The Pinning Combination with The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher and Dick Briggs
116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
The Pinning Combination with The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher and Dick Briggs
All three state NCAA Division I wrestling programs received at least one at-large berths to the national tournament March 20-22 in Philadelphia. The three schools qualified 27 of 30 starters combined.
For the second straight year, second-ranked Iowa did not crown a champion at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships on Sunday at Northwestern’s Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Hawkeye trio of Drake Ayala, Michael Caliendo and Stephen Buchanan all earned runner-up finishes in their first conference finals and Iowa toted home a third-place finish.
Graduate transfer Macey Kilty played a key part in Iowa women’s wrestling’s 2024-25 success as the Hawkeyes won their second consecutive national championship.
Photos from the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday, Mar. 8, 2025.
Top-seeded Stephen Buchanan, No. 1 Drake Ayala and No. 2 Michael Caliendo each advanced to the finals, helping Iowa to third place with 98 points after the opening day of the conference tournament. The Hawkeyes also secured eight automatic berths to the NCAA Championships on March 20-22 in Philadelphia, Pa.
Iowa women’s wrestling has done it again. The Hawkeyes have claimed their second National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships team title in as many years of competition.
Iowa experienced multiple ups and downs during the opening session of the Big Ten Wrestling Championships on Saturday at Northwestern’s Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill. Overall, the Hawkeyes advanced into the semifinals. Here are some takeaways from the first session.
Photos: Iowa Hawkeyes at the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships on Friday, Mar. 7, 2025
The Hawkeyes ended the first day in second place, but they have a favorable path to another national title.
Kyle Parco has wrestled at Fresno State, Arizona State and now Unviersity of Iowa. Parco, a four-time All-American, has experienced success at each stop. He enters his final postseason with Iowa, competing in his first Big Ten Wrestling Championships.
Iowa women’s wrestling will be seeking its second consecutive national title on Friday and Saturday at Coralville’s Xtream Arena. Follow The Gazette’s live blog for results and updates throughout the day.
Iowa is the overwhelming favorite again at this year’s national championships after claiming last year’s team title and six of the 10 individual titles.
Daily Newsletters