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Iowa wrestling weekend preview: men/women face home dual tests

by:Tanner Lafever•01/16/25•

TannerLafever

Carver-Hawkeye Arena
The iconic Carver-Hawkeye Arena plays host to a pair of top-notch Iowa wrestling duals this weekend.

Look, you guys know the deal – we’re in the thick of Iowa wrestling season now.

The women just captured their first championship hardware of 2025 at National Duals, and the men are off and running in Big Ten competition.

Now on deck, a rare weekend of back-to-back home duals at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

First up, it’ll be the #2 Iowa men (7-0, 1-0 Big Ten) taking on #9 Illinois (7-1, 2-1 Big Ten).

The Friday dual could feature as many as eight ranked-vs-ranked matchups as the Illini field their strongest team in years.

Several of those individual bouts will be highly anticipated for various reasons. And while Illinois presents a formidable test, If Iowa wrestles near its best this one could still get ugly.

The Hawkeyes will look to extend both their all-time series lead (56-26-1) and current 12-dual winning streak against their eastern neighbors.

A day later, it’ll be the top-ranked Hawkeye women’s turn on the Carver stage.

#1 Iowa (13-0) welcomes #4 Grand Valley State (MI) and unranked Augustana (IL) for its second-and-final home dual(s) of the season.

Augustana (4-3) returns all three of its national qualifiers from a year ago but should be a relative walkover in the opener for the Hawkeyes. Meanwhile, much like Iowa in 2023-24, #4 GVSU is in its first official season of NCAA competition.

And just like Iowa did last year, the Lakers (1-1) have made their mark right away. GVSU boasts six ranked athletes – including a former national champ as well as a 2024 U23 World champion.

They’ll challenge and/or be favored against the Hawkeyes at as many as 5-6 weights.

All in all, it’s shaping up to be another incredible weekend of Iowa wrestling.

Now let’s dive into the nitty gritty.

#2 Iowa men vs. #9 Illinois (Friday, Jan. 17th – 6:00 p.m. CT)

Once you get past 125 pounds, there aren’t an ‘easy outs’ when it comes to this year’s Illinois lineup.

#4 Drake Ayala (10-1) vs. #2 Lucas Byrd (11-0) at 133 headlines the entire dual in a matchup of national title contenders. Just as he did in November against Iowa State, Ayala can set the tone for the Hawkeyes with this one.

Byrd is no joke, however. The sixth-year senior boasts a pair of fifth-place All-American finishes (2021-22) in his college career to date.

Meanwhile, based on individual rankings Iowa also enters the dual as underdogs at three other weights – 141/157/285.

At 141, #12 Danny Pucino (9-2) is a 2024 NCAA qualifier who could oppose any of three Hawkeyes. Among them, the possible return of #30 Ryder Block (2-2) is most intriguing.

I believe the redshirt freshman to be Iowa’s highest upside option at the weight. In fact, he might also represent its best chance to qualify for nationals.

An upset win over Pucino would certainly lend more credence to those theories.

157 is a slightly different story, as Iowa awaits the return of a known commodity in #1 Jacori Teemer. In his stead (likely for the final time this season) will be freshman Miguel Estrada.

The Californian has yet to lose while wrestling attached for Iowa this year (12-0) and just got his first Big Ten dual victory at Wisconsin.

Estrada’s opponent, #20 Jason Kraisser, was a 2023 NCAA R16 finisher at Iowa State.

And that leaves heavyweight.

It’ll be freshman vs. senior as #12 Ben Kueter (9-1) takes on #11 Luke Luffman (9-2) in a match that’ll presumably close the dual.

A victory would tie Kueter’s career-best mark when he defeated Oklahoma State’s #11 Konner Doucet last February.

It’d also instill confidence entering a brutal Big Ten schedule.

Taking care of business

Even if Iowa were to lose all four of those toss-up/underdog bouts, the path to victory remains clear:

Have your quintet of top-five-ranked wrestlers handle their corresponding top-21-ranked Illinois opponents.

  • #3 Kyle Parco (11-0) vs. #12 Kannon Webster (8-3)
  • #2 Michael Caliendo (11-0) vs. #11 Braeden Scoles (10-1)
  • #5 Patrick Kennedy (7-0) vs. #21 Danny Braunagel (6-5)
  • #5 Gabe Arnold (9-1) vs. #10 Edmond Ruth (8-3)
  • #2 Stephen Buchanan (11-0) vs. #18 Zac Braunagel (8-3)

Webster (149) and Scoles (165) are a pair of promising redshirt freshmen whom Iowa’s more credentialed vets will look to teach a lesson at a hopping Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Meanwhile, the Braunagel twins (174/197) – seventh-year seniors both – have each seen NCAA Championship action at least three times.

Thankfully for Iowa, Patrick Kennedy owns a dominant 15-4 major decision win over (Danny) Braunagel from back in 2023. And at 197 (Zac), I don’t believe a Hawkeye has wrestled better this season than Stephen Buchanan.

Not only is Iowa a strong favorite in each of those four matchups, but bonus points could be in play.

And then there’s 184.

Does Iowa go with #5 Gabe Arnold or undefeated Angelo Ferrari? I remain of the opinion that Arnold ultimately gets the nod this season, making Friday night a great opportunity.

