InterMat released new rankings. College wrestling started the 2024-25 season last weekend with dual meets and open tournaments. This is a great time of year to see who is at new weights and what true freshmen are competing.

On Saturday Iowa defeated #23 Oregon State 30-7 in Corvallis, Oregon.

There were no changes in the Tournament or Dual Rankings with Penn State-Iowa-Nebraska-Oklahoma State as the top four in each poll.

Penn State remained #1 with 118.5 points. Iowa dropped from 87.5 to 84 points and Nebraska went from 64 to 67 points.

The big change for Iowa is Nelson Brands and Gabe Arnold switched weights. Brands is now ranked #6 at 174 and Arnold is #9 at 184. In the preseason rankings Arnold was #8 at 174 and Brands was #6 at 184. 

 

 

All of the other weights remained the same for rankings with Drake Ayala(#7 -133), Kyle Parco(#4-149), Jacori Teemer(#1-157), Michael Caliendo(#2-165), Stephen Buchanan(#2-197) and Ben Kueter(#11-Hwt).

Iowa does not have a wrestler ranked at 125 or 141.

Iowa is in action next this Saturday, November 9 at 1 PM with the home opener in sold out Carver-Hawkeye Arena against #26 Stanford.

 

 

November 5 InterMat Rankings

Tournament Rankings

1. Penn State  118.5
2. Iowa  84
3. Nebraska  67
4. Oklahoma State  64

 

Dual Rankings 

1. Penn State
2. Iowa 
3. Nebraska
4. Oklahoma State

 

125 – Nobody ranked

133 – Drake Ayala #7

141 – Nobody ranked

149 – Kyle Parco #4

157 – Jacori Teemer #1

165 – Michael Caliendo #2

174 – Nelson Brands #6

184 – Gabe Arnold #9

197 – Stephen Buchanan #2

Hwt – Ben Kueter #11

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The University of Iowa announced that tickets for the Iowa Women’s Wrestling home meets will go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday, November 5 at 9 AM.

Iowa will have their home opener on Saturday, November 18 when they host Cornell College and William Jewel starting at 1 PM.

The Hawks will also host Iowa Duals II on Saturday, January 18 with dual meets against Augustana and Grand Valley State.

Iowa won the 2023 NCWWC national title in their first year of competition and look to have a stronger team this year.

Last year Iowa broke the world record for a women’s wrestling event with 8,207 fans in their first ever home dual meet.

 

 

From HawkeyeSports:

Single dual ticket sales will open on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 9 a.m. Iowa will offer a “For Her” combo pack that includes tickets to both home duals. Please call 1-800-IAHAWKS and select option 2 to be connected to a ticket sales representative or visit https://hawkeyesports.com/tickets/ to learn more.

 

 

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.

The Hawks will compete at the Eagle Madness Open in Marietta on Saturday.

I will have a follow up blog with results.

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

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!

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 with five losses that were head to head matchups.

Iowa had 18 wrestlers who competed on Saturday with 14 of them advancing to the semifinals and 10 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.  The dual meet will be covered by FloWrestling.

Iowa will have their home opener on Saturday, November 18 when they host Cornell College and William Jewel at 1 PM.

 

 

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!

The University of Iowa Women’s Wrestling team will begin the 2024-25 season at the Luther Hill Invitational hosted by Simpson College on Saturday, November 2. 

The wrestling will begin at 9 AM at Blake Fieldhouse in Indianola, Iowa.

TrackWrestling will provide coverage of the Luther Hill Invitational.

The Hawks begin their second season in program history as the defending NCWWC national champions.

 

 

Kennedy Blades will make her debut as an Iowa Hawkeye. Blades won silver at the Paris Olympics this summer at 76kg. She was also a 2021 U20 world champion, 2023 U20 bronze medalist and a 2023 U23 silver medalist.

Blades transferred into the program this summer and is listed as a junior at 160 lbs. on the roster.

This will also be the first time that we see true freshman Naomi Simon in action for the Hawks. Simon is the biggest recruit to ever come out of Iowa for girls wrestling. She was an undefeated four-time state champion for Decorah with a career record of 150-0. Simon won the Bronze medal at 76kg at the U20 World Freestyle Championships in Pontevedra, Spain in September.

Iowa will have nineteen wrestlers compete at eleven weight classes.

I will post a follow up blog with results.

