class of 2024.

 

 

 

Iowa Women’s Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024

Val Solorio – Canon-McMillan HS, Pennsylvania  100 lbs.

Kiara Djoumessi – Waverly-Shell Rock HS, Iowa  140 lbs.

Cadence Diduch – Freeport, Illinois  135 lbs.

 

The Hawks just keep stacking talented wrestlers in their program that looks to have a great future.

Iowa will make their first appearance in the history of the program in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday (Nov 12) at the Trailblazer Duals starting at 11 AM CST.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Steve Banach has been selected to become a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as an Outstanding American. Banach is a retired United States Army Infantry Colonel.

The Class of 2024 for the NWHOF will be inducted during the 47th Honors Weekend on May 31-June 1 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. 

Originally from Port Jervis, New York, Banach started his college wrestling career at Clemson where he was an ACC finalist as a freshman. Steve transferred to Iowa to wrestle with his two brothers Ed and Lou Banach for legendary coach Dan Gable. Steve was a three-time letterwinner at Iowa from 1980-82 and graduated from Iowa. 

Steve joined the United States Army where he had a distinguished career as an Infantry Colonel for the legendary Rangers.

Hall of Fame writer Mike Chapman told me about how tough Steve Banach was. Ed Banach had told Mike that their older brother Steve was tougher than they (Ed and Lou) were. That is saying a lot coming from an Olympic Gold medalist freestyle wrestler.

I briefly spoke to Steve last season at an Iowa Wrestling meet. He liked my Iowa Wrestling hat. Steve would be around 63 years old and looks like he could still walk out on the mat or a battlefield and kick some *ss.

In 2015 the Banach brothers released a book called Uncommon Bonds.

To order Uncommon Bonds:

Uncommon Bonds: A Journey in Optimism: Steve Banach, Lou Banach, Ed Banach: 9780996122504: Amazon.com: Books

 

 

From themat.com:

The Outstanding American award is presented to those individuals who have used the disciplines of wrestling to launch notable careers in other walks of life, such as science and technology, business and industry, government and the military, and the arts and humanities.

Retired United States Army Infantry Colonel Steve Banach began wrestling in the eighth grade and competed alongside his younger twin brothers Ed and Lou Banach for Port Jervis High School in Port Jervis, New York. He continued his career at Clemson University, where he was elected captain of the wrestling team as a freshman and was an Atlantic Coast Conference finalist. 

Banach then decided to transfer to the University of Iowa, where his twin brothers were wrestling for Dan Gable. Steve ended his wrestling career at the 1984 Final Olympic Trials as a member of the US Army Wrestling Team. He served with distinction in the United States Army from 1983 to 2010. This period of service included deployments to six combat zones. Steve demonstrated impeccable leadership during his service in the U.S. Army. He is a Distinguished Member of the 75th Ranger Regiment and served in that special operations organization for nine years, culminating with command of the 3rd Ranger Battalion from 2001-2003. 

He led U.S. Army Rangers during a historic night combat parachute assault into Afghanistan on October 19, 2001, as the “spearhead” for the Global War on Terror for the United States of America. He subsequently led U.S. Army Rangers in a second combat parachute assault into Al Anbar Province in western Iraq in 2003. 

Banach served as the 11th Director of the prestigious School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) and led the development of the U.S. Army’s Design Methodology doctrine. As a Stryker Brigade Commander, he led the development of the Company Intelligence Support Team tactics, techniques, and procedures, for the U.S. Army. He served as the lead Design Officer for the Department of the Army Cyber Information Warfare Design Planning Team. He also served as the Director of the Army Management Staff College and was responsible for the design and implementation of the US Army’s Civilian Education System. 

He earned the Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Bronze Star Medal for Service, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge with two awards, and the Master Parachutist Badge with two Bronze Combat Jump Stars. Banach also holds a certificate in Leadership in Crisis: Preparation and Performance, from the JFK School of Government at Harvard University.

After leaving the U.S. Army, Banach served as the CEO of the Operational Art & Strategic Initiatives Studies Group (OASIS-G) and is now the Vice-President for Strategic Planning at SOFTwarfare, LLC.

Congratulations Colonel Banach for your much deserved induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. You truly are an Outstanding American.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The Iowa Women’s Wrestling team crowned six champs at the Princeton Open today in Princeton, New Jersey. In addition to the six champs Iowa also had two wrestlers place second and two placed third.

Winning titles for the Hawks: Emily Gonzales (101), Ava Bayless (109), Brianna Gonzalez (116), Felicity Taylor (123), Haley Ward (170), and Alivia White (191).

