Hawkeyes Roll Past Boilermakers

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The third-ranked University of Iowa men’s wrestling team won eight of 10 matches to roll to a 34-6 victory over Purdue on Friday night on Mediacom Mat inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes won six bouts via bonus points, including ending four matchups early via technical fall.

Iowa recorded 34 takedowns to Purdue’s three. The Hawkeyes outscored the Boilermakers in match points, 118-38.

“I think that we have to continue that,” said head coach Tom Brands. “I think there were some key matches where we did not convert, guys rolled on us. Those were big takedowns at 125 and at 157. We have to keep cleaning that up and getting better. We’re up for that challenge, and we’ve gotten better there, but we can’t go to sleep on that, have to convert.”

Purdue came out on top to open the night in a battle of top ranked wrestlers at 125. No. 2 ranked Matt Ramos recorded a 4-1 decision over top-ranked Drake Ayala.

Cullan Schriever put the Hawkeyes back in front on the scoreboard at 133 where they would remain for the rest of the contest. Schriever tallied 20 points as he won a major decision over Dustin Norris.

Schriever started a run of three straight Hawkeye bonus point victories as Real Woods put together an 8-0 major decision over Greyson Clark at 141. At 149, Victor Voinovich III tallied six takedowns to record a 19-4 tech. fall over Marcos Polanco.

“I did a good job getting into my attacks and converting on my finishes,” said Voinovich. “I would get those takedowns and eventually just keep working the pace and get the tech. fall. It’s a competition in the room every day, and I just need to be ready when my opportunity comes to make the most of it.”

Second-ranked Jared Franek sent the dual to the break with a 2-1 decision over #16 Joey Blaze at 157.

Iowa won four of the five matches after the break. No. 6 Michael Caliendo won a 9-4 decision over Stoney Buell at 165. No. 9 Patrick Kennedy got the Hawkeyes some more bonus points with a 19-4 tech. fall at 174, and No. 14 Zach Glazier improved to 16-0 with a 20-5 tech. fall over Ben Vanadia at 197.

“Hitting my stride, getting back into it, I don’t know,” said Kennedy. “I just know that every time I feel like I am on the mat, I just get a little better. You get more comfortable. Even though I’ve been doing this for a long time. I just love that, I love the floor, I love the competition of it. You know you get nervous, but man when I walk out there it’s so free. You walk out there and it’s a wrestling match, and it’s just you versus another guy an that’s the beauty of it.”

Purdue notched a win at 184 when James Rowley won a 5-1 decision over Aiden Riggins.

Bradley Hill closed out the dual with a tech. fall over Tristan Ruhlman winning 19-4. Hill recorded six takedowns and needed just 4:05 to dispatch Ruhlman.

“Kennedy, Glazier and Hill those matches were tech. falls, that’s a lot of takedowns,” said Brands. “Didn’t go to sleep, a three-point takedown helps with the quick tech. fall, but it can also bite you and get a guy back into it quick too. It goes both ways, and you can’t go to sleep.”

The victory moves Iowa’s dual record to 8-0 and 3-0 in Big Ten Conference action. The Hawkeyes travel to Illinois on Friday at 8 p.m.

Notables
• The Hawkeyes have won 11 consecutive duals dating back to the 2022-23 season.
• Iowa has won the last 35 meetings against Purdue and improved to 23-1-3 all-time in Iowa City.
• Zach Glazier improves to 16-0 on the season.

#3 Iowa 34, Purdue 6
125 – #2 Matt Ramos (P) dec. #1 Drake Ayala (I), 4-1
133 – Cullan Schriever (I) major dec. Dustin Norris (P), 20-7
141 – #1 Real Woods (I) major dec. #32 Greyson Clark (P), 8-0
149 — Victor Voinovich III (I) tech. fall Marcus Polanco (P), 19-4
157 – #2 Jared Franek (I) dec. #16 Joey Blaze (P), 2-1
165 – #6 Michael Caliendo (I) dec. Stoney Buell (P), 9-4
174 – #9 Patrick Kennedy (I) tech. fall Brody Baumann (P), 19-4
184 – James Rowley (P) dec. Aiden Riggins (I), 5-1
197 – #14 Zach Glazier (I) tech. fall Ben Vanadia (P), 20-5
285 – Bradley Hill (I) tech. fall Tristan Ruhlman (P), 19-4

Attendance: 14,847
Officials: Jaime George, J.R. Blose