 

 

Lineup for Luther Hill Invitational

103 – Sterling Dias

         Rainne Murphy

110 – Ava Bayless

        Emilie Gonzalez

        Val Solorio

117 – Ava Rose

124 – Cali Leng

131 – Skye Realin

         Emily Frost

         Allie Baudhuin

138 – Danni Swihart

145 – Ella Schmit

          Kiara Djoumessi

160 – Kennedy Blades

          Rose Cassioppi

180 – Naomi Simon

207 – Jaycee Foeller

           Katja Osteen

235 – Sam Calkins

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Former Iowa Hawkeye national champion Terry Steiner has been named as a Distinguished Member to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

Steiner is the 18th wrestler from the University of Iowa to be inducted as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

The Class of 2025 will be honored and inducted during the 48th Honors Weekend on June 6 and 7, 2025 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. 

 

 

From USA Wrestling on TheMat.com:

Terry Steiner has been the United States Women’s National Coach since 2002. In six Olympics, he has coached four gold medalists, three silver medalists and six bronze medalists. In 17 World Championships, Steiner has coached 16 gold medalists, 17 silver medalists and 29 bronze medalists. He has coached five of the six women inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as Distinguished Members: Clarissa Chun (2022), Kristie Davis (2018), Sara McMann (2022), Patricia Miranda (2023) and Toccara Montgomery (2024). 

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the U.S. had two gold medalists in the same year for the first time, and doubled the career Olympic gold medals for U.S. women’s wrestling from two to four. The U.S. won four total medals in 2024 with gold medalists Amit Elor and Sarah Hildebrandt, silver medalist Kennedy Blades and bronze medalist Helen Maroulis. It tied the record for most medals at an Olympics set in 2020 with gold medalist Tamyra Mensah Stock, silver medalist Adeline Gray and bronze medalists Hildebrandt and Maroulis. 

Steiner coached the American women to a tie for first place at the 2003 World Championships with seven medals, setting the record for most medals won by a U.S. Senior Women’s World Team. The record for most medals was tied in 2021, 2022 and 2023. In 2022 it included three gold medals, won by Elor, Dominique Parrish and Mensah Stock, which tied the record for most gold medals won by the U.S. women in a World Championship, set in 2019 when Gray, Mensah Stock and Jacarra Winchester stood atop the podium. He has also coached the U.S. women’s team to four runner-up finishes and seven third-place finishes at the World Championships. 

Before joining USA Wrestling, Steiner was an assistant coach at Oregon State University and the University of Wisconsin. He was a national champion and the Outstanding Wrestler at the 1993 NCAA Division I Championships and a three-time All-American for the University of Iowa. Steiner was a two-time North Dakota state champion and three-time finalist who helped Century High School in Bismarck, North Dakota, win back-to-back state team titles. Steiner had a career prep record of 128-14, including 69 consecutive victories.

 

 

I have followed Steiner’s career since he showed up with his twin brother Troy on campus from Bismarck, North Dakota as a member of the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 1988. 

The Steiner brothers are nothing short of legendary for their work ethic and conditioning even by Iowa Wrestling standards.

I have never witnessed a more dramatic final seconds of a match than when Steiner scored a takedown with time running out over Troy Sunderland of Penn State to win the 150 lbs. NCAA national title at Nationals in Ames, Iowa in 1993. Great memory.

I have followed his career as a coach especially as the United States Women’s National Coach since 2002. Our Women’s program has been outstanding in international competition with Steiner as the head coach.

It is a great source of pride to have a former Hawk like Steiner leading us against the world with such great success.

Congratulations to Iowa Hawkeye Terry Steiner for this much deserved and prestigious honor.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The 2024-25 edition of Iowa Wrestling will begin on Saturday with a dual meet at Oregon State. The action will begin at 9 PM CST.

The #2 ranked Hawks will have only one returning starter at the same weight as last year. Michael Caliendo returns ranked #2 at 165.

The first thing to notice on the Probable Lineups released by Iowa and Oregon State is that Nelson Brands is at 174 and Gabe Arnold at 184. That is big news. Brands will be a real force at 174. In the most recent preseason ranking Brands was ranked #6 at 184 and Arnold #8 at 174.

#23 Oregon State has two wrestlers listed at every weight. The Beavers are led by #5 ranked Trey Munoz at 197 who will face #1 Stephen Buchanan for Iowa. Munoz placed third in the country in 2024 and sixth in 2023 at 184. 

 

 

125 is the only weight that Iowa has two wrestlers listed with Joey Cruz and Kale Petersen. Oregon State has #13 Maximo Renteria and Hunter Taylor listed.