Placing second: Sterling Dias (101), Ella Schmit (143).

The Hawks were dominating throughout the day with tech falls and pins. This young squad has so much talent in just their first year of official competition. You also need to factor in that there were at least four elite Hawks that did not compete this weekend.

The heck with the future. The present looks great for Iowa Wrestling right now.

Iowa will make their Carver-Hawkeye debut next Sunday, November 12 when they host the Trailblazer Duals starting at 11 AM.

 

 

Princeton Open Results

101lbs – Sterling Dias, 2nd place

WIN Sheila Cortez (Rider WC), Fall 1:08

WIN Emma Heslin (Lock Haven), Fall 1:04

LOSS Emilie Gonzalez (Iowa), Dec. 7-0

101lbs – Emilie Gonzalez, 1st place

WIN Lexi Doerflinger (Hiram), Fall 0:55

WIN McKenna Acampora (Unrostered), Tech. Fall 10-0

WIN Chiara Barbieri (Presbyterian), Tech. Fall 10-0

WIN Sterling Dias (Iowa), Dec. 7-0

109lbs — Ava Bayless, 1st place

WIN Anni Futch (Lehigh), Tech. Fall 10-0

WIN Johnae Drumright (Princeton), Fall 1:38

WIN #3 Kaelani Shufeldt (Lock Haven), Dec. 9-2

116lbs – Brianna Gonzalez, 1st place

WIN Alexis Deagle (Marymount), Tech. Fall 10-0

WIN Jayleah Pletz (Lock Haven), Tech. Fall 10-0

WIN Kaura Coles (Pan-Am ICS), Dec. 10-8

WIN Chloe Ayres (Princeton), Fall 2:13

123lbs – Felicity Taylor, 1st place

WIN Anna Kalcich (Lock Haven), Tech. Fall 11-0

WIN Alyssa Mahan (Presbyterian), Tech. Fall 12-2

WIN Ava Rose (Iowa), Tech. Fall 11-0

WIN Vayle-Rae Baker (West Point), Dec. 7-4

123lbs – Ava Rose, 5th place

WIN Julianna Van Ness (Lock Haven), Tech. Fall 10-0

WIN Bridgette Schoultz (Delaware Valley), Tech. Fall 14-4

LOSS Felicity Taylor (Iowa), Tech. Fall 11-0

WIN Jocelyn Lass (Ursinus), Tech. Fall 13-2

123lbs – Bella Ngo, DNP

LOSS Vayle-rae Baker (West Point), Fall 1:11

WIN Isabella Devito (Lock Haven), Tech. Fall 10-0

LOSS Alyssa Mahan (Presbyterian), Dec. 6-4

130lbs – Anakya Besco, 6th place

LOSS Lillian Sherer (Lock Haven), Tech. Fall 10-0

WIN Chelsea Marcelle (NYCRTC), Fall 0:19

WIN Lauren Gherman (Ursinus), Tech. Fall 10-0

WIN Katrina Kling (NYCRTC), Tech. Fall 10-0

WIN Lydia Knarr (Lock Haven), Fall 2:39

LOSS Emily Frost (Iowa), Tech. Fall

LOSS Cali Leng (Iowa), *Tech. Forfeit

130lbs – Cali Leng, 5th place

WIN Stacy Bloomfield (Ursinus), Tech. Fall 10-0

WIN Katrina Kling (NYCRTC), Dec. 6-4

LOSS Alex Town (London), Tech. Fall 11-0

LOSS Jaclyn Dehney (DGHG), Fall 0:54

WIN Anakya Besco (Iowa), *Tech. Forfeit

130lbs – Emily Frost, 3rd place

WIN Dorothea West (Drexel), Fall 3:39

WIN Lilly Luft (Iowa), Fall 1:44

LOSS Taina Fernandez (Cavalier), Tech. Fall 10-0

WIN Anakya Besco (Iowa), Tech. Fall 12-2

WIN Jaclyn Dehney (DGHG), *Tech. Forfeit

130lbs — Lilly Luft, DNP

WIN Lydia Knarr (Lock Haven), Tech. Fall 10-0

LOSS Emily Frost (Iowa), Fall 1:44

LOSS Jaclyn Dehney (DGHG), Tech. Fall 10-0

130lbs – Alex Baudhuin, DNP

WIN Chelsea Marcelle (NYCRTC), Tech. Fall 10-0

LOSS Taina Fernandez (Cavalier), Tech. Fall 10-0

LOSS Jaclyn Dehney (DGHG), Fall 2:07

136lbs – Sierra Brown Ton, DNP

LOSS Kira Pipkins (NYCRTC), Fall 5:13

WIN Cara Zhu (NYCRTC), Fall 0:29

WIN Ava Curry (Princeton), Fall 1:56

LOSS #2 Paige Wehrmeister (Presbyterian), Tech. Fall 10-0

136lbs – #3 Nanea Estrella, 4th place

LOSS Arian Carpio (NYCRTC), Dec. 8-1

WIN Madyson Hickman (Ursinus), Tech. Fall 10-0

WIN Kira Pipkins (NYCRTC), Tech. Fall 10-0

WIN Vivexa Pannell (Mit), Tech. Fall 12-0

