Iowa 285 pounder, No. 5 Ben Kueter, sticks out tongue to Wisconsin opponent, No. 9 Braxton Amos, during a dual between the No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes and the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. Kueter defeated Amos in a 4-1 sudden victory. The Hawkeyes defeated the Badgers 23-12.
The No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes hosted the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers in the Big10 Conference Opener at Carver-Hawkeyes Arena in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.
The dual commenced at 197 pounds with Iowa’s Harvey Ludington battling Wisconsin’s No. 28 Wyatt Ignham. Ignham defeated Ludington in a 10-7 decision, starting the Badgers off with an early 3-0 lead.
Following shortly after, No. 5 Ben Kueter and Wisconsin’s No. 9 Braxton Amos went head to head in a top-10 matchup. Amos escaped in the second period, receiving an 1-0 lead over Kueter into the third period. Kueter tied up the score 1-1 with a late escape as time expired. In overtime, Kueter scored a takedown after a failed single leg takedown by Amos, leading to a counter to seal a 4-1 victory for the Hawkeyes. Hawkeyes quickly countered the early lead in the dual with a 3-3 team score.
Wisconsin 125 pounder, Nicolar Rivera, defeated Iowa’s Keyan Hernandez in a 11-4 decision. Wisconsin leading 6-3 against the Hawkeyes.
In the 133 pound matchup, Iowa’s No. 4 Drake Ayala fought against Wisconsin’s Zan Fugitt. The match ended in an upset with Fugitt defeating Ayala in a 6-5 decision after being awarded a stalling and escape point in the final seconds of the match. Wisconsin continued a 9-3 lead against the Hawkeyes.
At 141 pounds, Iowa’s Kale Petersen defeated Wisconsin’s Carson Oxford in a 8-3 decision. Petersen is 16-1 and recently placed third in the Soldier Salute Men’s Wrestling tournament the prior weekend. Hawkeyes started to close the gap with a 9-6 score jump against Wisconsin.
No. 7 Ryder Block of Iowa fell to Wisconsin’s Josoeh Zargo in a 9-6 sudden victory upset. Wisconsin countered, increasing their team score 12-6.
No. 12 Jordan Williams of Iowa defeated Wisconsin’s Luke Mechler in a 4-2 decision.
The final three weight classes sealed the dual for the Hawkeyes with technical falls from Iowa’s No. 3 Micheal Caliendo and No. 1 Angelo Ferrari, and a major decision from No. 3 Patrick Kennedy. The dual concluded with the Hawkeyes defeating the Badgers, 23-12.
The Hawkeyes are set to host the Penn State Nittany Lions at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM (CT).
Iowa 165 pounder, No. 3 Michael Caliendo, fights to maintain top position against Wisconsin opponent, Cody Goebel, during a dual between the No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes and the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. Caliendo defeated Goebel in a 21-6 technical fall. The Hawkeyes defeated the Badgers 23-12. (Reece Schrader)Young child looks to center mat prior to a dual between the No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes and the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. The Hawkeyes defeated the Badgers 23-12. The Big10 opener kickstarts the conference season for 2026. (Reece Schrader)Iowa fans celebrate a three-point take down from Iowa 157 pounder, No. 12 Jordan Williams, during a dual between the No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes and the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. Williams defeated Wisconsin opponent, Luke Mechler, in a 4-2 decision. The Hawkeyes defeated the Badgers 23-12. (Reece Schrader)Wisconsin 125 pounder, No. 11 Nicolar Rivera, struggles to escape against Iowa opponent, Keyan Hernandez, during a dual between the No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes and the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. Rivera defeated Hernandez in a 11-4 decision. The Hawkeyes defeated the Badgers 23-12. (Reece Schrader)Iowa Head Coach, Tom Brands, throws the brick in disagreement to referees call during a dual between the No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes and the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. The Hawkeyes defeated the Badgers 23-12. (Reece Schrader)Wisconsin coach and former Iowa Hawkeye, Tony Cassioppi, yells at referee’s call during a dual between the No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes and the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. The Hawkeyes defeated the Badgers 23-12. (Reece Schrader)Wisconsin 149 pounder, Joseph Zargo, fights against single leg takedown from Iowa opponent, No. 7 Ryder Block, during a dual between the No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes and the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. Zargo defeated Block in a 9-6 sudden victory. The Hawkeyes defeated the Badgers 23-12. (Reece Schrader)Winsonsin 197 pounder, Wyatt Ingham, stares down Iowa opponent, Harvey Ludington, during a dual between the No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes and the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. Ingham defeated Iowa’s Harvey Ludington in a 10-8 decision. The Hawkeyes defeated the Badgers 23-12. (Reece Schrader)Iowa 141 pounder, Kale Petersen, is pulled in by head coach, Tom Brands, after defeating Wisconsin opponent, Carson Oxford, during a dual between the No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes and the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. Petersen defeated Oxford in a 8-3 decision. The Hawkeyes defeated the Badgers 23-12. (Reece Schrader)Young fan dances in participation to the Pancheros “Pump it Up” fan segment during a dual between the No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes and the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. The Hawkeyes defeated the Badgers 23-12. (Reece Schrader)Iowa 184 pounder, No.1 Angelo Ferrari, anticipates offensive attack against Wisconsin opponent, Caleb Dennee, during a dual between the No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes and the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. Ferrari defeated Dennee in a 19-4 technical fall. The Hawkeyes defeated the Badgers 23-12. (Reece Schrader)Iowa 285 pounder, No. 5 Ben Kueter, sticks out tongue to crowd after defeating Wisconsin opponent, No. 9 Braxton Amos, during a dual between the No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes and the No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. Kueter defeated Amos in a 4-1 sudden victory. The Hawkeyes defeated the Badgers 23-12. (Reece Schrader)
