The Iowa Men's Wrestling team ended their 2024-2025 season with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. The Hawkeyes had five All-Americans, three championship finalists, and crowned one National Champion (Stephen Buchanan).
Star wrestlers Drake Ayala (133 pounds) and Michael Caliendo (165 pounds) finished as national runners-up in their weight classes.
The Hawkeyes also finished third at the Big Ten Championships, behind rivals Penn State and Nebraska.
Men's wrestling had a down season by Iowa standards, and have not captured a Big Ten or National Championship title since 2021.
Head Coach Tom Brands and his coaching staff have relied heavily on the transfer portal to retool the roster and be more competitive next season. On Monday, the Hawkeyes learned their conference schedule following its release by the Big Ten.
👀⚠️#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/T3QgWyYpay
— Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling (@Hawks_Wrestling) June 16, 2025
The Hawkeyes were ranked No. 2 in the nation for most of the 2024-2025 season, finishing with a 14-1 (7-1 Big Ten) dual record. Iowa hosts Michigan, Minnesota, Penn State, and Wisconsin for the upcoming season, and they travel to face Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, and Purdue.
Former Hawkeye Tom Ryan is the head coach of Ohio State, and Humboldt, Iowa, native and former Hawkeye, Tony Ersland, is the head coach of Purdue.
The biggest matchup on the conference schedule is the home dual against Penn State. Penn State has been the standard for men's wrestling for years, including their fourth straight NCAA Championship (No. 13 overall) last season.
Penn State also crushed Iowa 30-8 last season in State College, Pennsylvania.
Carver-Hawkeye Arena will be rocking for the dual against Penn State as Iowa attempts to take down the gold standard in men's wrestling.