WIN Corynne McNulty (Blaire Academy), Tech. Fall 10-0

LOSS Jordyn Fouse (Unrostered), Fall 5:15

143lbs – Reese Larramendy, 3rd place

WIN Olivia Kinder (Delaware Valley), Fall 2:42

WIN Daniella Nugent (DGHG), Dec. 14-6

LOSS Maya Letona (NYCRTC), Tech. Fall 12-1

WIN Veloria Pannell (Mit), Tech. Fall 10-0

WIN #2 Grace Stem (Lock Haven), Tech. Fall 10-0

143lbs – Ella Schmit, 2nd place

WIN Morgan Edwards (Blair Academy), Fall 1:33

WIN #2 Grace Stem (Lock Haven), Fall 2:26

LOSS Maya Letona (NYCRTC), Tech. Fall 10-0

170lbs – Haley Ward, 1st place

WIN Caira Jaynes (Delaware Valley), Tech. Fall 11-0

WIN Azariah Moore (Lock Haven), Fall 0:53

WIN Henlee Haynes (Presbyterian), Tech. Fall 10-0

191lbs – Alivia White, 1st place

WIN Shelly Gushue (Ursinus), Fall 0:18

WIN Ella Beam (Presbyterian), Fall 0:44

WIN Sophie Pollack (Delaware Valley), Fall 1:00

*Indicates a technical forfeit for the Hawkeyes due to the six-match per day limit.

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The University of Iowa Men’s and Women’s Wrestling teams went 20-0 with 2 pins, 10 tech falls, 6 major decisions, and 2 decisions combined on the road in the season opener for both programs. That is getting the season started off right.

The Women’s program made history with the first dual meet in the history of the program on Saturday at #7 East Stroudsburg. I mentioned in my preview that it would not take very long to see how the preseason rankings of Iowa at #8 and East Stroudsburg at #7 played out. It did not.

Iowa was 10-0 in matches with two pins and eight tech falls in a 43-1 victory. The one team point #7 East Stroudsburg scored was in freestyle rules if you score a point in the match you get a team point even if you give up a tech fall.

To make this even more impressive is that Iowa did not have their #1 team competing. There may be as many as four changes in the lineup with elite wrestlers that did not compete in this dual.

Among those missing from the lineup was Kylie Welker who just placed seventh at the Pan American Championships in Santiago, Chile at 76 KG/167 lbs. 

I believe the Iowa Women’s Wrestling team is quite a bit better than tied for #8 in the country.

Iowa is competing at the Princeton Open today and will make their Carver-Hawkeye Arena debut next Sunday, November 12 at the Trail Blazer Duals at 11 AM CST.

 

#8 Iowa 43, #7 East Stroudsburg 1

101 – Sterling Dias tech. fall over Olivia Klein, 10-0
109 – Ava Bayless tech. fall over Madi Manmann, 10-0
116 – Brianna Gonzalez fall over #6 Emily Klein, 0:44
123 – Felicity Taylor tech. fall over #2 Mia Macaluso, 10-0
130 – Emily Frost tech. fall over Gianna Amendola, 10-0
136 – #3 Nanea Estrella tech. fall over Zoe Gress, 12-2
143 – Ella Schmit tech. fall over Jayla Hahn, 11-0
155 – Reese Larramendy tech. fall over Paityn DeLong, 10-0
170 – Haley Ward tech fall over Jade Huerta, 2:23
191 – Alivia White fall over Ariel Ofri-Akman, 0:17

 

 

#2 Iowa started the 2023-24 season with only two returning starters on the road at Cal Baptist in Riverside, California last night. The Hawks won 40-0 and were 10-0 on the night with two tech falls, six major decisions, and two decisions. 

In the only match of ranked wrestlers #7 Drake Ayala wore down #29 Elijiah Griffin with an 18-8 major decision at 125. Brody Teske (133), Aiden Riggins (174), Brennan Swafford (184), Zach Glazier (197) and Brad Hill (Hwt) also won by a major decision.

