Hawkeyes Wrap Day 1 at 2025 B1G Championships

EVANSTON, Illinois – The University of Iowa men’s wrestling team advanced three wrestlers to the finals on Saturday night in Session II at the 2025 Big Ten Championships at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Hawkeyes sit in third place after day one. 

The Hawkeyes will be represented in the 133-, 165- and 197-pound finals tomorrow night in Session IV.

“We are going to day two of the qualifier, said Tom Brands. “We have to be at our best on day two.”  

At 133, top-seeded Drake Ayala won a decision over No. 5 seed Dylan Shawver of Rutgers, 8-2. 

No. 2 seed Michael Caliendo put on a takedown clinic in his 165-pound semifinal match as he won a technical fall over sixth-seed Illinois’ Braeden Scoles, 22-7. 

Top-ranked and No. 1 seed Stephen Buchanan II defeated Illinois’ Zac Braunagel the fifth seed, 4-0. Buchanan has yet to allow a point in the tournament. 

The Hawkeyes dropped semifinal bouts at 149 and 174. 

On the backside of the bracket Gabe Arnold, Ben Kueter and Jacori Teemer are still alive. Joey Cruz is still alive in the ninth-place bracket at 125 pounds. 

Team Scores
1. Penn State    145.0
2. Nebraska    118.5
3. Iowa        98.0
4. Minnesota    88.5
5. Illinois    81.5
6. Ohio State    76.0
7. Michigan    56.0
8. Maryland    47.5
9. Rutgers    46.0
10. Purdue    33.5
11. Indiana    27.0
12. Northwestern    18.5
13. Wisconsin    13.5
14. Michigan State    11.5

Final Matchups
133 – #1 Drake Ayala (Iowa) vs. #2 Lucas Byrd (Illinois) 
165 – #2 Michael Caliendo (Iowa) vs. #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State)
197 – #1 Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) vs. #3 Jacob Cardenas (Michigan)

Seventh Place Matches
157 – #4 Jacori Teemer (Iowa) vs. #9 Chase Saldate (Michigan)

Consolation Semifinals
149 – #2 Kyle Parco (Iowa) vs. #4 Dylan D’Emilio (Ohio State)
174 – #4 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) vs. #2 Carson Kharchla (Ohio State)
184 – #4 Gabe Arnold (Iowa) vs. #6 Edmond Ruth (Illinois)
285 – #7 Ben Kueter (Iowa) vs. #4 Nick Feldman (Ohio State)

Extra Matches
125 9th SF – #5 Joey Cruz (Iowa) vs. #13 Caelan Riley (Illinois)

Semifinals
133 – #1 Drake Ayala (Iowa) dec. #5 Dylan Shawver (Rutgers), 8-2
149 – #3 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) major dec. #2 Kyle Parco (Iowa), 14-2
165 – #2 Michael Caliendo (Iowa) tech. fall #6 Braeden Scoles (Illinois), 22-7
174 – #1 Levi Haines (Penn State) dec. #4 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa), 10-3
197 – #1 Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) dec. #5 Zac Braunagel (Illinois), 4-0

Consolations
125 – #11 Caleb Weiand (Michigan State) dec. #5 Joey Cruz (Iowa), 10-5
141 – #5 Sergio Lemley (Michigan) dec. #11 Cullan Schriever (Iowa), 8-3
157 – #4 Jacori Teemer (Iowa) major dec. #11 Jason Kraisser (Illinois), 20-9
184 – #4 Gabe Arnold (Iowa) major dec. #11 Jon Halvorsen (Northwestern), 10-1
285 – #7 Ben Kueter (Iowa) dec. #8 Jacob Bullock (Indiana), 5-1

157 – #1 Ethen Miller (Maryland) dec. #4 Jacori Teemer (Iowa) , 2-1 SV1
184 – #4 Gabe Arnold (Iowa) inj. def #9 Donnell Washington (Indiana), 0:02
285 – #7 Ben Kueter (Iowa) dec. #12 Max Vanadia (Michigan State) 8-2