Iowa 197-pounder, Gabe Arnold celebrates seventh place finish over Maryland’s Branson John during session five of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Arnold defeated John by decision, 6-2. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
The Iowa Hawkeyes conclude their 2025-2026 season with the final day of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, March 21, 2026. The Hawkeyes (95.5 pts) finished in fourth place behind Penn State (1st), Oklahoma State (2nd), and Nebraska (3rd).
Iowa 285-pounder, Ben Kueter lifts the leg of Michigan’s Taye Ghadiali during session five of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Kueter was defeated by Ghadiali, 5-0. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)Fans await the commencement of the final session of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
133-pounder Drake Ayala ended his Hawkeye career with a 16-5 major decision against Stanford’s Tyler Knox for the fifth place title. Ayala is a three-time All American and two-time NCAA runner-up.
Iowa 133-pounder, Drake Ayala raises his hand for the final time in his collegiate career after defeating Stanford’s Tyler Knox during session five of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Ayala defeated Knox, 16-5. Ayala finished his tournament run in fifth place. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)Iowa 133-pounder, Drake Ayala embraces coaches after defeating Stanford’s Tyler Knox during session five of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Ayala defeated Knox, 16-5. Ayala finished his tournament run in fifth place. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
149-pounder Ryder Block finished in sixth place going 5-3 in the tournament. In an emotional interview, Block reflected on his previous season injuries and how he has used that to fuel his performances this season. “I remember sitting at home saying I was gonna do everything it took to not be there next year,” said Block.
Nebraska 133-pounder, Jacob Van Dee embraces coach after defeating Illinois’s Lucas Byrd during session five of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)Oklahoma State 133-pounder, Jax Forrest prays before first-place match of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Forrest defeated Ohio State’s Ben Davino by decision, 4-1. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
Michael Caliendo was named runner-up in the 165-pound championship match after a 20-4 technical fall by Penn State’s Mitchel Mesenbrink. The Hawkeye is a four-time All-American and now two-time NCAA runner-up.
Iowa’s Michael Caliendo walks off center mat after falling to Penn State’s Mitchell Mesenbrink in the first-place match of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Messenbrink defeated Caliendo by technical fall, 20-4. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)Penn State’s Mitchell Mesenbrink shakes the hands of referees before first-place match of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Messenbrink defeated Iowa’s Michael Caliendo by technical fall, 20-4. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
174-pounder Patrick Kennedy capped off his collegiate career as a two-time All-American and third-place finish. Kennedy reflected on how the Iowa coaching staff fueled his growth and career, stating “They are the closest thing you will have to a father that is not blood”.
Iowa 174-pounder, Patrick Kennedy is thrown by Navy’s Danny Wask during session five of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Kennedy defeated Wask by major decision, 11-1. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)Iowa 174-pounder, Patrick Kennedy embraces head coach Tom Brands after defeating Ohio State’s Carson Kharchla in his final match of his college career in the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Kennedy defeated Kharchla by decision, 9-6. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
197-pounder Gabe Arnold secured a seventh place finish after defeating Maryland’s Branson John. Arnold was the lowest seed ever to become an All-American in NCAA Wrestling history.
Center mat is lit in preparation for the first-place matches of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)Young fans await wrestlers for signatures during the first-place matches of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
285-pounder Ben Kueter finished fifth over a medical forfeit by Nebraska’s AJ Ferrari.
Iowa’s Gabe Arnold converses with crowd during the first-place matches of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, March 21, 2026. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)Minnesota’s Max McEnelly walks to center mat for the first-place match of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, March 21, 2026. McEnelly defeated Penn State’s Rocco Welsh by decision to become Minnesota’s first ever 184-pound champion. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)Penn State’s Mitchell Mesenbrink raises first-place trophy on the podium of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Messenbrink defeated Iowa’s Michael Caliendo by technical fall, 20-4. (Reece Schrader/Daily Iowan)
