Notes: Iowa Set for 2024 NCAA Championships

ON THE MAT

The University of Iowa wrestling team travels to Kansas City, Missouri to compete at the 2024 NCAA Championships from March 21-23 at the T-Mobile Center. The three-day tournament begins Thursday with Session I starting at 11 a.m. (CT) and Session II at 6 p.m. The quarterfinals and consolation rounds begin Friday at 11 a.m and the semifinals begin Friday at 7 p.m. The medal round starts Saturday at 10 a.m. and the championship finals begin Saturday at 6 p.m.

• Morning sessions will be available on ESPNU, while evening sessions will be live on ESPN. Individual mat coverage will be available on ESPN+.

IOWA HAWKEYES POSTSEASON LINEUP

HAWKEYE WRESTLING HISTORY

The Hawkeyes have won 24 national titles and 37 Big Ten titles. Iowa’s 55 NCAA Champions have won a total of 85 NCAA individual titles, crowning seven three-time and 16 two-time champions.

• The Hawkeyes’ 118 Big Ten champions have combined for 210 conference titles. There have been eight four-time, 20 three-time and 31 two-time Big Ten champions from Iowa.
• Iowa’s 162 All-Americans have earned All-America status 363 times, including two five-time, 25 four-time, 38 three-time and 40 two-time honorees.

NCAA TROPHIES

The Hawkeyes have earned a team trophy at the NCAA Championships 14th times in the last 15 championships.  Iowa has won 14 team trophies in head coach Tom Brands’ 16 seasons. (The 2020 season, in which Iowa was favored, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

• Iowa has won 48 team NCAA trophies in program history and have 68 top 10 finishes. The Hawkeyes have been the NCAA runner-up seven times.

CHASING THE HAWKEYES

Gary Kurdelmeier led Iowa to its first NCAA Championship in 1975, and in the 48 years since, the Hawkeyes have accumulated 24 team titles, more than any other school — Penn State (11), Oklahoma State (7), Minnesota (3), Iowa State (2), Ohio State (1) and Arizona State (1).

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS OUTSTANDING WRESTLERS

Ten different Hawkeyes have been named NCAA Championships Outstanding Wrestler. They include Chuck Yagla (1976), Bruce Kinseth (1979), Jim Zalesky (1984), Barry Davis (1985), Mary Kistler (1986), Tom Brands (1992), Terry Steiner (1993), Lincoln McIlravy (1997), Joe Williams (1998) and Brent Metcalf (2008).

All-American Streak

The Hawkeyes have three past All-Americans in their NCAA lineup in Real Woods (141), Jared Franek (157) and Michael Caliendo (165).

• The Hawkeyes have crowned at least one All-American in 52 consecutive tournaments, a stretch dating back to 1972. Iowa has totaled 323 All-America honors during that stretch.
• The program has had at least five All-Americans in 10 consecutive seasons and 15 times in head coach Tom Brands’ 17 seasons.
• The three All-Americans in Iowa’s postseason lineup have a combined record of 65-12  (.844) in 2023-24.

Nine Qualifiers

The Hawkeyes are sending nine wresters to the NCAA Championships. The Hawkeyes have sent at least nine wrestlers for 12 straight years and 16 times since 2007, Tom Brands’ first year as head coach.

• Each of Iowa’s 9 qualifiers earned automatic bids to the NCAA tournament at the 2023 Big Ten Championships.
• Iowa is one of 12 schools sending 9 wrestlers to the national tournament.
• Iowa has sent at least eight athletes to the NCAA Championships in each of head coach Tom Brands’ 17 seasons.

NCAA EXPERIENCE

The Hawkeyes have six wrestlers with previous NCAA experience.  Those six wrestlers have wrestled in a combined 20 NCAA Championships.

• Three Iowa wrestlers — Caleb Rathjen, Zach Glazier and Bradley Hill — are making their national tournament debuts.

1st: Caleb Rathjen (So.., 149), Zach Glazier (Sr., 197), Bradley Hill (R-Fr., 285)

2nd: Drake Ayala (So., 125), Michael Caliendo (So., 165), Patrick Kennedy (Jr., 174)

3rd: —

4th: Brody Teske (Sr., 133)

5th: Real Woods (Sr., 141), Jared Franek (Grad., 157)

HAWKEYES IN THE FINALS

Real Woods advanced to the 141-pound finals of the 2023 NCAA Championships to extend Iowa’s streak of NCAA finals appearances to 33 consecutive tournaments. Iowa has had at least one wrestler in the NCAA finals every year since 1990, and in 47 of the last 48 tournaments dating back to 1975.

125 | #3 DRAKE AYALA | SOPHOMORE

• Drake Ayala enters the tournament with a 23-4 record with 12 bonus point victories — two falls, nine tech falls and a major.
• Ayala earned a spot in the NCAA Championship after finishing third at Big Tens.
• Ayala is 14-4 against ranked opponents this season and he is 13-4 against other wrestlers in the NCAA field.
• Ayala is 19-8 all-time against the NCAA field.
• Ayala is 1-2 all-time at the NCAA Championships.
• Since 1999, when the NCAA implemented the weight classes used today, Iowa has won five NCAA titles at 125 pounds (Matt McDonough 2010, 2012; Spencer Lee (2018, 2019, 2021).

