Iowa men’s wrestling set to honor seniors after Friday’s home finale against Michigan

IOWA CITY – Some are leaders on the mat. Others take charge off it or in the practice room.

A few take the reins in all those areas. Make no mistake they’re all necessary for a college wrestling program to function.

From starters to substitutes, six Hawkeyes will be recognized on Senior Night when seventh-ranked Iowa hosts No. 10 Michigan Friday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, starting at 8 p.m. Drake Ayala, Michael Caliendo, Patrick Kennedy, Gage Marty, Dean Peterson and Sebastian Robles will be honored after the dual.

“It’s a big deal,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. “You honor them. There’s business to do and there’s business after, but you honor them the right way. You send them off.

“We’ve (still) got a match against Purdue after that, then we go to Stillwater, Oklahoma, and then we’ve got the postseason. You honor them in a steady way.”

Ayala (133), Kennedy at 174 and 165-pounder Caliendo have been pillars in the Hawkeyes’ lineup, combining for seven All-American honors, three NCAA finals appearances and three Big Ten runner-up finishes.

Ayala has 72 wins, starting as a true freshman. He is a three-time national qualifier and NCAA finalist each of the last two seasons, reaching last season’s conference final as well.

Kennedy, a sixth-year senior, also has 72 career victories. He is a three-time NCAA qualifier, finishing fourth last year. Kennedy was a Big Ten runner-up at 165 in 2024.

Caliendo, who transferred to Iowa after one season at North Dakota State, is a three-time All-American and returning national and conference finalist. He is 94-16 in his career, owning a 65-11 mark in more than two seasons with the Hawkeyes. He is a two-time All-American at Iowa, placing fourth as a sophomore.

“I think of Ayala, Kennedy and him as a leadership group,” Brands said. “We need partners, No. 1, but we crave good partners and they’re the best of the best. They all have different roles as well but they work very well together, too.”

Iowa has endured an inconsistent season, including a 10-5 overall dual record and 3-3 in the Big Ten, tying the most losses in Brands’ 20-year tenure leading the program. Their experience and guidance has been as crucial as ever.

“This is a year where you have to be together because there are some tumultuous situations and things that can maybe derail focus maybe if you’re not focused,” Brands said. “You need that solid, steady, consistent presence every day.

“You put him, Kennedy and Ayala together and the three of them are great together.”

Caliendo has endeared himself to the Hawkeye fanbase with his penchant for stockpiling points. He owns a 15-3 mark with five major decisions and four technical falls at CHA. Caliendo has won 11 of his last 12 home matches, posting four technical falls and four majors over that stretch. He has outscored foes, 243-112, at home for an average winning margin of 13.5-6.2.

“He’s a full partner with the coaching staff,” Brands said of Caliendo. “He’s a full partner to the program. He’s a full partner with his teammates.”

Peterson joined Iowa this season, transferring from Rutgers. The three-time NCAA qualifier is ranked sixth with an 8-3 record.

Marty and Robles have been career reserves and vital contributors in the practice room. Robles, a 174-pounder, accompanied the team on last weekend’s road trip. Brands said Robles has been direct and selfless, willing to bump up to 197 if needed last Sunday against Michigan State. Marty has wrestled behind Kueter and Tony Cassioppi at heavyweight.

They have thankless roles, like others on the team, and have stayed dedicated to the program.

“I can tell you those guys don’t want to be in those roles but they are in a role that is noble, maybe would be a good word,” Brands said. “We’ve got to kick some butt. We want to honor those seniors. We want to talk about all of that but we’ll talk about that at our banquet more.”

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