It did not take Real Woods long to score a 15-0 tech fall in only 2:04 at 141. #5 Micheal Caliendo also won by a 23-7 tech fall at 165.

Victor Voinovich (149) and #3 Jared Franek (157) won by a decision.

Iowa won the takedown battle 31-1 and controlled the tempo of the matches. The new rule of a three-point takedown is definitely a game changer.

Iowa competes next in the home opener against Oregon State on Sunday, November 19 for a sellout crowd in Carver-Hawkeye Arena at Noon CST.

 

#2 Iowa 40, California Baptist 0

125 – #7 Drake Ayala (I) major dec. #29 Elijah Griffin (C), 18-8

133 – Brody Teske (I) major dec. Hunter Leake (C), 12-1

141 – #1 Real Woods (I) tech. fall Darren Green (C), 15-0

149 – #12 Victor Voinovich III (I) dec. Dayne Morton (C), 2-0

157 – #3 Jared Franek (I) dec. Drayden Morton (C), 8-1

165 – #5 Michael Caliendo (I) tech. fall Mateo De La Pena (C), 23-7

174 – Aiden Riggins (I) major dec. Peter Acciardi (C), 15-4

184 – Brennan Swafford (I) major dec. Nathan Haas, 15-4 (C)

197 – Zach Glazier (I) major dec. Eli Sheeren (C), 11-2

285 – Bradley Hill (I) major dec. Max Acciardi (C), 16-4

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Amazing. I do not know how else to describe it. For the third straight year the University of Iowa has announced that the upcoming Iowa Wrestling dual meet tickets are sold out before the season even starts. November 3rd – a season sellout. 

Two years ago Iowa had a top ranked team and Spencer Lee, last year was the senior season for Spencer Lee. This season the Hawks are rebuilding with a lot of new first time starters with an uncertain lineup. Doesn’t matter. Same result. Still a sellout before the season even starts.

Capacity for a home dual meet in legendary Carver-Hawkeye Arena is 14,847. I have to wonder how many more tickets Iowa would sell if Carver-Hawkeye Arena was even bigger.

 

 

Iowa will host Oregon State (Nov 19), Columbia (Dec 8), Minnesota (Jan 15), Purdue (Jan 19), Northwestern (Jan 28), Penn State (Feb 9), and Wisconsin (Feb 18).

The Hawks home opener is Oregon State on Sunday, November 19. You guessed it, already a sellout. 

Iowa has led the wrestling nation in attendance every single season since Tom Brands became the head coach in the 2006-07 season.

Iowa begins the 2023-24 season at Cal Baptist tomorrow (Saturday) at 8 PM CST in Riverside, California.

What I have been saying for years on this blog just gets stronger with every passing year. The advantage Iowa Wrestling has over the rest of the competition for fans is the biggest advantage in any sport that I know of. Not just wrestling, A-N-Y sport.

Iowa Wrestling Nation…Amazing.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The start of a new season of Iowa Wrestling is upon us. The Iowa Men’s and Women’s Wrestling teams will start the 2023-24 season this weekend. This will be a historic season with the Women’s team competing as the first Power 5 Conference member to have women’s wrestling.

The first competition in the history of Iowa Women’s Wrestling will take place this weekend. Iowa will start the season at East Stroudsburg on Saturday (Nov 4) at 3:30 PM CST. In the first NWCA Rankings of the year East Stroudsburg is ranked #7 and Iowa is tied for 8th. We will see real quick how accurate these rankings are.

The dual meet will be streamed through East Stroudsburg University.

On Sunday the Iowa Women’s team will compete at the Princeton Open in New Jersey. The competition begins at 8 AM CST. 

The Princeton Open will be streamed on ESPNt. Results will be available on TrackWrestling.

A probable lineup for the dual meet and a list of wrestlers competing at the open tournament were not released by the Iowa Athletic Department. We will have to wait and see who competes for the Hawks. 

Iowa will be without Kylie Welker who is representing Team USA on the Senior Women’s team at the Pan American Championships in Santiago, Chile.

Iowa will have their home opener on Sunday, November 12 at 11 AM CST.

 

 

The Men’s team will open the season on the road with a dual meet against Cal Baptist in Riverside, California on Saturday (Nov 4) at 8 PM CST. There will be a lot of new faces in the lineup.

I am looking for a real big year from Drake Ayala who will lead the way at 125. Iowa will have three new transfers in the lineup with Victor Voinovich (149), Jared Franek (157), and Michael Caliendo (165). Aiden Riggins has all the tools needed to be successful this season as he gets the start at 174.

