Iowa 184-pounder, No. 7 Angelo Ferrari stretches singlet in preparation for match against Pittsburgh’s No. 26 Chase Kranitz in session one of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Ferrari defeated Kranitz by a 10-0 major decision. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
The Iowa Hawkeyes cap-off the first day of competition at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. The Iowa Hawkeyes qualified nine athletes in the tournament with seven athletes seeded in the top-ten. Iowa is currently ranked third in team standings with 25.5 points.
Iowa 125-pounder, No. 8 Dean Petersen awaits bout announcement during session one of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Petersen defeated Nebraska’s No. 25 Kale Lauridsen by a 9-1 major decision. At the conclusion of the first session, Iowa secures a second place lead with 15 team points. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
125-pounder Dean Petersen secured back-to-back wins in his tournament run thus far. Petersen started the tournament with a 9-1 major decision over Nebraska’s Kael Lauridsen followed by a 4-1 decision against Oklahoma State’s Maximo Renteria. Petersen is set to face off against Penn State’s Luke Lilledahl in hopes of obtaining a semi-finals spot.
The stage is set for session one of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
Drake Ayala is set to battle Penn State’s Marcus Blaze in the quarterfinal bout. After a 11-1 major decision against SIU Edwardsville’s Marcel Lopez and a heated technical fall over Cornell’s Tyler Ferrara, Ayala is determined to once again return to the finals.
Iowa 125-pounder, No. 8 Dean Petersen raises hand in victory after defeating Oklahoma State’s Maximo Renteria in session two of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Petersen defeated Renteria by decision, 4-1. Petersen will compete in the quarterfinals against Penn State’s Luke Lilledahl in session three on Friday, March 20. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan) (Reece Schrader)
Nasir Bailey, continuing his momentum from his third place finish at the Big Ten Championships, was the third Hawkeye to secure a quarterfinal spot. Bailey dominated his competition with a 14-3 major decision against Army’s Braden Basile followed by a 11-5 decision over Stanford’s Jack Consiglio.
Wrestler attempts to finish offensive attack during session two of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)Iowa 133-pounder, No. 6 Drake Ayala motions stall warning to referee during match against Cornell’s Tyler Ferrara in session two of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Ayala defeated Ferrara by technical fall, 19-4. Ayala will face Penn State’s Marcus Blaze in the quarterfinals on Friday, March 20. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)Oklahoma wrestler awaits bout during session two of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
149-pounder Ryder Block will compete in the back side of the bracket after a 10-3 loss against Cornell’s Jaxon Joy. Block started the tournament with a 11-2 major decision against Morgan State’s Eugene Harney. Block is set to face Brown’s Austin McBurney in session three of the tournament.
Iowa 184-pounder, No. 7 Angelo Ferrari paces before match against Pittsburgh’s No. 26 Chase Kranitz in session one of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Ferrari defeated Kranitz by a 10-0 major decision. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan) Oklahoma wrestler lifts the leg of opponent during session two of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
Michael Caliendo will once again return to the NCAA quarterfinals with victories against Citadel’s Thomas Snipes by fall and Bucknell’s Noah Mulvaney by technical fall.
Iowa 165-pounder, No. 3 Michael Caliendo flexes in celebration after defeating Carnegie’s No. 30 Thomas Snipes in session one of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Caliendo defeated Snipes by fall. At the conclusion of the first session, Iowa secures a second place lead with 15 team points. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan) Columbia coaches celebrate after Cesar Alvan upsets Oklahoma State’s LaBarion Locket during session two of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
Patrick Kennedy will face Ohio State’s Carson Kharchla in the quarter finals on day two of competition. Kennedy secured two decisions against Princeton’s Holden Garcia and Oklahoma’s Carter Schubert.
Stanford 165-pounder, No. 27 EJ Parco upsets Nebraska’s No. 6 LJ Araujo during session one of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Parco defeated Araujo by a 9-7 decision. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan) Illinois 133-pounder Lucas Byrd looks up during for warm-ups for session one of the NCAA DI Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FeildHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
Angelo Ferrari started his NCAA Championship run with a 10-0 major decision against Pittsburgh’s Chase Kranitz. Ferrari returned in the second round with an 11-5 decision over Caleb Campos of American. Ferrari will face off against Missouri’s Aeoden Sinclair in the quarterfinal bout.
Iowa 184-pounder, No. 7 Angelo Ferrari re-applies headgear in preparation for Pittsburgh’s No. 26 Chase Kranitz in session one of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Ferrari defeated Kranitz by a 10-0 major decision. At the conclusion of the first session, Iowa secures a second place lead with 15 team points. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)Mason 149-pounder, Kaden Cassidy mimics rocking a baby after defeating Wisconsin’s Joseph Zargo during session two of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
Gabe Arnold started off the competition with a close match against Oregon State’s Justin Rademacher. Although tied 2-2, Rademacher came out victorious with one second of riding time over Arnold. Gabe returned to the mat and secured a 7-2 decision over Devin Wasley. Arnold will battle Rune Lawrence of West Virginia in the back-side of the tournament bracket.
Iowa coaching staff screams in response to referee call during session two of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)Referee calls upper officials for coaches review during session two of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan) Iowa State fans scream from balcony during session one of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
At heavyweight, Ben Kueter was the seventh Hawkeye to obtain a spot in their weight’s quarterfinal match. Kueter defeated Brown’s Alex Semenenko by 2-0 decision and Penn State’s Cole Mirasola by 4-0. Kueter will face No. 1 Yonger Bastida of Iowa State in session three.
Iowa State 285-pounder, No. 1 Younger Bastida removes headgear during session one of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Bastida defeated his first round opponent by technical fall. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)Arizona State 133-pounder, Kyler Larkin attempts to pin opponent, Garrett Grice, during session one of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Larkin defeated Grice by a 13-0 major decision. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
The Hawkeyes will continue their NCAA Championship competition in session three on Friday, March 20. Session Three will include quarterfinal and consolation matches starting at 12:00 PM.
Iowa 197-pounder, No. 27 Gabe Arnold walks off center mat after defeating Devin Wasley in session two of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Arnold defeated Wasley by decision, 7-2. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
