Iowa Finishes 3rd at Big Ten Championships

EVANSTON, Illinois – The University of Iowa men’s wrestling team finished in third place at the 2025 Big Ten Championships at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Iowa dropped all three finals bouts in Session IV. 

“We are heading to Philadelphia,” said head coach Tom Brands. “I think you have to be looking forward. You evaluate, you look forward, you get better. You have to really look forward to the competition, not just because the date is on the calendar, but because you are excited to compete at the National Championships.” 

No. 1 seed Drake Ayala finished as runner-up at 125 pounds losing to second-seeded Lucas Byrd of Illinois via fall, 3:16. 

Second-seeded Michael Caliendo dropped a 4-1 decision at 165 pounds to the No. 1 seed Penn State’s Mitchell Mesenbrink. 

At 197, No. 1 seed Stephen Buchanan lost a 4-2 decision to No. 3 seed Jacob Cardenas of Michigan. 

The Hawkeyes won three placement matches. No. 7 seed Ben Kueter finished in third after defeating No. 3 seed Joshua Heindselman of Michigan, 2-1. 

In fifth place matches, fourth seed Patrick Kennedy pinned No. 12 seed Maryland’s Branson John in 1:59 at 174 and No. 4 Seed Gabe Arnold defeated No. 3 seed Silas Allred of Nebraska, 4-3. 

No. 2 seed Kyle Parco dropped the 149 third place match to No. 1 seed Shayne Van Ness of Penn State, 13-0.  

Fourth seed Jacori Teemer finished in seventh earlier in the day defeating No. 9 Chase Saldate of Michigan, 8-3

Finals
133 –#2 Lucas Byrd (Illinois) pinned #1 Drake Ayala (Iowa), 3:16
165 – #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) dec. #2 Michael Caliendo (Iowa), 4-1
197 – #3 Jacob Cardenas (Michigan) dec. #1 Stephen Buchanan (Iowa), 4-2

Third Place Matches
149 – #1 Shayne Van Ness (Penn State) major dec. #2 Kyle Parco (Iowa), 13-0
285 – #7 Ben Kueter (Iowa) dec. #3 Joshua Heindselman (Michigan), 2-1

Fifth Place Matches
174 – #4 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) pinned #12 Branson John (Maryland), 1:59
184 – #4 Gabe Arnold (Iowa) dec. #3 Silas Allred (Nebraska), 4-3

Seventh Place Match
157 – #4 Jacori Teemer (Iowa) dec. #9 Chase Saldate (Michigan), 8-3

Consolation Semifinals
149 – #2 Kyle Parco (Iowa) major dec. #4 Dylan D’Emilio (Ohio State), 9-0
174 – #2 Carson Kharchla (Ohio State) dec. #4 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa), 4-2
184 – #6 Edmond Ruth (Illinois) dec. #4 Gabe Arnold (Iowa), 2-1 TB1
285 – #7 Ben Kueter (Iowa) dec. #4 Nick Feldman (Ohio State), 2-0

Extra Match
125 – #5 Joey Cruz (Iowa) major dec. #13 Caelan Riley (Illinois), 11-2

125 – #7 Brendan McCrone (Ohio State) dec. #5 Joey Cruz (Iowa), 8-1