Iowa wrestling finished fifth at the NCAA Championships with four All-Americans, their smallest podium group since 2013. Despite not winning a team trophy, the team's performance needs to be viewed in the context of a tumultuous season and the dominance of Penn State, which set an NCAA record with 172.5 points. The program's standard remains unchanged, with the goal of producing national champions at every weight class. Two of the four All-Americans can return next season, while others are considering their future in wrestling or coaching.
The Iowa wrestling team will need to outperform their seeds in the upcoming NCAA Championships to keep their streak of reaching the finals alive, as they don't have a wrestler seeded first or second this year. With a pair of #3 seeds and seven other national qualifiers, Iowa is projected to finish ninth in the team race. The article provides a detailed look at how each Iowa wrestler can navigate their brackets and potentially compete for a team trophy, highlighting their paths and potential matchups in the tournament.
The fourth-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team dominated Wisconsin with a 34-7 victory, winning eight of 10 bouts and recording 30 takedowns to Wisconsin’s six. Iowa's head coach, Tom Brands, emphasized focusing on the upcoming matches and the postseason after the win. Notable performances included Brody Teske's technical fall win and Real Woods' pin. Iowa's strong showing sets the stage for their upcoming match in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
The Iowa wrestling team dominated Wisconsin in a Big Ten dual, winning 8 out of 10 matches. Notable performances included Brody Teske's technical fall, Real Woods' pin, and Patrick Kennedy's tech fall. Iowa's Zach Glazier and Bradley Hill also secured major decision victories, leading to a final score of 33-7 in favor of Iowa.
The Iowa Hawkeye wrestling team suffered a tough 29-6 loss to No. 1 Penn State, with their veterans falling short in key matches. Despite the defeat, the young wrestlers showed promise, and the team's goals remain achievable if the veterans can bounce back in the postseason. Notably, 125-pound sophomore Drake Ayala and 149-pound sophomore Caleb Rathjen secured impressive wins, while the team is also dealing with an injury to Gabe Arnold.
The No. 2 Iowa wrestling team suffered its first loss of the season in a 24-11 defeat against No. 12 Michigan, losing seven of 10 bouts. The Hawkeyes will need to improve before their upcoming clash with No. 1 Penn State. Despite some individual successes, including Zach Glazier's dominant victory, Iowa's overall performance was disappointing, and they will need to regroup before facing their next opponent.
Iowa wrestling dominated Illinois with a 36-6 road win, winning eight out of ten matches. Notable performances included Cullan Schriever's 9-1 major decision, Brody Teske's 5-0 win, and Jared Franek's 21-5 tech fall. The team's strong showing secured a decisive victory in the Big Ten wrestling match.
Iowa wrestling coach Tom Brands advises suspended wrestlers to "be ready" amidst allegations of misconduct by Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agents in the investigation of online sports gambling by athletes at Iowa and Iowa State University. Brands challenges the media's lack of urgency in finding the truth and expresses concern over the infringement of basic liberties. Despite the suspensions, wrestlers like Cullan Schriever are focused on improvement and returning to competition, while Aiden Riggins is adjusting to wrestling in a higher weight class.
No. 3 Iowa wrestling secured a 22-10 win over No. 6 Nebraska in a road dual, winning seven of 10 matches, with standout performances from Drake Ayala and Zach Glazier. Coach Tom Brands' undefeated record against the Cornhuskers continues, with key victories from Real Woods and Jared Franek. The match-by-match breakdown highlights Iowa's dominance and individual performances, solidifying their status as a top wrestling program.
The Iowa wrestling team secured an 18-14 victory over Iowa State in a compelling and controversial dual meet. Real Woods played a pivotal role with a victory at 141 pounds, while other key wins came from Drake Ayala, Gabe Arnold, Patrick Kennedy, and Zach Glazier. The match was filled with close calls and controversy, including Woods' overtime takedown and Jared Franek's disputed victory. Despite a strong performance from Iowa State, the Cyclones fell short, but remain optimistic about their progress.
Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA champion Gable Steveson has announced that he will not be returning to college wrestling next season and will instead continue competing with WWE NXT. Despite teasing a potential collegiate return on social media, Steveson has decided to remain with WWE, where he will participate in the Great American Bash on July 30.
