Unattached Iowa wrestler fights off takedown during the Soldier Salute Men’s College Wrestling Tournament at X-treme Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. The tournament houses the teams of Army Prep, Bellarmine, Iowa State, Missouri, North Carolina, Navy, Oklahoma State, South Dakota State, Minnesota, UNI, Wyoming, and Virginia Military Institute. The two-day tournament is hosted by Iowa City Area Sports Commission with the honoring of service members past, present, and future.
The Iowa Hawkeyes, alongside other universities and institutions, gathered into Xtream Arena for the yearly Soldier Salute Men’s College Wrestling Tournament in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday. The tournament consists of two days of competition with four sessions total. The tournament is hosted by Iowa City Area Sports Commission and honors the service of past, present and future military members.
The tournament hosted the University of Iowa, Army Prep, Bellarmine, Iowa State, Missouri, North Carolina, Navy, Oklahoma State, South Dakota State, Minnesota, University of Northern Iowa, Wyoming and Virginia Military Institute.
Iowa resorted to only competing four members of the starting roster, including Nasir Bailey, Victor Voinovich III, Jordan Williams and Gabe Arnold. The remaining twelve individuals competing were in the backup roster. No heavyweights competed from the Iowa roster.
On the first day of the tournament, multiple Iowa wrestlers were seeded highly upon entering session one. These seedings included No. 4 Joey Cruz, No. 6 Petersen, No. 4 & 3 Voinovich brothers, No. 2 Arnold, and No. 4 Ludington.
Sophomore Gabe Arnold stunned fans with a weight class shift down to the 174 pound weight class. After the Iowa vs. No. 19 Pittsburgh Dual, Arnold hinted at a potential weight class shift at the Soldier Salute Tournament. Fans speculated whether Arnold’s weight shift would create competition for either Patrick Kennedy’s (174 LBS) or Massoma Endene’s (197 LBS) roster spots. Arnold went undefeated in the first two Champ Rounds in the competition, with technical falls of 20-4 and 15-0.
The Hawkeyes are set to battle against the No. 19 Wisconsin Badgers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Friday, Jan 9, 2025 at 7:00 PM CST.
Fans watch the final Session One matches of the Soldier Salute Men’s College Wrestling Tournament at X-treme Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. The tournament houses the teams of Army Prep, Bellarmine, Iowa State, Missouri, North Carolina, Navy, Oklahoma State, South Dakota State, Minnesota, UNI, Wyoming, and Virginia Military Institute. The two-day tournament is hosted by Iowa City Area Sports Commission with the honoring of service members past, present, and future. (Reece Schrader)157 pounder, Jordan Williams, awaits the calling of bouts during the Soldier Salute Men’s College Wrestling Tournament at X-treme Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. The tournament houses the teams of Army Prep, Bellarmine, Iowa State, Missouri, North Carolina, Navy, Oklahoma State, South Dakota State, Minnesota, UNI, Wyoming, and Virginia Military Institute. The two-day tournament is hosted by Iowa City Area Sports Commission with the honoring of service members past, present, and future. (Reece Schrader)Iowa State Wrestler, Owen Helgeson, recovers during injury time during the Soldier Salute Men’s College Wrestling Tournament at X-treme Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. The tournament houses the teams of Army Prep, Bellarmine, Iowa State, Missouri, North Carolina, Navy, Oklahoma State, South Dakota State, Minnesota, UNI, Wyoming, and Virginia Military Institute. The two-day tournament is hosted by Iowa City Area Sports Commission with the honoring of service members past, present, and future. (Reece Schrader)Unattached Iowa wrestler rests during blood time during the Soldier Salute Men’s College Wrestling Tournament at X-treme Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. The tournament houses the teams of Army Prep, Bellarmine, Iowa State, Missouri, North Carolina, Navy, Oklahoma State, South Dakota State, Minnesota, UNI, Wyoming, and Virginia Military Institute. The two-day tournament is hosted by Iowa City Area Sports Commission with the honoring of service members past, present, and future. (Reece Schrader)174 pounder, Gabe Arnold, sings along with music while awaiting his Champ Round Two match during the Soldier Salute Men’s College Wrestling Tournament at X-treme Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. The tournament houses the teams of Army Prep, Bellarmine, Iowa State, Missouri, North Carolina, Navy, Oklahoma State, South