The dual will be streamed online on FloWrestling and available on Youtube.

The radio broadcast will be available on hawkeyesports.com with Chad Beatty and Jeremiah Moody calling the meet.

 

Lineup

125 – Drake Ayala  13/7/11

133 – Brody Teske  14/13/11

141 – Real Woods  2/1/1

149 – Victor Voinovich  10/12/10

157 – Jared Franek  2/3/2

165 – Michael Caliendo  5/5/5

174 – Aiden Riggins

184 – Brennan Swafford

197 – Zach Glazier

Hwt – Brad Hill

*Rankings: WIN/InterMat/Flo

 

Iowa will compete next with the home opener against Oregon State on Sunday, November 19 at Noon.

I will have a follow up blog with results.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The Hawkeye Wrestling Club will once again be hosting a Social before six home Iowa wrestling meets. The HWC Socials are open to the public and free of charge. This is a great opportunity to meet members of the HWC and past Iowa Wrestling greats.

This year the HWC will host six Socials at area bars and restaurants. The first HWC Social will be Sunday, November 19 at Donnelly’s Pub in downtown Iowa City before the home opener against Oregon State.

The start of all the socials will be three hours before the Iowa dual meet.

I will keep you up to date with a blog during the week of all the upcoming HWC Socials.

 

 

 

 

HWC Socials (Dual meet opponent)

Sunday, November 19th – Donnelly’s Pub (Oregon State)

Sunday, December 10th – Sports Column (Columbia)

Monday, January 15 – Big Grove (Minnesota)

Friday, January 19th – Joe’s Place (Purdue)

Friday, February 9th – Sports Column (Penn State)

Sunday, February 18th – Scouts Honor (Wisconsin)

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The NWCA (National Wrestling Coaches Association) has released the Preseason Division I Men’s Wrestling Coaches Poll. Iowa is ranked #2. 

The Big Ten dominates the rankings with 9 of the 14 teams in the conference in the Top 25 including five teams in the Top 10. That is impressive.

NWCA Coaches Poll – October 31

1. Penn State
2. Iowa
3. North Carolina State
4. Missouri
5. Virginia Tech
6. Michigan
7. Cornell 
8. Ohio State
9. Nebraska
10. Iowa State

 

 

Iowa opens the 2023-24 season this Saturday at Cal Baptist in Riverside, California at 8 PM CST.

Top 25 Rankings: USA Wrestling | Penn State begins the new NCAA wrestling season ranked No. 1 in NWCA Div. I Coaches Poll (themat.com)

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Dru Ayala of Fort Dodge, Iowa has committed to the University of Iowa. Ayala continues a tradition of brothers competing for Iowa Wrestling as he is the younger brother of Drake Ayala who is the projected starter at 125  lbs. for the Hawks this season.

Dru has had a great career at Fort Dodge heading into his senior season. He placed fifth as a freshman and was a state runner-up the past two seasons with a 106-12 career record.

FloWrestling has Ayala ranked #14 in the country at 113 lbs. but he will compete at 120 lbs. this season. He is projected to compete at 125 for the Hawks.

 

 

Ayala joins the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024 that includes Angelo Ferrari, Miguel Estrada, and Keyan Hernandez.

Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024

Angelo Ferrari  – 175 lbs. 

Miguel Estrada – 144 lbs.

Keyan Hernandez – 126 lbs.

Dru Ayala – 120 lbs.

As I have done for years I will follow all of the matches for Ayala and all of our incoming recruits as they compete in their senior season of high school. I will post a blog on Friday with a schedule of where our recruits are competing and a follow up blog with results.

Welcome aboard Dru Ayala.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Tickets for the inaugural University of Iowa Women’s Wrestling season go on sale today at 9 AM CST. 

The Hawks will have two meets in legendary Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa will host the Trailblazer Duals on Sunday, November 12 with duals against Sacred heart, Lindenwood, and Presbyterian.

On Sunday, January 21 the Hawks will host the Iowa Quad Duals with yet to be determined teams.

There will be additional competitions close by when the Hawks compete at Soldiers Salute (Dec 29-30) in Coralville.  Iowa will also compete at the NWCA National Duals in Cedar Falls on January 5-6.

 

 

To order tickets:

https://hawkeyesports.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=WW&linkID=uiowa&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=&_ga=2.100459613.234025736.1698649276-336436430.1697486596

Iowa starts their season on Saturday at East Stroudsburg at 3:30 CST.

Iowa is the first Power 5 Conference school to have women’s wrestling.

I am expecting a large crowd at both of the home dual meets.

I cannot wait.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!