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Champ-less again: Iowa wrestling slogs to third-place Big Ten finish

by:Tanner Lafever•03/09/25•

TannerLafever

Drake Ayala pinned
Drake Ayala's stunning loss by fall in the 133-pound final was just part of a disappointing Big Tens for the Hawkeyes. (Photo Credit: Ethan McLaughlin/Daily Iowan)

Here’s betting that wasn’t quite what the Iowa men’s wrestling team had in mind before heading east to Evanston (IL)…

Two weeks ago, this was a group that finished its regular season on an incredible high – taking down #2 Oklahoma State in front of a raucous Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Just 14 days later, it sputtered to a disappointing postseason opener – in front of a decidedly neutral crowd and while doing far less ‘taking down’ in the process.

Now, Iowa heads home from the Chicago suburbs with a third-place Big Ten Championships finish in hand and needing to regroup before NCAAs.

Welcome to your Day 2 Big Ten’s recap – where we’ll examine what went right and (more often) wrong for the Hawkeyes at the toughest conference tournament in college wrestling.

Another O-fer for Iowa finalists

Most wrestling fans know about Iowa’s streak of 34-consecutive NCAA tournaments with at least one Hawkeye advancing to the finals.

But another less glowing streak has also emerged over the past two seasons – that being Iowa’s lack of an NCAA/Big Ten individual champion since Spencer Lee/Real Woods won Big Ten titles in 2023.

We’re now two editions of each tournament later, and the Hawkeyes have yet to place a wrestler atop the podium since.

That streak was extended on Sunday, as Drake Ayala, Michael Caliendo and Stephen Buchanan all took second place.

The most shocking? Ayala’s loss by fall at 133 pounds to #2 seed Lucas Byrd (Illinois).

Not two months ago, a one-takedown match went the way of the Hawkeye when their two teams dualled in Iowa City. This time, a scoreless first period gave way to an abrupt termination, as Byrd reversed and then pinned Ayala in quick succession after choosing the bottom position:

I mean, what else is there to say?

Meanwhile, the strangest result was Buchanan’s 4-2 loss to Michigan’s Jacob Cardenas.

Not only had Buchanan comfortably defeated Cardenas at NCAAs the year prior (9-4), but all season long he had gotten the job done and stayed on the attack to the tune of a 21-0 record.

On Sunday, though? He never once cracked the Wolverine’s defenses, and a beautiful second-period ankle pick by Cardenas proved to be the decisive score.

Oddly enough, Iowa’s ‘best’ performance of the weekend may have come in its other finals defeat.

Prior to Sunday, Michael Caliendo had been outscored 71-26 in four career matches against Penn State whirling dervish Mitchell Mesenbrink. This time, he was on point in (almost) every way, a lone first-period takedown the deciding score in a hotly contested 4-1 match.

Often too close, occasionally not close at all

Other than a few obvious mismatches Iowa’s Big Tens can largely be described as lacking both dynamism and urgency.

Sunday continued the theme. A staggering 9/14 matches did not include a takedown by the wrestler in the Black & Gold singlet.

Unsurprisingly, Iowa only won 2/9 takedown-less outings – both by heavyweight Ben Kueter.

When a Hawkeye did put offensive points on the board, they went 5-0.

(See, how complicated is this sport, really?)

In all seriousness, I’d imagine the lack of offensive output continually struck a chord with Iowa wrestlers/coaches/fans alike.

When matches are left within the slimmest of margins things can more easily go awry.

Jacori Teemer (7th at 157 pounds) went 0-2 this weekend in sudden victory matches. Gabe Arnold (5th at 184) lost twice – both in tiebreakers.

On the latter, the redshirt freshman Arnold did respond impressively to close out his tournament – reversing a (sudden victory) loss earlier this season to #3 Silas Allred – a past Big Ten champ for Nebraska.

And guess what? While it was a tight match again on Sunday (4-3), the Hawkeye scored the bout’s only takedown on a nice low sweep-single in the first period.

Conversely, two other Iowa rematches went vastly different from their prior editions.

Joey Cruz scored both takedowns in a regular season dual victory over Ohio State’s Brendan McCrone. At Big Tens the ninth-seeded Buckeye controlled the fifth-seeded Hawkeye from start to finish in an 8-1 win for ninth place at 125 pounds.

*The ninth place nugget is notable because only the top nine Big Ten finishers at 125 earned automatic NCAA bids. Cruz must now hope for a wildcard selection.

Meanwhile, the gap widened even further between Kyle Parco and #1 Shayne Van Ness (Penn State) in a 13-0 obliteration for third place at 149.

NCAA ramifications

Look, we’ll dive much more into NCAA Championship seeds/draws when the official brackets come out – presumably later this week.

