7 Hawkeyes Earn All-America Honors

CLEVELAND — Six University of Iowa wrestlers — Drake Ayala (133), Ryder Block (149), Patrick Kennedy (174), Angelo Ferrari (184), Gabe Arnold (197) and Ben Kueter (285) — capped their 2026 NCAA Championships runs as All-Americans during Saturday’s medal rounds at Rocket Arena.

No. 3 seed and four-time All-American Michael Caliendo (165) will compete in tonight’s finals. Iowa’s seven All-Americans are its most since the 2020-21 season.

Ayala finished fifth, going 1-1 in the medal round. He dropped the consolation semifinals before winning the fifth-place match by major decision.

The Fort Dodge, Iowa, native finished the season 18-10 and concluded his Hawkeye career as a three-time All-American, earning two runner-up finishes and one fifth-place finish. Ayala ends his career with an 83-26 record.

“It’s bittersweet,” said Ayala. “My last time on the mat, you know? It was fun. It has been a roller coaster of a year, as you guys know. I know I didn’t get what I wanted – and never did – but I learned a lot, I grew as a man and I’m proud of myself.”

Block placed sixth after dropping both of his medal-round matches. The Waverly, Iowa, native earned first-team All-America honors and finished the season with an 18-11 record.

By winning both of his matches on Saturday, Kennedy secured a third-place finish and capped his Hawkeye career as a two-time All-American. The Kasson-Mantorville, Minnesota, native finished the season 23-5 and ends his career with an 82-26 record.

“Two-time All-American is good,” said Kennedy. “There is a lot left out there. But going back to putting your work boots on, it’s like someday it is going to be over and you have to go to work. You go to work every day.”

Ferrari, a Melissa, Texas, native, medically forfeited his medal-round bouts to finish sixth. He earned All-America honors in his first NCAA Championships appearance and finished the season with a 14-5 record.

Wrestling up two weight classes, Arnold placed seventh at 197 pounds with a win in Saturday morning’s session. The Albany, Georgia, native finished the season 24-8 while competing across three different weight classes.

Kueter finished fifth at heavyweight after dropping his consolation semifinal and receiving a medical forfeit in the fifth-place match. The Iowa City, Iowa, native earned All-America honors for the second straight year and finished the season with a 14-9 record.

CONSOLATION SEMIFINAL RESULTS
133 – #4 Aaron Seidel (Virginia Tech) major dec. #6 Drake Ayala, 11-0
149 – #11 Lachlan McNeil (Michigan) dec. #15 Ryder Block, 6-3
174 – #5 Patrick Kennedy major dec. #15 Danny Wask (Navy), 11-1
184 – #10 Caleb Campos (American) MFF #7 Angelo Ferrari
285 – #3 Taye Ghadiali (Michigan) dec. #8 Ben Kueter, 5-0

THIRD PLACE RESULTS
174 – #5 Patrick Kennedy vs. #4 Carson Kharchla (Ohio State)

FIFTH PLACE RESULTS
133 – #6 Drake Ayala major dec. #15 Tyler Knox (Stanford), 16-5
149 – #4 Collin Gaj (Virginia Tech) dec. #15 Ryder Block, 4-0
184 – #5 Brock Mantanona (Michigan) MFF #7 Angelo Ferrari
285 – #8 Ben Kueter MFF #25 AJ Ferrari (Nebraska)

SEVENTH PLACE RESULTS
197 – #27 Gabe Arnold dec. #16 Branson John (Maryland), 6-2

TEAM SCORES
1. Penn State, 164.0
2. Oklahoma State, 119.0
3. Nebraska, 101.5
4. Iowa, 92.5
5. Ohio State, 84.5
6. Michigan, 66.0
7. Stanford, 63.5
8. Iowa State, 52.0
9. Minnesota, 44.5
10. Virginia Tech, 41.5

UP NEXT
Session VI of the NCAA Championships will begin at 5:30 p.m. (CT). The finals matches will be televised live on ESPN.