Iowa Wrestling Suffers Surprise Loss to Minnesota

Hawkeyes coach Tom Brands remains confident in his team despite the defeat.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 7:47am

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The Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team suffered a surprise 23-16 loss to the Minnesota Gophers on Friday night. Despite the defeat, Iowa head coach Tom Brands expressed confidence in his team, saying "We have guys in the room that can do the job." The Hawkeyes won just four of the ten matches, with Minnesota taking six bouts, including several ranked matchups.

Why it matters

This loss to Minnesota was Iowa's first since 2014, ending a long streak of dominance over their Big Ten rivals. The defeat raises questions about the Hawkeyes' lineup and their ability to compete at the highest level this season, especially with upcoming matches against Ohio State and Michigan State.

The details

In the 23-16 loss, Minnesota took six of the ten bouts, including major decisions at 141 and 157 pounds. Iowa got wins from Drake Ayala, Michael Caliendo, Patrick Kennedy, and Ben Kueter, but the Hawkeyes struggled with consistency and failed to wrestle a full seven minutes in some matches. Coach Brands was critical of his team's performance, saying they need to "score points consistently from the first whistle and wrestle all the way through the periods."

  • The loss to Minnesota took place on Friday, January 31, 2026.
  • Iowa will travel to face Ohio State next week, followed by a match against Michigan State on Sunday.

The players

Tom Brands

The head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team, who has led the program to great success over the years.

Drake Ayala

A two-time NCAA finalist wrestler for Iowa who won his match against Minnesota by technical fall.

Michael Caliendo

An Iowa wrestler who earned a major decision victory over his Minnesota opponent.

Patrick Kennedy

An Iowa wrestler who also picked up a major decision win against Minnesota.

Ben Kueter

The heavyweight wrestler for Iowa who won his match against Minnesota.

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What they’re saying

“We have the guys in the room. I will maintain that. I will be consistent, that can do the job …”

— Tom Brands, Head Coach

“Score, score points consistently from the first whistle and wrestle all the way through the periods, first period, second period, third period. Wrestle all the way through the match and keep scoring.”

— Tom Brands, Head Coach

What’s next

The Hawkeyes will travel to face Ohio State next week, followed by a match against Michigan State on Sunday. Coach Brands said the team still needs to finalize their lineup for the upcoming road trip.

The takeaway

This loss to Minnesota is a setback for the Iowa wrestling program, which has dominated the Big Ten in recent years. However, Coach Brands remains confident in his team and believes they have the talent to bounce back, as long as they can wrestle with more consistency and intensity for the full duration of their matches.