Feel-good NCAAs for Iowa wrestling as Hawkeyes clinch seven All-Americans

CLEVELAND − Everything for Iowa wrestling from Nov. 30 onward was a classic case of when it rains, it pours.

• Subsequent losses to Minnesota, Ohio State and Oklahoma State.

• Nno Big Ten champions for a third consecutive year.

Heading into the NCAA Championships, the season was a low point in the Tom Brands era. So much so, it resulted in speculation of the direction of the program.

Advertisement

The first two days at Rocket Arena reestablished some good vibes in the Hawkeye program.

The Hawkeyes secured seven NCAA All-Americans, the most since the 2020-21 season when the Hawkeyes won the team title. Excluding the canceled 2020 NCAAs, its just the fourth time in Brands’ tenure (which began in 2006-07) that they have had seven or more All-Americans.

The cherry on top? Extending the NCAA finalist streak to 35 consecutive tournaments. Michael Caliendo advanced to the 165-pound final with an 8-5 sudden victory over No. 2-seeded Joey Blaze of Purdue. Caliendo lost earlier in the season to Blaze by decision, but rallied back after conceding the first takedown in the match on March 20.

“Just wrestled with a little bit of a chip on my shoulder this time,” Caliendo said. “I was a little bit more prepared and I rose to the occasion.”

Advertisement

There were more feel-good stories for the Hawkeyes. Gabe Arnold went from wrestling at 174 pounds in January to an All-American at 197 pounds. He lost his first match by riding time during tiebreakers vs. Justin Rademacher of Oregon State, but won four consecutive matches in consolations to become an NCAA All-American for the first time. Ryder Block, who has torn his ACL twice since graduating from high school, also became an All-American in his first NCAA Championships.

Wrestling undersized and as the No. 27 seed, Arnold was not expected to have a performance like this. Block was a major question mark entering the year with limited mat time and even during the season with up-and-down results, but he will place sixth or higher as the No. 15 seed.

In a year that saw Iowa consistently fall short, Arnold and Block exceeded expectations. As a result, Iowa sat in fourth place entering Saturday’s final day and was in position for a team trophy. The Hawkeyes and Ohio State will battle for the final trophy, separated by just 3.5 team points.

Not many had this on their bingo card for the Hawkeyes entering the tournament. Brands gave credit to his team for sticking in there and respecting the wrestling cliche of “getting the next-best thing” when outcomes don’t go in their favor.

Advertisement

“Turning things around isn’t unheard of,” Brands said. “Turning things around in this sport is why you’re alive.”

Not all was peachy for Iowa, with Dean Peterson at 125 pounds and Nasir Bailey at 141 pounds falling in the bloodround and one win shy of All-American status. Iowa also lost two semifinal matches, with Angelo Ferrari losing in tiebreakers to Max McEnelly of Minnesota and Patrick Kennedy losing by technical fall to Levi Haines. A lack of offense plagued Ferrari in his match, while Kennedy failed to close the gap between him and Haines after several previous losses.

And while Caliendo was the savior of Iowa’s NCAA finalist streak, he has a daunting task on Saturday to overcome a 0-8 record vs. Penn State’s Mitchell Mesenbrink. In two matches this year, Caliendo has lost by major decision each time.

Iowa’s chance to crown a champion seems slim given the gap shown between Caliendo and Mesenbrink, but so did the Hawkeyes’ chance to rally from a brutal stretch spanning late November through the Big Ten Championships.

Advertisement

“He’s a good wrestler, but sometimes all it takes is one match,” Caliendo said. “If there’s any one time I’m going to get him, this is going to be the time. If I rise to the occasion in front of this big crowd, national finals, I’d be pretty happy if this is the one I get, even if it’s only once.”

Team scores after Day 2

Iowa wrestling’s standing after Day 2 of the NCAA Championships

• 125 – Dean Peterson: 2-2, eliminated

• 133 – Drake Ayala: 4-1, wrestling for third

• 141 – Nasir Bailey: 2-2, eliminated

• 149 – Ryder Block: 5-1, wrestling for third

• 165 – Michael Caliendo: 4-0, NCAA finalist

• 174 – Patrick Kennedy: 3-1, wrestling for third

• 184 – Angelo Ferrari: 3-1, wrestling for third

• 197 – Gabe Arnold: 4-2, wrestling for seventh

• 285 – Ben Kueter: 4-1, wrestling for third

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.

This article originally appeared on Hawk Central: Iowa wrestling extends finalist streak, will have seven All-Americans