Other than Lucas Byrd, Edmond Ruth is the only previous All-American (7th at 174 in 2024) in Illinois’ lineup. He’d be a great notch in Arnold’s belt as the redshirt freshman gears toward a remaining dual schedule that could feature as many as four other top-seven-ranked foes – including #1, #3 and #4.

Patrick Kennedy defeated then-third-ranked Edmond Ruth at 174 pounds during last year’s dual.

#1 Iowa women vs. Augustana College AND #4 Grand Valley State (Saturday, Jan. 18th, 6:00 p.m. CT start)

With all due respect to Augustana, the Vikings are but an appetizer to the main course that is GVSU.

The #4 Lakers have five wrestlers currently ranked fifth or better in the latest NWCA Coaches Poll. And despite being ineligible to participate in last weekend’s National Duals, GVSU has already tested itself in dual competition against #2 North Central.

That matchup – in early December – showed the Lakers are ready to compete with the best right away.

GVSU won 4/10 bouts in a 26-17 road loss, including giving up a forfeit at 124 pounds.

It should come as no surprise if the first-year program pushes the Hawkeyes as well.

As you can see, Iowa has no shortage of quality options to throw at GVSU this Saturday.

Fans should highlight 110 and 138 pounds as particular weights to watch on Saturday night.

#1 Sage Mortimer already owns wins this season over all three Hawkeye 110-pounders courtesy of the Missouri Valley Open.

  • 15-3 over Valarie Solorio (quarterfinals)
  • 11-5 over #5 Emilie Gonzalez (semis)
  • Fall (2:51) over #2 Ava Bayless (final)

The 2024 U23 World champion is the national title favorite at arguably the best weight class in women’s college wrestling. It’ll be fascinating to see whom Iowa head coach Clarissa Chun gives the opportunity to knock off #1.

138 pounds presents another awesome matchup, as #2 Katie Lange could face Iowa’s #3 Nanea Estrella. I’d include Lange – a 2023 national champion – and Estrella among a top three of title favorites at 138.

My hunch is that Estrella (16-0) may even be a cut above, but Saturday represents the best indicator yet.

And don’t forget

Not to be ignored, several other premier matchups could be on tap at Carver.

At 103, either #1 Rianne Murphy or #3 Sterling Dias against #4 Rayana Sahagun could have serious seeding implications at the national tournament depending on the outcome.

Meanwhile, it could be one-versus-two at 180 if #1 Kylie Welker and #2 Sabrina Nauss take the mat. But though that headline writes itself, I’d be more interested to see #6 Naomi Simon get the nod for Iowa.

Simon (23-2) dropped a tightly contested 8-4 decision between the talented true freshmen in the Missouri Valley Open final. Her only other loss this season was by 10-0 tech. fall to her teammate, Welker – an outcome I’d all but bet on repeating itself in a Welker/Nauss matchup.

Don’t get me wrong, I love any opportunity to watch Kylie Welker wrestle. But for the sake of intrigue as to the likely outcome, Simon would have me a bit more on the edge of my seat.

Finally, keep an eye out for 124 pounds.

At present, we appear primed for a bout between newly-ranked Hawkeye, #7 Cali Leng, and GVSU freshman, #4 Aspen Blasko.

That would be a rematch from the Missouri Valley Open consolations, won by Blasko via fall (1:45).

However, signs are also pointing toward the return of Iowa freshman Karlee Brooks.

Were the talented rookie to receive the nod, she’d have an immediate opportunity to vault herself into the national rankings with a victory. That could be pivotal if she’s still in the running to earn a postseason spot at 124 for Iowa.

Brooks’ final match before enrolling at Iowa.

Brooks also owns a recent win over Blasko – an 11-0 tech. fall at U20 World team trials last April.

Just something to keep in mind…

How to watch

The biggest friends to Iowa wrestling fans this weekend are the Big Ten Network and B1G+.

On Friday night (6:00 p.m. CT) you can tune into BTN to catch the Hawkeyes take on the #9 Illini.

You’ll also get the usual Hawkeye Radio Network broadcast on either AM 800 KXIC or streaming at the link below:

The following evening, the top-ranked Iowa women should get underway at roughly the same time after Augustana and Grand Valley State open the festivities.

Iowa/Augustana is tentatively set for 6:00 p.m. CT. And after a 10-minute intermission the Hawkeyes will go again versus #4 GVSU.

All of Saturday night’s duals will be streamed live on B1G+, as well as have their own radio broadcast with play-by-play stalwart Steven Grace on the call.

Short time

I’ll be in the house both nights this weekend to cover all the Iowa wrestling action live.

So, be sure to check back here for recaps – either later both evenings or the following morning.

I’ll also be posting up-to-the-minute thoughts/info on my social media, so if you can’t tune in to watch things for yourself there’s always my occasionally witty, regurgitated viewpoint of events to fall back on.

(Look, I’m doing the best that I can here.)

I’d also be remiss not to mention that it’ll be Senior Day for the Hawkeye women on Saturday.

Emmily Patneaud (131), #3 Nanea Estrella (138), #1 Macey Kilty (145) and #1 Jaycee Foeller (207) will be honored.

I’ll have more on each member of the quartet in my Saturday night recap.

Anyway, that’ll do it for this latest weekend preview. Here’s hoping you guys now feel (somewhat) prepared for all that’s to come.

Thank you as always for reading and let’s savor these back-to-back nights at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

There’s no place I’d rather be to watch Iowa wrestling.

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