Drake Ayala – 2nd Appearance

2022 – #13 seed – Lost in consolations (1-2)

133 | #15 BRODY TESKE | SENIOR

• Brody Teske will be making his fourth NCAA Championships appearance and second as a Hawkeye. He earned an automatic berth after finishing fifth at the Big Ten Championships.
• Teske is seeded 15th at 133 pounds as he brings a 14-5 record to Kansas City with seven bonus point victories — two majors, four tech falls and a fall. He is 4-5 against the NCAA field this season.
• Teske is 6-7 all-time against the NCAA field.
• Teske is 5-6 all-time at the NCAA Championships, competing at 125 pounds at Northern Iowa (2021-22). The Fort Dodge, Iowa, native was the No. 5 seed in 2021, the No. 15 seed in 2022, and the No. 23 seed in 2023.
• Since 1999, when the NCAA implemented the weight classes used today, Iowa has won four NCAA titles at 133 pounds (Eric Juergens 2000, 2001; Tony Ramos 2014 and Cory Clark 2017).

Brody Teske – 4th Appearance

2021 – #5 Seed (125) – Lost in consolations (2-2)

2022 – #15 Seed (125) – Lost in consolations (2-2)

2023 – #23 Seed (133) – Lost in consolations (1-2)

141 | #3 REAL WOODS | SENIOR

• Three-time All-American Real Woods is the No. 3 seed at 141 pounds after finishing third at Big Tens. It will be Woods’ fourth NCAA appearance and second as a Hawkeye.
• The New Mexico native is 18-3 this season with eight bonus point wins — one major decision, 1 fall, and six tech. falls. He is 13-3 this season against the NCAA field.
• Woods is 19-5 all-time against the NCAA field.
• Woods is 9-6 all-time at the NCAA Championships. He advanced to the finals last season, falling 6-4 to second-seeded Andrew Alirez. He advanced to the semifinals in 2022, falling 3-2 to top-seeded Nick Lee before going on to finish sixth. Woods lost in the consolations, going 2-2 in 2021.
• Since 1999, when the NCAA implemented the weight classes used today, Iowa has won two NCAA titles at 141 pounds (Doug Schwab 1999, Cliff Moore 2004).

Real Woods – 4th Appearance

2020 – #3 seed  (141) – All-American

2021 – #21 Seed (141)  – Lost in Round of 12 (2-2)

2022 – #4 Seed (141) – 6th Place, All-American

2023 – #1 Seed (141) – 2nd Place, All-American

149 | #13 CALEB RATHJEN | SOPHOMORE

• Caleb Rathjen is making his first NCAA appearance after placing fifth at the Big Ten Championships to earn an automatic berth.
• The Ankeny, Iowa, native enters the tournament with a 19-5 record with a seven bonus point victories. He is 5-3 against the NCAA field this season.
• Rathjen is 6-3 all-time against the NCAA field.
• Since 1999, when the NCAA implemented the weight classes used today, Iowa has won three NCAA titles at 149 pounds (T.J. Williams 1999, Brent Metcalf 2008, 2010).

Caleb Rathjen – 1st Appearance

157 | #10 JARED FRANEK | GRAD STUDENT

• Jared Franek is making his fifth NCAA appearance and first as a Hawkeye after placing fourth at the Big Ten Championships to earn an automatic berth. The North Dakota native enters the tournament with a 23-5 record with eight bonus point victories. He is 9-5 against the NCAA field this season.
• Franek is 19-10 all-time against the NCAA field.
• Franek is 9-6 all-time at the NCAA Championships. He finished in fourth at the 2023 NCAA Championships going 5-2.
• Since 1999, when the NCAA implemented the weight classes used today, Iowa has won two NCAA titles at 157 pounds (T.J. Williams 2001, Derek St. John 2013).

Jared Franek – 5th Appearance

2020 – #16 seed (157) – Honorable Mention All-American

2021 – #8 Seed (157) – lost in round of 12 (2-2)

2022 – #6 Seed (157) – lost in round of 12 (2-2)

2023 – #4 Seed (157) – Fourth Place, All-American (5-2)

165 | #6 MICHAEL CALIENDO | SOPHOMORE

• Sophomore Michael Caliendo is making his second NCAA appearance and first for Iowa. He earned an automatic berth after finishing third at Big Tens. The Illinois native is 24-4 this season.  He has 15 bonus point victories (six majors, two falls, seven techs).
• Caliendo is 4-2 all-time at the NCAA championships finishing in seventh in 2023.
• Caliendo is 11-4 against the NCAA field this season and 15-6 against the field all-time.
• Since 1999, when the NCAA implemented the weight classes used today, Iowa has won two NCAA titles at 165 pounds (Mark Perry, 2006, 2007).

