Iowa Men's Wrestling Finishes Fourth at NCAA Championships

Hawkeyes clinch seven All-Americans, the most since 2020-2021 season

Mar. 22, 2026 at 1:57am

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The Iowa men's wrestling team wrapped up the 2025-2026 campaign with a fourth-place finish at the 2026 NCAA Men's Wrestling National Championships. The Hawkeyes finished with 92 1/2 points, eight points behind third-place Nebraska. Senior Michael Caliendo earned the best finish for Iowa while extending the team's NCAA finalist streak to 35 consecutive tournaments.

Why it matters

Iowa has consistently been a powerhouse in college wrestling, finishing in the top five at the NCAA Championships for 18 consecutive tournaments. This year's fourth-place finish, while not a championship, shows the program's continued excellence and ability to produce top-tier wrestlers, even in the face of challenges.

The details

The Hawkeyes clinched seven All-Americans, the most since the 2020-2021 season. Senior Michael Caliendo faced Penn State's Mitchell Mesenbrink in the 165-pound final, but fell 20-4 by technical fall. Patrick Kennedy finished third at 174 pounds, while Drake Ayala and Ben Kueter secured fifth-place finishes at 133 and 285 pounds, respectively.

  • The 2026 NCAA Men's Wrestling National Championships took place in March 2026.

The players

Tom Brands

Head coach of the Iowa men's wrestling team.

Michael Caliendo

Senior wrestler for the Iowa Hawkeyes who reached the NCAA final at 165 pounds.

Mitchell Mesenbrink

Wrestler for Penn State who defeated Caliendo in the 165-pound final.

Patrick Kennedy

Iowa wrestler who finished third at 174 pounds.

Drake Ayala

Iowa wrestler who finished fifth at 133 pounds.

Ben Kueter

Iowa wrestler who finished fifth at 285 pounds.

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What they’re saying

“I don't think our guys, that roster, the 10 guys, 15 guys, the 32, ever quit. We dealt with a lot, you're going to deal with a lot, and you have to persevere. You have to grind through it, and sometimes it's a little smoother. These guys didn't suck their thumbs.”

— Tom Brands, Head Coach

The takeaway

Despite not capturing the team title, Iowa's fourth-place finish and seven All-Americans demonstrate the program's continued excellence and ability to develop top-tier wrestlers, even in the face of challenges. The Hawkeyes' consistent top-five finishes under Coach Brands solidify their status as one of the premier wrestling programs in the country.