The wait is finally over, folks – Iowa wrestling season is officially here.
Both the Hawkeye men and women will take to the mat for the first time on Saturday.
Up first, Clarissa Chun’s second-ranked squad (yes, you read that correctly) drives about 90 minutes west to Indianola where the defending NCWWC national champions will open their title defense at the Luther Hill Open.
Then in the nightcap, Tom Brands’ bunch gets going way out in Corvallis, Oregon as the second-ranked men’s team in America duals against the #23 Oregon State Beavers.
This preview marks the beginning of what will be a regular occurrence throughout the coming season. The plan is to preview the who/when/where of both programs heading into any given weekend during which the Hawkeyes are set to compete.
Sometimes both the men’s and women’s programs will be in action. Other times it may be one (or none) as the season unfolds between now and March. We’ll adjust the preview accordingly, but always with the goal of keeping Hawkeye fans informed of what to expect from the next competition(s) on the calendar.
So, let’s get right to it.
Here’s what you need to know about Week 1 of the 2024-25 Iowa wrestling calendar.
(Gosh that feels so nice just to say.)
#2 Iowa women @ Luther Hill Open (Saturday, Nov. 2nd – 9:00 a.m. CDT start)
As I mentioned already, the Iowa women open their schedule at the Luther Hill Open.
The Hawkeyes announced on Thursday that they’d be sending 19 athletes to compete in Indianola:
Among the high-power contingent will be 7/11 members from Iowa’s remarkable 2024 recruiting class – headlined by Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades, who’s set to make her Hawkeye debut.
Also of note, returning 101-pound national champion Emilie Gonzalez is at 110 on Iowa’s list of entries. That differs from her listing at 103 on Iowa’s updated roster. It could be nothing more than Gonzalez getting down to weight in the early part of the season. But if it does pan out it’ll make for one interesting bracket at 110 this weekend.
Iowa’s ‘other two’ entries at 110 pounds are fellow 2024 NCWWC champ (at 109) Ava Bayless and true freshman Val Solorio.
Solorio, a Pennsylvania native, was the #4 ranked 100-pounder in America coming out of high school. She also defeated Bayless (10-1) in a wrestle-off held a few weeks ago. We don’t know the context of that match, so take the result for what it’s worth.
However you do so, it’s inarguable that it doesn’t make a potential rematch, or any combination of bouts between those two and Gonzalez, even more intriguing this weekend.
The Hawkeyes are among 27 teams and 407 athletes currently registered per TrackWrestling.
Other notable programs include NAIA’s #2 Grand View (IA), #8 Missouri Valley and #13 Baker (KS). From the NCAA ranks it’ll be #12 Lindenwood (MO), #21 William Jewell (MO) and #24 Northern Michigan.
Unfortunately, it does not appear that the event will be livestreamed anywhere.
If I hear otherwise, I’ll update folks on social media and drop a link here as well.
#2 Iowa men @ #23 Oregon State (Saturday, Nov. 2nd – 9:00 p.m. CDT)
The Hawkeye men touched down in the Great Northwest earlier today, where they’ll ready to take on the host Beavers in what’s expected to be a raucous environment at Gill Coliseum tomorrow night.
The highlighted matchup of the dual unquestionably comes at 197 pounds. There, first-year Hawkeye Stephen Buchanan (an Oklahoma transfer) takes on OSU’s Trey Munoz.
Buchanan – a three-time All-American – opens the season ranked #1 in the country after finishing third at NCAA’s this past March. Munoz – who also took third at NCAA’s in 2024 – starts the year ranked #5 after bumping up to 197 for the first time in his college career.
The only other Oregon State wrestler with a present ranking is #13 Maximo Renteria (125 pounds). He’ll more than likely face Iowa’s Joey Cruz.
Cruz is in a two-man battle for the Hawkeyes at 125 along with redshirt freshman Kale Petersen. While an ‘OR’ is listed between both athletes on the probable lineups for the dual, Tom Brands mentioned at Media Day on Thursday that it’d likely be Cruz who gets the nod to start the season.
Petersen is still making his way back from surgery 10 months ago, but could be available at any moment according to Brands:
“I don’t know if he’s quite ready right now, but 10 minutes from now he could be ready,” said the 19th-year Iowa head coach.
Another spot of intrigue in the lineup will be 174/184. The expectation is that seventh-year senior Nelson Brands starts tomorrow at 74 with redshirt freshman Gabe Arnold up at 84.
The dual will be streamed live HERE on FloWrestling (subscription required) as well as broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network (YouTube link below).
Short time
That’ll do it for this week’s Iowa wrestling preview.
Be sure to check back in afterwards for recaps of both teams’ performances.
I’ll be following along with the men’s dual live on Twitter, and also updating as much as I can whenever I can of how the Hawkeye women are performing at their season-opening tournament.
It truly is a thrill to know that college wrestling is officially back in our lives. Thanks for reading this first of many previews and enjoy these next five months.
We’ve all waited long enough.
We’ve earned this.
