The Iowa Men's Wrestling season ended on March 22 after the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships concluded. The Hawkeyes competed in three championship matches, but crowned only one champion.
Drake Ayala competed in the championship match for the 133-pound weight class. Ayala lost in a rematch against Illinois' Lucas Byrd.
Michael Caliendo wrestled Mitchell Mesenbrink in the championship match for the 165-pound weight class. In his career, Caliendo was 0-5 against Mesenbrink and would fall in the championship match 8-2 to drop to 0-6.
Stephen Buchanan was the only champion Iowa crowned during the Championship. Buchanan won a close 5-2 match to take the title in the 197-pound weight class.
After the NCAA Championships concluded, the Hawkeyes received some great news.
🚨 BREAKING 🚨
— IAwrestle (@IAwrestle) March 30, 2025
Arkansas Little Rock’s Nasir Bailey and Jordan Williams have committed to Iowa via their social media#IAwrestle pic.twitter.com/iIowWRIVfF
The Hawkeyes dove into the transfer portal and grabbed two solid wrestlers from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Jordan Williams, 149 pounds
Jordan Williams is a two-time NCAA qualifier in the 149-pound weight class. Williams qualified once for Oklahoma State (2024) and once for Little Rock (2025).
While Williams was an Oklahoma State Wrestling team member, he made the Big 12 Tournament Finals at 149 pounds during the 2023-2024 season. He was dismissed from the team in the summer of 2024 due to an arrest.
Williams transferred to Little Rock and was one win away from achieving All-American status.
The Hawkeyes hope to put Williams into the 149 weight class position after the departure of Kyle Parco. Williams has two years of eligibility remaining.
Nasir Bailey, 133 pounds
Nasir Bailey most recently reached the Round of 16 for the 133-pound weight class in the 2025 NCAA Championships. Bailey is also a former All-American (2024) at 133 pounds.
Before committing to Little Rock, Bailey was ranked as the No. 17 prospect in the 2022 recruiting class. Bailey was a four-time state champion wrestler for Rich Township High School in Park Forrest, Illinois.
Bailey is a skilled wrestler, but questions surround what weight class he will wrestle in. Bailey shares the same weight class as Drake Ayala (133). Bailey could jump to the 141-pound weight class due to a vacancy in that position.
Bailey could also redshirt next season and wait for Ayala to graduate. He has two years of remaining eligibility.
Iowa Men's Wrestling aims to fill holes in its lineup after the 2025 season ended on a sour note. Williams and Bailey are two skilled wrestlers, and will immediately help the Hawkeyes.