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.
The college postseason continues with the NCAA Division II and III Wrestling Championships on Friday and Saturday. The D-III tournament includes the American Rivers Conference programs and Cornell, which is hosted by Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I. Upper Iowa is the lone D-II program in the state and will compete at Indianapolis, Ind.
The Pinning Combination with The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher and Dick Briggs
Sophomore won AAU state title on Sunday at Alliant Energy PowerHouse, pinning her way to finals
Cedar Rapids Xavier senior Jean Ngoma was the state runner-up at 215 pounds in Class 3A, earning his second state medal and posting a 38-1 record. he was voted All-Metro Athlete of the Year for boys’ wrestling.
University of Northern Iowa senior 141-pounder Cael Happel stopped pressuring himself and learned to enjoy competing, which helped him reach the Big 12 tournament finals a year ago. He is looking for his third NCAA tournament berth as the No. 2 seed at the conference tournament this weekend at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla.
The Pinning Combination with The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher and Dick Briggs
Iowa State and University of Northern Iowa boasted two No. 1 pre-seeds apiece for the Big 12 Wrestling Championships on Saturday and Sunday at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla.
Meet The Gazette’s 2025 all-area high school boys’ wrestling team: Union Community’s three-time state champion and four-time finalist Jace Hedeman is the Wrestler of the Year, while Alburnett’s Clayton Rush repeats as Coach of the Year.
East Buchanan’s Dan Stiefel and Kendra Burchett are coaches of the year after leading Bucs to state title
Masanosuke Ono edged Spencer Lee, 3-2, in the main event of FloWrestling Night In America on Wednesday night at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Former Iowa State two-time NCAA champion David Carr defeats Japan’s Olympic silver medalist Daichi Takani.
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