Drake Ayala earned the nickname “No-Brake Drake” for his pedal-to-the-metal“ wrestling style fueled by a deep gas tank. He is a two-time NCAA finalist and three-time national finalist, embarking on his final college season with Iowa.
The Hawkeyes open the season at home against Bellarmine and hit the road for rivalry duals against Iowa State and Oklahoma State.
The Big Ten Conference has released the conferencve dual schedule. University of Iowa hosts Wisconsin, Penn State, Minnesota and Michigan in duals for the 2025-26 men’s wrestling season.
University of Iowa Sports Information Department confirmed with The Gazette Monday that Gabe Arnold is a member of the Hawkeyes men’s wrestling roster. He has three years of eligibility remaining and was an NCAA qualifier at 184 pounds last season.
Justin Basch, of the award-winning Baschamania Wrestling Podcast, reported that Gabe Arnold said that he has been dismissed from the University of Iowa men’s wrestling team Monday. Iowa Sports Information Department confirmed Arnold is no longer on the roster.
Flowrestling’s No. 2 prospect in the 2026 recruiting class, Bo Bassett, announced Sunday that he is reopening up his recruitment via social media. The senior from Bishiop McCort High School in Johnstown, Pa., originally committed in February, choosing Iowa over Oklahoma State, Penn State and Virginia Tech.
The Big Ten Conference released conference dual opponents Monday. The Hawkeyes will host rival Penn State, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin in conference duals. They will travel to Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State and Purdue.
Hawkeye Wrestling Club member and University of Iowa three-time NCAA champion Spencer Lee earned a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. He will compete for a spot to represent Team USA at the 2025 World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia.
Iowa All-American Michael Caliendo went 8-1 and defeated Stanford’s Daniel Cardenas in a best-of-3 series for the 74-kilogram U23 men’s freestyle national title Sunday at Geneva, Ohio. Herrera won the 125-kg crown.
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.
A lottery-style drawing determined the final five entrants for the National Duals Invitational set for Nov 15-16 at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. University of Iowa and UNI are part of the 16-team field. Iowa women well represented in U.S. Open semifinals. More transactions for state schools.
WIll David Carr build on recent win over Olympic silver medalist? Parker Keckeisen returns to the mat after closing college career. Hawkeye men and women in the field and more.
The offseason has heated up with wrestlers, finding new homes and better fits via the transfer portal and improving their NIL stock. Iowa and Iowa State are among the players this spring.
Stephen Buchanan came to Iowa to become a champion. Iowa needed him to accomplish that goal. Both reaped the rewards when he captured the 197-pound NCAA title. Iowa produces five All-Americans, Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson pulls off major upset, Penn State wins again and more in the NCAA Wrestling Weekend That Was.
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.
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