Iowa Qualifies Nine for NCAA Wrestling Championships

Hawkeyes finish fourth at Big Ten Championships, send strong contingent to nationals

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Iowa men's wrestling team finished in fourth place at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships in State College, Pennsylvania, qualifying nine wrestlers for the upcoming NCAA Championships. Despite not crowning any individual champions, the Hawkeyes had several standout performances, including third-place finishes from Drake Ayala (133 pounds) and Nasir Bailey (141 pounds), and a runner-up finish from Michael Caliendo (165 pounds).

Why it matters

Iowa's fourth-place team finish, while not up to the program's lofty standards, still represents the 14th consecutive year the Hawkeyes have qualified at least nine wrestlers for the NCAA Championships. This consistency in sending a large contingent to the national tournament is a testament to the strength of the Iowa wrestling program under head coach Tom Brands.

The details

The Hawkeyes had six wrestlers place in the top four of their respective weight classes, led by Caliendo's runner-up finish at 165 pounds. Other top placers included Ayala and Bailey in third, and Patrick Kennedy (174 pounds) and Ben Kueter (285 pounds) in fourth. Iowa also qualified Ryder Block (149 pounds), Angelo Ferrari (184 pounds), and Gabe Arnold (197 pounds) for the NCAA Championships.

  • The Big Ten Wrestling Championships took place over the weekend of March 7-8, 2026 in State College, Pennsylvania.
  • The NCAA Wrestling Championships are scheduled for two weeks after the Big Ten event, in mid-March 2026.

The players

Iowa Hawkeyes

The men's wrestling team from the University of Iowa, a perennial powerhouse in the sport with a long history of success.

Tom Brands

The head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team, who has led the program for the past 20 years.

Michael Caliendo

A senior wrestler for Iowa who finished as the runner-up at 165 pounds at the Big Ten Championships.

Drake Ayala

A senior wrestler for Iowa who placed third at 133 pounds, defeating several highly-ranked opponents along the way.

Nasir Bailey

A wrestler for Iowa who placed third at 141 pounds, bouncing back from an injury-plagued season.

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What they’re saying

“We've seen this version of Ayala building after a shockingly shaky start to his senior season. And his wins this weekend should set him up for a much more advantageous seed at NCAAs in two weeks.”

— Tanner Lafever, Reporter (on3.com)

“Twice Ayala controlled Fugitt (10-3 and 4-2). He also knocked off Byrd in sudden victory (4-1) as well.”

— Tanner Lafever, Reporter (on3.com)

What’s next

The NCAA Wrestling Championships are scheduled for two weeks after the Big Ten event, in mid-March 2026. Iowa will look to build on its strong Big Ten performance and send multiple All-Americans to the national tournament.

The takeaway

Despite falling short of a Big Ten team title, Iowa's ability to qualify nine wrestlers for the NCAA Championships demonstrates the program's continued strength and depth. The Hawkeyes will look to translate their Big Ten success into a strong showing at the national level in the coming weeks.