Michael Caliendo – 2nd Appearance

2023 – #7 Seed (165) – Seventh Place, All-American (4-2)

174 | #12 PATRICK KENNEDY | JUNIOR

• Junior Patrick Kennedy is making his second NCAA appearance. He earned an automatic berth after finishing fifth at Big Tens. The Minnesota native is 15-6 this season.  He has 10 bonus point victories.
• Kennedy is 2-2 at the NCAA Championships.
• Kennedy is 6-5 against the NCAA field this season.
• Kennedy is 8-5 against the NCAA field all-time.
• Since 1999, when the NCAA implemented the weight classes used today, Iowa has won one NCAA title at 174 pounds (Jay Borschel, 2010).

Patrick Kennedy – 2nd Appearance

2023 – #6 Seed – Lost in consolations (2-2)

197 | #7 ZACH GLAZIER | SENIOR

• Senior Zach Glazier is making his first NCAA appearance after finishing as runner-up at the Big Ten Championships to earn an automatic berth. The Minnesota native is 24-2 this season, with both of his losses coming to No. 1 seed Aaron Brooks. He has 15 bonus point victories (four majors, three falls).
• Glazier is 9-2 against the NCAA field this season and 9-3 all-time.
• Since 1999, when the NCAA implemented the weight classes used today, no Hawkeye has won the 197-pound NCAA title.

Zach Glazier – 1st Appearance

285 | #25 BRADLEY HILL | R-FRESHMAN

• Freshman Bradley Hill is making his first NCAA appearance after finishing fifth at the Big Ten Championships to earn an automatic berth. The Bettendorf, Iowa, native is 16-5 this season with 12 bonus point victories (five majors, four techs, and three falls).
• Hill is 5-5 against the NCAA field this season and 5-5 all-time.
• Since 1999, when the NCAA implemented the weight classes used today, Iowa has won one NCAA title at 285 pounds (Steve Mocco, 2003).

Bradley Hill – 1st Appearance

FRESHMAN TRACKER

Five Hawkeye freshman have competed as attached competitors during the 2023-24 season.  Under new NCAA guidelines, freshmen can compete in five dates of competition during the student-athlete’s initial year of collegiate enrollment without using a season of competition.

• Here is a list of competitions for Iowa’s freshmen in 2023-24: Gabe Arnold (5), Ben Kueter (4), Isaiah Fenton (2), Koye Grebel (2) and Kale Petersen (1).

SOLDIER SALUTE CHAMPS

Iowa tallied 251.5 team points to win the 2023 team title at the Soldier Salute. It is the second straight year the Hawkeyes won the title.

• Eight Hawkeyes won individual titles at the tournament. Drake Ayala (125), Brody Teske (133), Real Woods (141), Caleb Rathjen (149), Jared Franek (157), Michael Caliendo (165), Gabe Arnold (174-Unattached) and Zach Glazier (197).

IOWA WINS 8 TITLES AT LUTHER OPEN

Seven Iowa wrestlers won championships in the Elite Division, including Drake Ayala (125), Jace Rhodes (133), Jared Franek (157), Michael Caliendo (165), Gabe Arnold (174), Brennan Swafford (184) and Zach Glazier (197).

• Iowa was 88-17 in the Elite Division with six of those losses against fellow Hawkeyes.
• Isaiah Fenton won the 157-pound Silver/Freshman Division.
• Arnold, Fenton, Joey Cruz and Koye Grebel all made their Hawkeye debuts.

2 IN PRESEASON POLL

The Hawkeyes were ranked second in the preseason NWCA Coaches’ poll and by FLO. Iowa was ranked eighth by Intermat and WIN.

• Iowa finished second at the 2023 NCAA Championships with 82.5 points with six All-Americans. The Hawkeyes were also second at the Big Ten Championships with 134.5 points.

SOLD OUT X 3

Iowa wrestling season tickets at Carver-Hawkeye Arena are sold out for a third straight season.  The Hawkeyes have led the nation in attendance every year since 2006-07.  Iowa set an NCAA record, averaging 14,905 fans in 2021-22.

TV TIME

Nine Iowa duals will be televised during the 2023-24 season.  The Hawkeyes will have seven duals televised on BTN, one on FS1 and one on ESPN.

• Iowa’s BTN appearances include home duals against Minnesota (7 p.m., CT), Purdue (7 p.m.), Penn State (8 p.m.) and Wisconsin ( 1 p.m.) and road duals at Nebraska (6 p.m.), Illinois (8 p.m.) and Michigan (7:30 p.m.)
• The Hawkeyes’ away dual against Iowa State will be televised on ESPN and the road dual against Oklahoma State will be televised on FS1.

HAWKEYES AND CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA

Iowa is 132-14 (.907) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena since Tom Brands took over the program prior to 2006-07. The Hawkeyes are 282-27 (.914) all-time at Carver-Hawkeye Arena since moving from the UI Field House in 1983. Iowa went 8-0 in Carver last season.

• Carver-Hawkeye Arena has hosted two United States Olympic Team Trials, four Big Ten Championships (1983, 1994, 2005, 2016) and four NCAA Championships (1986, 1991, 1995, 2001). The Hawkeyes have won five tournament titles on their home mat, including the 1983 and 1994 Big Ten Championships, and the 1986, 1991 and 1995 NCAA Championships.
• In 2018, the University of Iowa hosted the UWW World Cup, an international dual tournament featuring eight of the top countries in the world.