This will be the first time we see Drake Ayala at 133 after placing second at 125 last season.

Saturday will be the Iowa Hawkeye debut for transfers Kyle Parco(#4 at 149), Jacori Teemer(#1 at 157), and Stephen Buchanan(#1 at 197).

We could have four redshirt freshmen from the Recruiting Class of 2022 in the lineup. Kale Petersen is one of two wrestlers at 125 and we also have Ryder Block(141), Gabe Arnold(184) and Ben Kueter(Hwt) listed. This could be the beginning of a great class for Iowa Wrestling.

Kueter has been wrestling full time since January after beginning his season last year with Iowa Football. He won the silver medal at 125kg at the U20 World Freestyle Championships in Pontevedra, Spain in September. I am especially looking forward to watching Kueter, ranked #11 at Hwt, develop this season.

As I have stated in this blog for years Iowa Wrestling is my entertainment. I plan on being very entertained with Iowa Wrestling this season that begins tomorrow.

 

 

The Iowa-Oregon State dual meet will be live on FloWrestling on their premium subscription service. The dual meet will also be available online at HawkeyeSports.com (via YouTube).

Iowa at Oregon State

Saturday, November 2 at 9PM CST

Probable Lineups

No. 2 IOWA HAWKEYES (0-0) vs. #23 Oregon State (0-0)

125 Joey Cruz So. Fresno, California/Bullard 0-0 -or- Kale Petersen R-Fr. Rockwell, Iowa/Greene County 0-0 vs. 19/27/13/– Maximo Renteria R-Jr. Clovis, California/Buchanan 0-0 -or- Hunter Taylor Fr. Liberty, Missouri/Liberty 0-0

133 5/7/3/4 Drake Ayala Jr. Fort Dodge, Iowa/Fort Dodge 0-0 vs. Damion Elliott R-So. Loomis, California/Del Oro 0-0 -or- Gabe Whisenhunt R-So. Corvallis, Oregon/Crescent Valley 0-0

141 Ryder Block R-Fr Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock 0-0 vs. Nash Singleton R-So. Roseburg, Oregon/Roseburg 0-0 -or- Chase DeBlaere R-Jr. Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota/Simley 0-0 

149 4/4/4/3 Kyle Parco Sr. Danville, California/De La Salle 0-0 vs. Victor Jacinto R-Jr. Hollister, California/Gilroy 0-0 -or- Ayden Garver R-So. Newberg, Oregon/Newberg 0-0

157 1/1/1/1 Jacori Teemer Grad. Long Beach, New York/Long Beach 0-0 vs. Ethan Stiles R-Fr. Chicago, Illinois/Conant 0-0 -or- Christopher Hamblin R-So. Vancouver, Washington/Mountain View 0-0

165 2/2/2/2 Michael Caliendo Jr. Geneva, Illinois/Batavia 0-0 vs. Kekana Fouret R-Sr. Nampa, Idaho/Columbia 0-0 -or- Murphy Menke R-So. Parker, Colorado/Ponderosa 0-0

174 Nelson Brands Grad. Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City West 0-0 vs.–/32/–/– Sean Harman Grad. West Linn, Oregon/West Linn 0-0 -or- Graham Gambrall R-Jr. Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City West 0-0

184 Gabe Arnold R-Fr. Albany, Georgia/Iowa City 0-0 vs. TJ McDonnell R-Fr. Fountain Valley, California/Fountain Valley 0-0 -or- Mason Christensen R-Sr. Riverton, Utah/Bingham 0-0 

197 1/2/1/1 Stephen Buchanan Grad. Loyal, Wisconsin/Loyal 0-0 vs.  –/–/5/– Trey Munoz R-Sr. Mission Viejo, California 0-0 

285 –/11/11/17 Ben Kueter R-Fr. Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City 0-0 vs. Brett Mower R-Sr. Glenwood, Iowa/Glenwood 0-0 -or- Darius Mynar R-Sr. Makawao, Hawaii/Kamehameha 0-0

***^WIN/Intermat/Flo/AWN (Rankings based on weight class listed at) 

 

Let’s get ‘em in the middle.

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

For the fourth straight year the University of Iowa announced that season tickets are sold out for the upcoming wrestling season. 

Iowa made this announcement on October 31 and that makes this even more impressive. 

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

 

 

Last season the Hawks had 89,082 fans attend a dual meet in legendary Carver-Hawkeye Arena for an average of 14,847 fans per dual meet.

