Drake Ayala, Stephen Buchanan lead Iowa men’s wrestling as No. 1 seeds at Big Ten Championships

Lineup questions have been answered and paths have tentatively been established.

Second-ranked University of Iowa will compete at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships on Saturday and Sunday at Northwestern’s Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Big Ten released preliminary seeds Wednesday with two Hawkeyes earning No. 1 seeds and eight at fifth or better. The tournament begins Saturday at 10 a.m. with the semifinals set for 7 p.m. The finals are slated for Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

“We are always optimistic,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said during Tuesday’s weekly media availability. “We like our team. Speaking for them, they’re excited. They’re looking forward to the competition.”

NCAA finalist Drake Ayala and senior Stephen Buchanan are top-seeded at 133 and 197 pounds, respectively. Ayala has bumped a weight class and has solid all season, posting a 15-1 record. Buchanan is Iowa’s lone unbeaten wrestler, entering the conference tournament with a 19-0 mark.

Kyle Parco (149) and Michael Caliendo at 165 are No. 2 seeds. Parco was in an interesting triangular with Penn State’s Shayne Van Ness and Nebraska’s Ridge Lovett. Parco’s only setback of the season was to Van Ness, who lost to Lovett. Parco beat Lovett, 3-2, in a regular-season dual and swept three career meetings.

Caliendo is 14-4 against the 165-pound field with all four wins coming against Penn State’s top-seeded Mitchell Messenbrink. Caliendo, who has been called “Mikey Majors” by some for his bonus-point performances, is 18-1 overall with nine technical falls, four major decisions and one pin.

Ayala and Caliendo are the highest conference finishers back from last season, placing third.

Iowa’s lineup has finally come into focus. Cullan Schriever received the nod at 141 and is the No. 11 seed. Patrick Kennedy will man the 174 spot, instead of All-American Nelson Brands. Kennedy is the No. 4 seed. Gabe Arnold will wrestle at 184 and garnered the No. 4 seed, which allows Angelo Ferrari to maintain his redshirt with four years of eligibility remaining.

Jacori Teemer spent part of the season top-ranked at 157. The 2024 NCAA runner-up is the No. 4 seed. Joey Cruz is fifth at 125 and heavyweight Ben Kueter is the seventh seed.

“It’s about getting better every day,” Brands said. “it’s about the most important date on the calendar is the next date. When you get to the postseason, that ratchets up a little bit. The Big Ten Championships are very important. Your name goes on a wall being the champion. It’s a qualifier for the next step, which is the most important event of the year. But, because the Big Ten Championships are the next event it is the most important event of the year (so far).”

If the seeds stay true, Iowa could secure nine automatic berths. The Big Ten has been allocated 87 automatic berths, which leads all conference qualifying tournaments. The conference received 10 berths at 133, 197 and heavyweight, nine at 125 and 165, eight at 149, 157, 174 and 184 and seven at 141.

Iowa placed fourth at the conference tournament last year, finishing behind champion Penn State, Michigan and Nebraska.

“Relax, take a deep breath and go out and perform.” Brands said. “Put on a show.”