Dakota State, Minnesota, UNI, Wyoming, and Virginia Military Institute. The two-day tournament is hosted by Iowa City Area Sports Commission with the honoring of service members past, present, and future. (Reece Schrader)Big10+ Film Associate records and documents matches during the Soldier Salute Men’s College Wrestling Tournament at X-treme Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. The tournament houses the teams of Army Prep, Bellarmine, Iowa State, Missouri, North Carolina, Navy, Oklahoma State, South Dakota State, Minnesota, UNI, Wyoming, and Virginia Military Institute. The two-day tournament is hosted by Iowa City Area Sports Commission with the honoring of service members past, present, and future. (Reece Schrader)North Carolina Wrestler looks to referee for potential stall call during the Soldier Salute Men’s College Wrestling Tournament at X-treme Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. The tournament houses the teams of Army Prep, Bellarmine, Iowa State, Missouri, North Carolina, Navy, Oklahoma State, South Dakota State, Minnesota, UNI, Wyoming, and Virginia Military Institute. The two-day tournament is hosted by Iowa City Area Sports Commission with the honoring of service members past, present, and future. (Reece Schrader)Head Coach, Tom Brands, screams during Joey Cruz’s Champ Round Two match during the Soldier Salute Men’s College Wrestling Tournament at X-treme Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. Cruz would win in overtime in a 9-6 decision. The tournament houses the teams of Army Prep, Bellarmine, Iowa State, Missouri, North Carolina, Navy, Oklahoma State, South Dakota State, Minnesota, UNI, Wyoming, and Virginia Military Institute. The two-day tournament is hosted by Iowa City Area Sports Commission with the honoring of service members past, present, and future. (Reece Schrader)Young fans await autographs from passing by wrestlers during the Soldier Salute Men’s College Wrestling Tournament at X-treme Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. The tournament houses the teams of Army Prep, Bellarmine, Iowa State, Missouri, North Carolina, Navy, Oklahoma State, South Dakota State, Minnesota, UNI, Wyoming, and Virginia Military Institute. The two-day tournament is hosted by Iowa City Area Sports Commission with the honoring of service members past, present, and future. (Reece Schrader)157 pounder, Jordan Williams, attempts to pin opponent during Champ Round Two match in the Soldier Salute Men’s College Wrestling Tournament at X-treme Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. Williams would win this match by fall in 1:07. The tournament houses the teams of Army Prep, Bellarmine, Iowa State, Missouri, North Carolina, Navy, Oklahoma State, South Dakota State, Minnesota, UNI, Wyoming, and Virginia Military Institute. The two-day tournament is hosted by Iowa City Area Sports Commission with the honoring of service members past, present, and future. (Reece Schrader)Army Prep Wrestler get hand raised after defeating Champ Round One opponent during the Soldier Salute Men’s College Wrestling Tournament at X-treme Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. The tournament houses the teams of Army Prep, Bellarmine, Iowa State, Missouri, North Carolina, Navy, Oklahoma State, South Dakota State, Minnesota, UNI, Wyoming, and Virginia Military Institute. The two-day tournament is hosted by Iowa City Area Sports Commission with the honoring of service members past, present, and future. (Reece Schrader)125 pounder, Koufax Christensen attempts to pin Bellarmine opponent during the Soldier Salute Men’s College Wrestling Tournament at X-treme Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. The tournament houses the teams of Army Prep, Bellarmine, Iowa State, Missouri, North Carolina, Navy, Oklahoma State, South Dakota State, Minnesota, UNI, Wyoming, and Virginia Military Institute. The two-day tournament is hosted by Iowa City Area Sports Commission with the honoring of service members past, present, and future. (Reece Schrader)174 pounder, Gabe Arnold, gets his hand raised after technical fall against opponent during Champ Round Two match in the Soldier Salute Men’s College Wrestling Tournament at X-treme Arena in Coralville, Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. Arnold won by technical fall, 20-4. The tournament houses the teams of Army Prep, Bellarmine, Iowa State, Missouri, North Carolina, Navy, Oklahoma State, South Dakota State, Minnesota, UNI, Wyoming, and Virginia Military Institute. The two-day tournament is hosted by Iowa City Area Sports Commission with the honoring of service members past, present, and future. (Reece Schrader)