Penn State(7,337 fans per dual) was second and Iowa State(6,691 fans per dual) was third.

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 and Unequaled.

 

From HawkeyeSports.com:

Limited group and single meet inventory will be available starting Nov. 4th at 9 a.m. Please call 1-800-IAHAWKS and select option 2 to be connected to a ticket sales representative or visit https://hawkeyesports.com/tickets/ to learn more.

 

 

Iowa begins the 2024-25 season on the road at Oregon State on Saturday, November 2 at 9 PM CST.

 

Home dual meets in Carver-Hawkeye Arena

Saturday, November 9 – Stanford

Saturday, November 23 – Iowa State

Friday, January 17 – Illinois

Saturday, January 25 – Ohio State

Friday, February 7 – Nebraska

Sunday, February 16 – Northwestern

Sunday, February 23 – Oklahoma State

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Kylie Welker and Macey Kilty of the University of Iowa won a bronze medal at the 2024 Senior World Championships in Tirana, Albania.

Welker(72kg) started strong with a tech fall, decision, and fall before dropping the semifinals match. In the bronze medal match Welker defeated Alexandra Anghel (Romania), 5-2.

This was the first senior level medal for Welker in her career. Welker won a U23 world title over the weekend also at 72kg. 

After a quarterfinal loss Kilty came storming back in repechage with a tech fall in the repechage semifinals before scoring a 12-2 tech fall over Elis Manolova (Azerbaijan) for the bronze medal at 65kg.

Kilty won silver at the U23 World Championships at 63kg last weekend. 

 

 

In addition to the U23 world title Welker recently won she was also a 2021 Junior World champion, 2021 U23 World Bronze medalist, and placed 10th at the 2021 Senior World Championships.

Welker, a redshirt sophomore from Franksville, Wisconsin, won an NCWWC national title at 170 lbs. last season for the Hawks and is listed at 180 on the new roster.

Kilty, from Stratford, Wisconsin, transferred into the program this summer with one year of eligibility remaining and is listed at 145 on the roster. She won silver at 65kg at the 2023 Senior World Championships and was a 2018 Cadet World champion. She has won six age-level World medals for Team USA.

Congratulations to Kylie Welker and Macey Kilty for bringing home medals from the Senior World Championships.

 

 

2024 Freestyle World Championships

65 kg – Macey Kilty (Stratford, Wis./Iowa Women’s WC), 

WIN Alexis Gomez (Mexico)

LOSS Kateryna Zelenykh (Romania), 11-4

WIN Elis Manolova (Azerbaijan), tech. fall, 12-2

Bronze medal match: WIN Valeriia Dondupova Suvorova (Individual Neutral Athlete), tech fall 16-5

 

72 kg – Kylie Welker (Franksville, Wis./Iowa Women’s WC)

WIN Aleah Nickel (Canada), tech. fall, 10-0

WIN Pauline Lecarpentier (France), 4-0

WIN Qian Jiang (China), fall, 5:30

LOSS Ami Ishii (Japan), tech. fall, 12-1

Bronze medal match: WIN  Alexandra Anghel (Romania), 5-2

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Owen McMullen announced on Instagram that he has committed to the University of Iowa. McMullen is the first recruit to commit to the Hawks following their big recruiting visits over the weekend.

McMullen, from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is a junior for Bishop McCort High School and is the first member of the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2026. 

Iowa was the choice over North Carolina State, Rutgers, Harvard, Air Force, and Brown. 

 

 

McMullen competed at several weights last season as a sophomore and is projected to compete at 150 this season.

McMullen went 2-2 and did not place at Cadet Nationals in Fargo last summer at 144 lbs.

At this time I project that McMullen will compete at 157/165 for the Hawks.

 

 

McMullen is a member of the Young Guns Wrestling Club that is coached by former Hawkeye All American Jody Strittmatter. 

There are a lot of similarities between McMullen and former Hawkeye Kaleb Young who was the first member of Young Guns to commit to Iowa before his junior season. Shortly after Young committed to Iowa Michael Kemerer committed in October of 2014.

Spencer Lee and Max Murin later joined Iowa from Young Guns and led Iowa to a national title.

Young Guns is loaded with D-I talent with Bo Bassett(biggest recruit since Spencer Lee in 2017), Melvin Miller, Keegan Bassett, and Mario Hutcherson. 

Let’s hope the Young Guns connection continues for Iowa Wrestling.

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!