Coe Athletics Director Steve Cook announced Wednesday that women’s wrestling will become the school’s 23rd NCAA sport. The Kohawks will begin competition for the 2026-27 season and will be led by former Coe All-American Kaleb Reeves.
Nelson Brands is an accomplished wrestler, winning three state titles and All-American honors in high school and college. He also trained under Hall of Fame coaches. Brands will bring those experiences to his new role as Iowa City Regina boys’ head wrestling coach.
The growth of girls’ wrestling continues and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union has added another state championship event to coincide with the rapidly expanding sport. The IGHSAU will begin a State Duals championship for the 2026-27 season.
The Pinning Combination with The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher and Dick Briggs
University of Northern Iowa 184-pounder Parker Keckeisen wrestled for his second national title and a chance to play spoiler against Penn State’s Carter Starocci, who was going for his unprecedented fifth NCAA crown. Starocci won, 4-3.
Iowa’s Drake Ayala, Michael Caliendo and Stephen Buchanan and UNI’s Parker Keckeisen won semifinal bouts Friday, advancing to the finals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
University of Iowa moved five into the quarterfinals and finished tied for fourth in the team race after Day 1 of the NCAA Wrestling Championships Thursday at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. UNI has all 10 alive with Cael Happel and Parker Keckeisen in the quarterfinals. The Panthers are in seventh place.
College wrestling’s crown jewel is the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. University of Iowa, Iowa State and University of Northern Iowa are competing at the event at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Here are five storylines from Thursday’s opening session.
The Pinning Combination with The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher and Dick Briggs
University of Iowa, Iowa State, University of Northern Iowa and a handful of others with state ties will compete at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia from Thursday through Saturday. Here are five storylines to follow at the national tournament.
University of Iowa’s Drake Ayala was the runner-up at 125-pounds at last year’s national tournament. He will try to improve that finish as the No. 2 seed at 133 at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia, beginning Thursday.
Coe’s Bryce Parke posted three straight victories to reach the 133-pound final at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships on Saturday in Providence, R.I. He earned a runner-up finish and was one of four Kohawk All-Americans this year, including his brother, Brayden, who placed fifth at 125.
The Iowa High School Athletic Association announced Friday afternoon it has come to an agreement with Iowa PBS for broadcasts of football, boys’ basketball and wrestling state tournaments, beginning next school year.
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