Iowa men’s wrestling welcomes veteran talent to 2024-25 lineup: ‘The more ... the merrier’

IOWA CITY — Half of the lineup when the Iowa men’s wrestling team starts the season could be filled by wrestlers who began college careers at other programs.

This season, the Hawkeyes welcomed All-America transfers Kyle Parco, Jacori Teemer and Stephen Buchanan. They provide upgrades to their respective weights.

Iowa Coach Tom Brands has welcomed additions from the transfer portal in recent years. It comes down to a matter of recruiting someone that fits a need or being the destination for an accomplished competitor to develop or reset with a new program.

“There’s a lot of ways to transfer,” Brands said during the Hawkeyes’ annual media day news conference Thursday. “There’s a lot of ways to skin a cat. I’ll tell you that if certain personnel fit our roster needs, we're open to it.

“I don't have an opinion on whether or not that's good or not, good for athletics or not. We love it. The more that want to be here, the merrier.”

The influx of talent has placed Iowa at No. 2 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association NCAA Division I rankings. The Hawks boast six All-Americans and look to improve last season’s fourth-place finish at the Big Ten Championships and fifth-place showing at the national tournament.

Parco, Teemer and Buchanan are the latest to turn to the Hawkeye wrestling program to finish their careers, like former Hawkeyes Real Woods, Brody Teske and Jared Franek.

All three took different paths to Iowa.

“They want to be here,” Brands said. “There's energy. They all three have a different approach.”

Parco began his career at Fresno State, earning All-America honors. He joined up with Teemer when he transferred to Arizona State when the Bulldogs program was dropped again. He earned three All-America honors with the Sun Devils, placing fifth at 149 pounds last season.

Unlike Parco and Buchanan, this is Teemer’s second stop. He was a three-time All-American for Arizona State, including an NCAA runner-up performance at 157 in March. Teemer gives the Hawkeyes two national finalists, joining Drake Ayala.

“I just think I needed a little change,” Teemer said. “A different plan. I know Iowa, they're always at the top, so I wanted to win a team title as well as individual, and I was just like this is the best place to do it.”

Parco was the first domino to drop and that made Teemer’s decision a little easier. The duo has grown accustomed to following one another on the mat. The Hawkeyes inherit two multiple All-Americans with a combined 171-29 record.

“It was very helpful,” Teemer said. “Kyle came over here first. I came over a little later. Just having him go before me, I mean, I've been used to that the last three years.

“So, just having him go out there before me and transferring the energy, I know it's going to be the same … the best 1-2 punch the world could get.”

Buchanan is another accomplished competitor, who started his career with Wyoming where he was a three-time NCAA qualifier. He placed eighth as a sophomore and third as a junior. He transferred to Oklahoma last year, posting a second straight third-place finish at nationals.

Buchanan found that the reputation Iowa had outside of the program didn’t match what he experienced since he arrived.

“I definitely thought it would be a lot more of a hostile environment, but you come in here and they treat you like family,” said Buchanan, who came to Iowa with a 98-26 career mark. “They're there. They care about you, just not like the wrestler piece, but also the guy who's off the mat.”

Brands and associate head coach Terry Brands have helped advance the newcomers’ skills more than reshape them into a specific style. For Buchanan, the Brandses have enhanced his basic skills, sprawling, handfighting, pressure on opponents and overall confidence.

“Some coaches you try to change your style,” Buchanan said. “These guys have done a great job just adding on, so I can't complain. I'm just soaking it up like a sponge and trying to do my best to be my best.”

Michael Caliendo has been in their shoes, transferring from North Dakota State before last season. Caliendo garnered his second All-America honor and placed fourth at 165.

“They’re in a good spot,” Caliendo said. “The advice I’d give them is take advantage of your resources. Tom and Terry are great coaches. They have great technique to help them excel to the next level.”

Ayala said there is a lot of talk outside of Iowa’s wrestling room. Speculation on who and why but the only thing that matters is they have come together in a short period of time.

“I think it’s cool. There’s a lot of talk, a lot of outside talk about who is coming in, why they’re coming in and whatnot. At the end of the day, these guys are all good people. They’re a really good group of dudes.

“When we come together, practicing together or hanging out together it’s just like we’re a team, a family. It’s good to have these guys in here. It elevates the room. It elevates everybody and we’re thankful to have them here.”

Ayala reached the podium in 2024, joining the four transfers and Nelson Brands, who came back for a medical redshirt after missing last year to suspension. Ayala placed second at 125 last season and is a leader for the Hawkeyes. Brands called him the “bedrock” of the program and is excited for him to embrace that role.

“My mindset is I’ve got to take one step higher on that podium, right? I got second last year, so I'm excited to go out there, dominate and a big thing for me is scoring points,” said Ayala, who was an NCAA qualifier as a true freshman. “I got to score points and when I do that, I wrestle like Drake and good things happen.”

Ayala traveled overseas during the summer and gained valuable experience, training with Olympic silver medalist Spencer Lee. He is bumping up to 133 this season. Brands said Ayala made the decision with conviction.

“I'm not moving up a weight to throw my hat in the ring,” Ayala said. “I'm moving up a weight to win a national title. So, I think I got a good mindset going in and I'm excited to prove it on the mat.”

Iowa will have a question mark at 125 with Ayala’s move. Joey Cruz, who wrestled at Oklahoma before transferring to Iowa before going 7-6 last season, and Kale Petersen, who wrestled at 133 during his redshirt season, are listed in the probable lineup for Saturday’s dual at Oregon State.

Redshirt freshman Ryder Block, a former Waverly-Shell Rock three-time undefeated state champion, is expected to step in at 141.

Gabe Arnold (174/184) and heavyweight Ben Kueter wrestled part-time before redshirting last season. Kueter, who placed second at the World Championships this summer, has decided to focus on wrestling and put his football career aside for this academic year. Both are expected to make a big impact for the Hawkeyes.

“I think this team is full of a bunch of guys who are ready to win a national title, whether they're the starting 10 or they're the back 10, it doesn't matter,” Arnold said. “I think all, however many guys we got on this roster, can win a national title. And that doesn't just come from bias and belief. That just come from watching the work that we put in on a daily basis and seeing what these guys are capable of.”

2024-25 Iowa men’s wrestling at a glance

Coach: Tom Brands (19th season at Iowa, 277-27-1; 21st season overall, 294-47-1)

Last year: 12-2 (6-2), 4th at Big Ten and 5th at NCAA

Top returners: 133 – Drake Ayala; 133 – Cullan Schriever; 149 – Caleb Rathjen; 149 – Victor Voinovich III; 165 – Michael Caliendo; 165 – Patrick Kennedy; 174/194 – Nelson Brands; 184/174 – Gabe Arnold; Hwt. – Ben Kueter

Top newcomers: 125/133 – Dru Ayala; 149 – Kyle Parco; 149 – Kael Voinovich; 157 – Jacori Teemer; 184 – Angelo Ferrari; 197 – Stephen Buchanan

Schedule highlights: Nov. 23 vs. Iowa State; Dec. 29-30 at Soldier Salute in Coralville; Jan. 25 – vs. Ohio State; Jan. 31 – at Penn State; Feb. 23 – vs. Oklahoma State

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com