The Iowa Hawkeyes crowned seven All-Americans in the second day of competition of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, March 20, 2026. The Hawkeyes (81 pts) are currently ranked fourth in team scores behind Penn State (153 pts), Oklahoma State (111.5 pts), Nebraska (90.5 pts).
Iowa 197-pounder, No. 27 Gabe Arnold rolls backwards after surviving blood round against Indiana’s Gabe Sollars in session three of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, March 20, 2026. Arnold defeated Sollars by 5-4 decision with a last minute takedown. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
With losses in the blood-rounds, 125-pounder Dean Petersen and 141-pounder Nasir Bailey end their 2025-2026 season, going 2-2 in the tournament. Petersen fell to Rider’s Tyler Klinsky with a last second take-down in the bloodrounds, losing 4-1. Bailey was defeated by Lock Haven’s Wyatt Henson by a score of 6-4.
Iowa 133-pounder, Drake Ayala celebrates after defeating Illinois’s Lucas Bryd during session four of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, March 20, 2026. Ayala defeated Bryd by decision, 10-4. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)Iowa Head Coach Tom Brands listens to assistant coach Ryan Morningstar during session three of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, March 20, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
133-pounder Drake Ayala began his battle back after a 5-3 loss against Penn State’s Marcus Blaze in the quarterfinals. Ayala climbed the bracket with back-to-back decisions over American’s Maximilian Leete (8-3) and Illinois’s Lucas Byrd (10-4). Ayala secured his third All-American title in session four of the tournament.
149-pounder, Ryder Block adjusts his singlet during blood round match of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, March 20, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
149-pounder Ryder Block clinched his first All-American title as a Hawkeye. Block is currently 5-1 in the tournament with victories against Euguene Harney, Austin McBurney, Michael Gioffre, Carter Young, and Casey Swiderski.
Iowa 149-pounder, Ryder Block celebrates after securing his All-American title during session four of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, March 20, 2026. Block defeated his opponent, Carter Young of Maryland, by a 4-1 decision. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan) Iowa 141-pounder, Nasir Bailey walks off mat in defeat after blood-round in session four of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, March 20, 2026. Bailey lost his final match of the tournament by 6-4 decision against Lock Haven’s Wyatt Henson. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
Michael Caliendo will return to the 165-pound championship bout against Penn State’s Mitchell Messenbrink for the second year in a row. Caliendo clinched a 8-5 decision over Purdue’s Joey Blaze in sudden victory, qualifying for the first-place match. “I had him right where I wanted him,” said Caliendo after his victory.
Iowa 165-pounder, No. 3 Michael Caliendo screams “I am Him” after semifinal victory during the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, March 20, 2026. Caliendo defeated his opponent, Joey Blaze of Purdue, by a 8-5 decision in sudden victory. Caliendo will battle for the NCAA title against Penn State’s Mitchell Messenbrink. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
Patrick Kennedy lost his semifinal bout against Penn State’s Levi Haines by major decision. Kennedy will compete next against Navy’s Danny Wask.
Iowa 174-pounder, Patrick Kennedy is lifted by Penn State’s Levi Haines during the semifinals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, March 20, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan) Rider 125-pounder, Tyler Klinsky embraces coach after defeating Iowa’s Dean Petersen during session four of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, March 20, 2026. Klinsky defeated Petersen by decision. Klinsky secured his All-American status with this victory. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
Angelo Ferrari brought the crowd to their feet with a 4-1 decision in sudden victory over Missouri’s Aoeden Sinclair. Although facing a tough loss in the semifinals against Minnesota’s Max McNelly, Ferrari will face American’s Caleb Campos next to secure a top-five finish.
Iowa 184-pounder, No. 7 Angelo Ferrari motions three after taking down Missouri’s Aeoden Sinclair in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, March 20, 2026. Ferrari defeated Sinclair in a 4-1 sudden victory. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan) Minnesota 184-pounder, Max McNelly raises hands in celebration after defeating Iowa’s Angelo Ferrari during session four of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, March 20, 2026. McNelly defeated Ferrari in tiebreakers. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
Gabe Arnold secured his first All-American title at 197-pounds as the No. 27 seed. Battling back after a first round loss, Arnold won four matches back-to-back in order to secure his title. “It means everything, it means the world to me” said Arnold after his victory over Rutger’s Remy Cotton. Arnold will wrestle for seventh place in the final day of competition.
Iowa 197-pounder, No. 27 Gabe Arnold screams after surviving blood round against Indiana’s Gabe Sollars in session three of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, March 20, 2026. Arnold defeated Sollars by 5-4 decision with a last minute takedown. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan) Referee motions to start the match during session three of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, March 20, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan) Iowa Head Coach Tom Brands screams in excitement after Iowa 165-pounder, No. 3 Michael Caliendo secures his semifinals during the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, March 20, 2026. Caliendo defeated his opponent, Joey Blaze of Purdue, by a 8-5 decision in sudden victory. Caliendo will battle for the NCAA title against Penn State’s Mitchell Messenbrink. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan) Iowa 174-pounder, No. 5 Patrick Kennedy swings headgear after defeating Ohio State’s Carson Kharchla in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, March 20, 2026. Kennedy defeated Kharchla by 2-1 decision. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
After a 4-2 quarterfinals loss against Iowa State’s No. 1 Yonger Bastida, Iowa’s Ben Kueter was crowned All-American with decisions over Wisconsin’s Braxton Amos (5-2) and Arizona State’s David Szuba.
Iowa 165-pounder, No. 3 Michael Caliendo awaits quarterfinal bout of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, March 20, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan) Wyoming 285-pounder, Christian Carrol shows emotion after securing All-American status during session four of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, March 20, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
The Hawkeyes will complete the final day of the NCAA tournament on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
North Carolina 165-pounder, Bryce Hepner embraces coach after securing All-American title during session four of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, March 20, 2026. Hepner is the first 165-pound All-American for North Carolina since 2015. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
