Head Coach Tom Brands and the Iowa Wrestling program continue to dip into the transfer portal to add talent for the upcoming season. By Iowa standards, the Hawkeyes had a disappointing 2024-2025 season and are retooling the roster for next season.
Iowa finished third at the Big Ten Championships and only sent three wrestlers to the finals of the NCAA Championships, crowning one champion (Stephen Buchanan, 197 pounds).
The Hawkeyes' roster has multiple holes for the 2025-2026 season, and they are addressing those issues with transfer portal additions.
Iowa added Nassir Bailey (133 pounds) and Jordan Williams (149 pounds) from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and Dean Peterson (125 pounds) from Rutgers, from the transfer portal. On Monday, the Hawkeyes picked up a huge commitment from an in-state transfer.
3x NCAA D3 champ Massoma Endene has announced his decision to transfer to Iowa for his final year of eligibility! #ncaawrestling pic.twitter.com/qovxAHuNcX
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) April 21, 2025
After spending three seasons at Wartburg College, Massoma Endene has committed to the Hawkeyes. Endene is a three-time Division III National Champion at 197 pounds.
During his three seasons at Wartburg, Endene went 76-1 with 33 pins. Before joining the Knights, Endene had success at the junior college level. In two seasons at Iowa Lakes Community College (2020-2021, 2021-2022), Endene was named an All-American.
Under normal circumstances, Endene would have exhausted his college eligibility, spending two seasons in junior college and three seasons at Wartbug. However, a judge issued a ruling that allowed Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia to play an additional season after arguing JUCO seasons should not count against NCAA eligibility.
That ruling helps Endene and the Hawkeyes, giving him one more year of eligibility in Iowa City.
After Stephen Buchanan graduated, Endene will slot into the 197-pound starting position. This gives incoming freshman Harvey Ludington a chance to use a redshirt year, and be more prepared for the 2026-2027 season.
Endene gives the Hawkeyes an experienced wrestler with a championship pedigree, and he should fit in nicely with a new-look Iowa roster.