But for now, it’s safe to say the Hawkeyes collectively did more harm than help with this weekend’s showing.

Eight wrestlers have officially punched their NCAA tickets, at least. The lone exceptions are 125 and 141 pounds. I touched on Joey Cruz’s situation briefly, but he’ll need to be selected as one of four wildcard entries in his weight class.

At this point, I’d only be guessing if I proclaimed to have some notion of whether or not he’ll get one. Whereas at 141 I’m quite confident in saying that Cullan Schriever’s season (and Iowa career) is unfortunately over.

Short time

Before Iowa fans all go ‘burning the ships’ it’d be wise to remember that Big Tens, while disappointing to say the least for the Hawkeyes, do not have to be the definitive conclusion for this season.

The Iowa team that was ranked #2 for most of the past four-plus months – finishing the regular season with arguably its best performance last – is still in there (I think).

And if the Hawkeyes can rediscover that version sometime within the next 10 days, they’ll have every opportunity to do themselves (and their fans) proud at NCAAs in Philadelphia.

Until then, the rest of us wait – while they get back to work.

Full Big Ten match-by-match results

125

#5 Joey Cruz (13-11) place is unknown and scored 1.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – #5 Joey Cruz (Iowa) 13-11 won by decision over #12 Christian Tanefeu (Michigan) 8-11 (Dec 11-7)
  • Quarterfinal – #4 Luke Lilledahl (Penn State) 19-2 won by major decision over #5 Joey Cruz (Iowa) 13-11 (MD 11-1)
  • Cons. Round 2 – #11 Caleb Weiand (Michigan State) 12-16 won by decision over #5 Joey Cruz (Iowa) 13-11 (Dec 10-5)

(9th place mini bracket)

  • Quarterfinal – #5 Joey Cruz (Iowa) 1-1 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Semifinal – #5 Joey Cruz (Iowa) 1-1 won by major decision over #13 Caelan Riley (Illinois) 1-1 (MD 11-2)
  • 9th Place Match – #7 Brendan McCrone (Ohio State) 2-0 won by decision over #5 Joey Cruz (Iowa) 1-1 (Dec 8-1)

133

#1 Drake Ayala (16-2) placed 2nd and scored 15.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – #1 Drake Ayala (Iowa) 16-2 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Quarterfinal – #1 Drake Ayala (Iowa) 16-2 won by decision over #8 Angelo Rini (Indiana) 20-9 (Dec 13-9)
  • Semifinal – #1 Drake Ayala (Iowa) 16-2 won by decision over #5 Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) 19-9 (Dec 8-2)
  • 1st Place Match – #2 Lucas Byrd (Illinois) 18-1 won by fall over #1 Drake Ayala (Iowa) 16-2 (Fall 3:16)

141

#11 Cullan Schriever (6-10) place is unknown and scored 2.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – #6 Joseph Olivieri (Rutgers) 18-9 won by decision over #11 Cullan Schriever (Iowa) 6-10 (Dec 4-2)
  • Cons. Round 1 – #11 Cullan Schriever (Iowa) 6-10 won by tech fall over #14 Jaden Crumpler (Michigan State) 6-17 (TF-1.5 6:52 (18-2))
  • Cons. Round 2 – #5 Sergio Lemley (Michigan) 20-9 won by decision over #11 Cullan Schriever (Iowa) 6-10 (Dec 8-3)

149

#2 Kyle Parco (20-3) placed 4th and scored 13.5 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – #2 Kyle Parco (Iowa) 20-3 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Quarterfinal – #2 Kyle Parco (Iowa) 20-3 won by major decision over #7 Sam Cartella (Northwestern) 16-9 (MD 15-7)
  • Semifinal – #3 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) 20-2 won by major decision over #2 Kyle Parco (Iowa) 20-3 (MD 14-2)
  • Cons. Semi – #2 Kyle Parco (Iowa) 20-3 won by major decision over #4 Dylan D`Emilio (Ohio State) 21-5 (MD 9-0)
  • 3rd Place Match – #1 Shayne Van Ness (Penn State) 20-2 won by major decision over #2 Kyle Parco (Iowa) 20-3 (MD 13-0)

157

#4 Jacori Teemer (8-4) placed 7th and scored 6.5 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – #4 Jacori Teemer (Iowa) 8-4 won by decision over #13 Luke Mechler (Wisconsin) 8-13 (Dec 7-2)
  • Quarterfinal – #5 Tommy Askey (Minnesota) 23-5 won in sudden victory – 1 over #4 Jacori Teemer (Iowa) 8-4 (SV-1 4-1)
  • Cons. Round 2 – #4 Jacori Teemer (Iowa) 8-4 won by major decision over #11 Jason Kraisser (Illinois) 10-9 (MD 20-9)
  • Cons. Round 3 – #1 Ethen Miller (Maryland) 22-3 won in sudden victory – 1 over #4 Jacori Teemer (Iowa) 8-4 (SV-1 2-1)
  • 7th Place Match – #4 Jacori Teemer (Iowa) 8-4 won by decision over #9 Chase Saldate (Michigan) 10-9 (Dec 8-3)

