Iowa men’s wrestling blanks Bellarmine, 40-0, in season opener

IOWA CITY – University of Iowa opened the season in dominant fashion.

The third-ranked Hawkeyes won all 10 matches and blanked Bellarmine, 40-0, in the first men’s wrestling dual of the season Thursday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Iowa posted five bonus-point victories, closing with four straight sparked by a pin from Jordan Williams at 157 pounds. NCAA finalists Drake Ayala (133) and Michael Caliendo (165), All-American Patrick Kennedy at 174 and second-ranked 184-pound freshman Angelo Ferrari each recorded technical falls.

“When there was a lot of hustle, a lot of points were scored,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said in the post-meet news conference. “That’s a good thing. We have to hustle more. They’re not going to fall down. Those points aren’t going to fall down for you. You have to put them down.”

Williams, a transfer from University of Arkansas-Little Rock and former Oklahoma State wrestler, made his Hawkeye debut. He put Jeb Prechtel on his back twice, locking up a throw for his first nearfall points. He cinched up a cradle the second time, adjusting to deck Prechtel in 1:44.

“It felt good,” Williams said. “I’m happy and grateful to step on the mat every time I can. No matter if it’s at a small school or big school. It’s the same, same energy.”

Williams, a two-time NCAA qualifier, was a Pac-10 champion last season and a Big 12 finalist in 2024. He demonstrated his flair on the mat with big moves that sparked the crowd and a post-match celebratory dance.

Williams said he doesn’t like low-scoring bouts and if he has an opportunity to execute a high-amplitude score he will go for it.

“I love excitement,” Williams said. “I just have a different approach this year. Every time I step out there there’s going to be fireworks.”

Williams was one of five to wrestle in CHA as a Hawkeye for the first time. Massoma Endene (197), Dean Peterson (125), Nasir Bailey (141) and 149-pounder Kael Voinovich were successful in their debuts.

Bailey was an All-American and teammates with Williams at Little Rock. Endene, a former NJCAA national champion at Iowa Lakes, transferred after multiple NCAA Division III titles at Wartburg. Peterson was an NCAA qualifier before transferring from Rutgers. Voinovich is a freshman, who finished his high school career at Iowa City High.

All three won by decision.

“I think that they were ready to go and it was a lot of fanfare,” Brands said. “Some delivered in a way they wanted to and some probably wished they could do it again.”

Iowa (1-0) returns to action at the National Duals Invitational tournament Nov. 15-16 in Tulsa, Okla. The Hawkeyes open the 16-team event against Missouri.

AT IOWA CITY

Iowa 40*, Bellarmine 0

197 pounds – Massoma Endene (I) dec. Andrew Liber, 3-0; Hwt. – Ben Kueter (I) dec. Daulton Mayer, 8-2; 125 – Dean Peterson (I) dec. Damion Ryan, 5-1; 133 – Drake Ayala (I) tech. fall Trayce Eckman, 19-4; 141 – Nasir Bailey (I) dec. A.J. Rallo, 7-1; 149 – Kael Voinovich (I) dec. Zac Cowen, 7-3; 157 – Jordan Williams (I) pinned Jeb Prechtel, 1:44; 165 – Michael Caliendo (I) tech. fall Noah Hall, 22-6; 174 – Patrick Kennedy (I) tech. fall Grant O’Dell, 19-4; 184 – Angelo Ferrari (I) tech. fall Gavin Ricketts, 21-5.

Attendance – 10,971.

*-Iowa was deducted a team point after the 157-pound bout.

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