125 lbs

1. Matt Ramos (PU)

2. Caleb Smith (NEB)

3. Dean Peterson (RU)

4. Luke Lilledahl (PSU)

5. Joey Cruz (IA)

6. Jacob Moran (IN)

7. Brendan McCrone (OSU)

8. Nicolar Rivera (WIS)

9. Cooper Flynn (MN)

10. Dedrick Navarro (NU)

11. Caleb Weiand (MSU)

12. Christian Tanefu (MI)

13. Caelan Riley (IL)

14. Tyler Garvin (MD)

133 lbs

1. Drake Ayala (IA)

2. Lucas Byrd (IL)

3. Braxton Brown (MD)

4. Braeden Davis (PSU)

5. Dylan Shawver (RU)

6. Jacob Van Dee (NEB)

7. Zan Fugitt (WI)

8. Angelo Rini (IN)

9. Nic Bouzakis (OSU)

10. Tyler Wells (MN)

11. Dustin Norris (PU)

12. Massey Odiotti (NU)

13. Andrew Hampton (MSU)

14. Nolan Wertanen (MI)

141 lbs

1. Beau Bartlett (PSU)

2. Jesse Mendez (OSU)

3. Brock Hardy (NEB)

4. Vance Vombaur (MN)

5. Sergio Lemley (MI)

6. Joseph Olivieri (RU)

7. Danny Pucino (IL)

8. Henry Porter (IN)

9. Greyson Clark (PU)

10. Christopher Cannon (NU)

11. Cullan Schriever (IA)

12. Dario Lemus (MD)

13. Brock Bobzien (WI)

14. Jaden Crumpler (MSU)

149 lbs

1. Shayne Van Ness (PSU)

2. Kyle Parco (IA)

3. Ridge Lovett (NEB)

4. Dylan D’Emilio (OSU)

5. Kannon Webster (IL)

6. Andrew Clark (RU)

7. Sam Cartella (NU)

8. Kal Miller (MD)

9. Dylan Gilcher (MI)

10. Drew Roberts (MN)

11. Isaac Ruble (PU)

12. Clayton Jones (MSU)

13. Joey Butler (IN)

14. Royce Nilo (WI)

157 lbs

1. Ethen Miller (MD)

2. Tyler Kasak (PSU)

3. Antrell Taylor (NEB)

4. Jacori Teemer (IA)

5. Tommy Askey (MN)

6. Joey Blaze (PU)

7. Trevor Chumbley (NU)

8. Chase Saldate (MI)

8. Brandon Cannon (OSU)

10. Conner Harer (RU)

11. Jason Kraisser (IL)

12. Ryan Garvick (IN)

13. Luke Mechler (WI)

14. Braden Stauffenberg (MSU)

165 lbs

1. Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU)

2. Mike Caliendo (IA)

3. Christopher Minto (NEB)

4. Beau Mantanona (MI)

5. Andrew Sparks (MN)

6. Braeden Scoles (IL)

7. Tyler Lillard (IN)

7. Maxx Mayfield (NU)

9. Paddy Gallagher (OSU)

10. Anthony White (RU)

11. Stoney Buell (PU)

12. Alex Uryniak (MD)

13. Cody Goebel (WI)

14. Jay Nivison (MSU)

174 lbs

1. Levi Haines (PSU)

2. Carson Kharcla (OSU)

3. Lenny Pinto (PSU)

4. Patrick Kennedy (IA)

5. Clayton Whiting (MN)

6. Jackson Turley (RU)

7. Danny Braunagel (IL)

8. Brody Baumann (PU)

9. Lucas Condon (WI)

10. Derek Gilcher (IN)

11. Joseph Walker (MI)

12. Branson John (MD)

13. Ceasar Garza (MSU)

14. Aiden Vandenbush (NU)

184 lbs

1. Carter Starocci (PSU)

2. Max McEnelly (MN)

3. Silas Allred (NEB)

4. Gabe Arnold (IA)

5. Jaxon Smith (MD)

6. Edmond Ruth (ILL)

7. Shane Cartagena-Walsh (RU)

8. Ryder Rogotzke (OSU)

9. DJ Washington (IN)

10. Jaden Bullock (MI)

11. Jon Halvorsen (NU)

12. Lucas Daly (MSU)

13. Orlando Cruz (PU)

14. Dylan Russo (WI)

197 lbs

1. Stephen Buchanan (IA)

2. Josh Barr (PSU)

3. Jacob Cardenas (MI)

4. Isaiah Salazar (MN)

5. Zac Braunagel (IL)

6. Camden McDanel (NE)

7. Evan Bates (NU)

8. Gabe Sollars (IN)

9. Seth Shumate (OSU)

10. Remy Cotton (MSU)

11. Ben Vanadia (PU)

12. Chase Mielnik (MD)

13. PJ Casale (RU)

14. Niccolo Colluci (WI)

Heavyweight

1. Gable Steveson (MN)

2. Greg Kerkvliet (PSU)

3. Joshua Heindselman (MI)

4. Nick Feldman (OSU)

5. Luke Luffman (IL)

5.Yaraslau Slavikouski (RU)

7. Ben Kueter (IA)

8. Jacob Bullock (IN)

9. Seth Nevills (MD)

10. Hayden Filipovich (PU)

11. Harley Andrews (NEB)

12. Max Vanadia (MSU)

13. Dirk Morley (NU)

14. Gannon Rosenfeld (WI)

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com