Hawkeyes Send 3 to NCAA Semifinals

PHILADELPHIA – Three University of Iowa wrestlers – Drake Ayala (133), Michael Caliendo (165) and Stephen Buchanan II (197) – advanced to Friday night’s semifinals during Session III of the 2025 NCAA Championships at the Wells Fargo Center. Iowa currently sits in fourth place. 

The wins clinched All-America honors for the Hawkeye trio. They are the 368th, 369th and 340th All-America honors in Iowa history. The Hawkeyes have crowned at least one All-American in 54 straight tournaments, a stretch dating back to 1972. 

The No. 2 seed at 133 pounds, Ayala rolled into the semifinals as he picked up a major decision and secured All-America honors for the second time. Ayla recorded seven takedowns over No. 7 seed Nic Bouzakis of Ohio State, 23-10. 

“Feels good,” said Ayala. “I’ve been here before; we have two more to go. One more big one tonight. I need to keep it rolling. I’ve put up a lot of points this tournament. Three matches, I don’t know how many points I’ve put up, but I know it is a lot. Keep it rolling. This is Drake Ayala, this is march. The lights shine the brightest, I wrestle the brightest.”

Ayala will face Wisconsin’s Zan Fugitt the No. 14 seed. Ayala won a 21-6 technical fall when the two met in a dual meet earlier this season. 

Caliendo, the No. 3 seed at 165 pounds, claimed All-American status for the third time as he defeated Michigan’s Beau Mantanona the No. 6 seed. 

“It’s been a good start,” said Caliendo. “Need to keep it going now. Lot of work to do. Just pushing the pace, he knew his pace couldn’t hang with mine, that is why he was on his knee for half the match. Really his only chance was stalling me out. All respect to him though he wrestled tough, but I’m just on a different level.” 

Caliendo will face West Virgina’s Peyton Hall the No. 2 seed. The two have never met.

At 174 pounds, Patrick Kennedy – the No. 11 seed – moved to the backside after dropping a tight quarterfinals match with No. 3 seed Dean Hamiti, 8-6. Kennedy was in on a shot with one minute remaining in the third period but could not convert. 

The No. 2 seed Buchanan became a four-time All-American defeating the No. 23 seed Seth Shumate of Ohio State via technical fall, 18-3, to advance to the 197-pound semifinal.

“Keeping my and feet moving,” said Buchanan. “Staying mentally focused in every position. Staying low. When you are moving in and out make sure you are moving side to side. Just little things that can make a big difference in the match.” 

Buchanan is the first wrestler to earn All-American honors at three different schools, having earned them at Wyoming and Oklahoma before coming to Iowa. 

Buchanan will face the No. 3 seed AJ Ferrari. Ferrari is 2-0 against Buchanan and has won both prior meetings between the two via decision. 

No. 5 seed Ben Kueter fell to the backside dropping a 4-2 decision to Lehigh’s Owen Trephan the No. 4 seed.

In consolation matches at 184 pounds the No. 11 seed Gabe Arnold defeated No. 21 seed Malachi DuVall of George Mason, 8-4, before getting pinned by No. 14 seed DJ Parker of Oklahoma in 47 seconds.   

QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
133 – #2 Drake Ayala (Iowa) major dec. #7 Nic Bouzakis (Ohio State), 23-10
165 – #3 Michael Caliendo (Iowa) dec. #6 Beau Mantanona (Michigan), 7-2
174 – #3 Dean Hamiti (Oklahoma State) dec. #11 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa), 8-6
197 – #2 Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) tech. fall #23 Seth Shumate (Ohio State), 18-3
285 – #4 Owen Trephan (Lehigh) dec. #5 Ben Kueter (Iowa), 4-2

CONSOLATION RESULTS
149 –  #22 Gavin Drexler (North Dakota State) MFF #5 Kyle Parco (Iowa)
184 – #11 Gabe Arnold (Iowa) dec. #21 Malachi DuVall (George Mason), 8-4
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184 – #14 DJ Parker (Oklahoma) pinned #11 Gabe Arnold (Iowa), 0:47

Attendance: 18,091

SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS
133 – #2 Drake Ayala (Iowa) vs. #14 Zan Fugitt (Wisconsin)
165 – #3 Michael Caliendo (Iowa) vs. #2 Peyton Hall (West Virginia)
197 – #2 Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) vs. #3 AJ Ferrari (Cal State Bakersfield)

CONSOLATION MATCHUPS
174 – #11 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) vs. #15 Luca Augustine (Pittsburgh)
285 – #5 Ben Kueter (Iowa) vs. #10 Dayton Pitzer (Pittsburgh)

TEAM SCORES
1. Penn State -- 90.5
2. Nebraska -- 65.5
3. Oklahoma State -- 63.0
4. Iowa -- 42.0
5. Northern Iowa -- 37.5
6. Ohio State -- 37.0
7. Minnesota -- 35.5
8. Illinois -- 33.5
9. Cornell -- 29.5
10. Michigan -- 27.5

UP NEXT
Session IV of the 2025 NCAA Championships will begin at 7 p.m. (CT) and it will be televised live on ESPN2.