165

#2 Mike Caliendo (20-2) placed 2nd and scored 18.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – #2 Mike Caliendo (Iowa) 20-2 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Quarterfinal – #2 Mike Caliendo (Iowa) 20-2 won by tech fall over #10 Anthony White (Rutgers) 14-11 (TF-1.5 4:49 (21-4))
  • Semifinal – #2 Mike Caliendo (Iowa) 20-2 won by tech fall over #6 Braeden Scoles (Illinois) 16-5 (TF-1.5 6:46 (23-7))
  • 1st Place Match – #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) 22-0 won by decision over #2 Mike Caliendo (Iowa) 20-2 (Dec 4-1)

174

#4 Patrick Kennedy (13-5) placed 5th and scored 14.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – #4 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 13-5 won by tech fall over #13 Ceasar Garza (Michigan State) 12-14 (TF-1.5 5:21 (22-5))
  • Quarterfinal – #4 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 13-5 won by tech fall over #12 Branson John (Maryland) 14-17 (TF-1.5 5:28 (20-3))
  • Semifinal – #1 Levi Haines (Penn State) 20-1 won by decision over #4 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 13-5 (Dec 10-3)
  • Cons. Semi – #2 Carson Kharchla (Ohio State) 14-3 won by decision over #4 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 13-5 (Dec 4-2)
  • 5th Place Match – #4 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) 13-5 won by fall over #12 Branson John (Maryland) 14-17 (Fall 1:59)

184

#4 Gabe Arnold (17-4) placed 5th and scored 13.5 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – #4 Gabe Arnold (Iowa) 17-4 won by tech. fall over #13 Orlando Cruz (Purdue) 5-8 (TF-1 6:00 (19-4))
  • Quarterfinal – #5 Jaxon Smith (Maryland) 20-7 won in TB-2 by riding time over #4 Gabe Arnold (Iowa) 17-4 (TB-2 (RT) 3-2)
  • Cons. Round 2 – #4 Gabe Arnold (Iowa) 17-4 won by major decision over #11 Jon Halvorsen (Northwestern) 9-13 (MD 10-1)
  • Cons. Round 3 – #4 Gabe Arnold (Iowa) 17-4 won by injury default over #9 Donnell Washington (Indiana) 14-8 (Inj. 0:02)
  • Cons. Semi – #6 Edmond Ruth (Illinois) 14-7 won in tie breaker – 1 over #4 Gabe Arnold (Iowa) 17-4 (TB-1 2-1)
  • 5th Place Match – #4 Gabe Arnold (Iowa) 17-4 won by decision over #3 Silas Allred (Nebraska) 19-6 (Dec 4-3)

197

#1 Stephen Buchanan (21-1) placed 2nd and scored 16.0 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – #1 Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) 21-1 received a bye () (Bye)
  • Quarterfinal – #1 Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) 21-1 won by major decision over #9 Seth Shumate (Ohio State) 11-10 (MD 8-0)
  • Semifinal – #1 Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) 21-1 won by decision over #5 Zac Braunagel (Illinois) 15-6 (Dec 4-0)
  • 1st Place Match – #3 Jacob Cardenas (Michigan) 20-1 won by decision over #1 Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) 21-1 (Dec 4-2)

285

#7 Ben Kueter (18-6) placed 3rd and scored 12.5 team points.

  • Champ. Round 1 – #7 Ben Kueter (Iowa) 18-6 won by decision over #10 Hayden Filipovich (Purdue) 11-15 (Dec 5-1)
  • Quarterfinal – #2 Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) 18-1 won by fall over #7 Ben Kueter (Iowa) 18-6 (Fall 1:54)
  • Cons. Round 2 – #7 Ben Kueter (Iowa) 18-6 won by decision over #8 Jacob Bullock (Indiana) 16-10 (Dec 5-1)
  • Cons. Round 3 – #7 Ben Kueter (Iowa) 18-6 won by decision over #12 Max Vanadia (Michigan State) 16-17 (Dec 8-2)
  • Cons. Semi – #7 Ben Kueter (Iowa) 18-6 won by decision over #4 Nick Feldman (Ohio State) 17-6 (Dec 2-0)
  • 3rd Place Match – #7 Ben Kueter (Iowa) 18-6 won by decision over #3 Joshua Heindselman (Michigan) 22-4 (Dec 2-1)

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