KANSAS CITY, Missouri – University of Iowa wrestler Drake Ayala finished as the NCAA runner-up at 125 pounds on Saturday night at the 2024 NCAA Championships in the T-Mobile Center.

Ayala dropped a 7-2 decision to eighth-seeded Richard Figueroa of Arizona State in the finals. After a scoreless first period, Figueroa escaped after choosing down and earned a takedown on the edge right before the buzzer sounded. Ayala earned an escape to start the third period but another takedown from Figueroa with 14 seconds remaining sealed the match.

“It is too early to get analytical,” said head coach Tom Brands. “I say that a lot. You don’t just start talking about what needs to happen. He is dealing with a lot right now. That is what competitors do. He will deal with it. He is an extraordinary competitor. We will go forward from here.”

The finals appearance was the first of Ayala’s career and he finished the tournament as an All-American for the first time. He went 1-2 in 2021 as the 13 seed. He finished the 2024-24 season with a 27-5 record.

Ayala was one of four Hawkeyes to reach the medal stand. He advanced to the title bout winning a pair of bonus point victories (one major decision and one technical fall) and two decisions. His appearance in the championship round extended Iowa’s streak of NCAA finalists to 34 consecutive tournaments.

Iowa placed fifth in the team race with 67 points.

“I think our guys handled it as well as you can handle that stuff,” said Brands. “That is what life is about. You can talk about all that, but they handled it well. They went forward with it. It is too early to talk about next year. Drake Ayala has two years of eligibility left. He was in the national finals. He wants to find a way to win that match. Didn’t happen. Have to go forward.”

GRADUATING SENIORS
Iowa’s NCAA lineup included three graduating seniors. Those seniors include Brody Teske (133, four-time NCAA qualifier), Real Woods (141, four-time All-American, 2023 NCAA finalist) and Jared Franek (157, two-time All-American, five-time NCAA qualifier)

OF NOTE
– The Hawkeyes have 69 top 10 finishes in program history.
– Iowa has had an NCAA finalist in 34 consecutive national tournaments (every year since 1990).
– Iowa has crowned at least one All-American in 53 consecutive tournaments, a stretch dating back to 1972. Iowa has totaled 327 All-Americans during that stretch.
– Iowa has had at least four All-Americans in 16 straight seasons and 16 times in Brands’ 17 years.

ALL-AMERICANS
2nd – Drake Ayala (125)
4th – Real Woods (141), Michael Caliendo (165)
8th – Jared Franek (157)

NCAA FINALS RESULTS
285 | #1 Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) major dec. #10 Lucas Davidson (Michigan), 13-4
125 | #8 Richard Figueroa (Arizona State) dec. #3 Drake Ayala (Iowa), 7-2
133 | #6 Vito Aruja (Cornell) dec. #1 Daton Fix (Oklahoma State), 5-3
141 | #1 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) dec. #2 Beau Bartlett (Penn State), 4-1
149 | #4 Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech) major dec. #6 Austin Gomez, 15-7
157 | #1 Levi Haines (Penn State) dec. #2 Jacori Teemer (Arizona State), 5-0
165 | #4 David Carr (Iowa State) dec. #2 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State), 9-8
174 | #9 Carter Starocci (Penn State) dec. #6 Rocco Welsh (Ohio State), 2-0
184 | #1 Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa) major dec. #3 Dustin Plott (Oklahoma State), 14-5
197 | #1 Aaron Brooks (Penn State) dec. #2 Trent Hidlay (NC State), 6-0

TEAM STANDINGS – TOP 10
1. Penn State, 172.5
2. Cornell, 72.5
3. Michigan, 71
4. Iowa State, 68.5
5. Iowa, 67
6. Arizona State, 64.5
7. Virginia Tech, 64
8. Ohio State, 62
9. Nebraska, 60.5

10. Oklahoma State, 56

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa softball team split a Saturday doubleheader over Wisconsin at Pearl Field to earn a Big Ten series win.  The Hawkeyes won the opener, 10-4, before falling 2-0 in the series finale.

Junior Devyn Greer had a career day in the opener, going 4-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs. Jaylee Ojo (3-1) earned the win in the circle, allowing four runs on seven hits and striking out four over 4 1/3 innings.

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes return to from March 29-31, hosting Michigan State for a three-game series at Pearl Field.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The University of Iowa baseball team knocked off Purdue, 4-3, in thrilling fashion at Alexander Field on Saturday afternoon. 

All three phases of the game contributed to Iowa’s victory, beginning with a strong start from sophomore Cade Obermueller on the mound.

“I was happy with how our guys bounced back today,” head coach Rick Heller said. “This was a good team win where we showed a lot of toughness and grit. Our team cleaned things up defensively and held them to five hits. We came out ready to play and put some runs up in the first inning. We had a good start from Cade Obermueller. He battled and logged some innings for us.”

Obermueller pitched five innings, giving up four hits and three earned runs. The Iowa City, Iowa, native struck out four Boilermaker batters. Iowa was led offensively by designated hitter Davis Cop, who went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI. Andy Nelson collected three singles and reached base four times, while SamPetersen had a pair of hits for the Hawkeyes.

Iowa scored first, plating two runs in the first on a two-RBI single by Cop. The Boilermakers would answer with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. An RBI-single by Petersen in the second inning gave Iowa the lead once again. Purdue would tie the game again in the fourth.

Obermueller turned duties over to the bullpen in the sixth in a 3-3 game. In the seventh inning, Kyle Huckstorf led off with a single. He would advance to third base after two wild pitches. Cop collected Iowa’s clutch hit with a single to bring home Huckstorf, giving Iowa the 4-3 lead.

Aaron Savary earned the win by firing 2 1/3 innings, striking out two batters and allowing just one hit. Jack Young followed and got the Hawkeyes out of trouble in the eighth. After Purdue put two runners on base, Young was called in from the bullpen. The Leclaire, Iowa, native allowed another runner to reach, setting up a bases-loaded situation for Purdue with one out. Young would secure a strikeout and a sharp lineout to Ben Wilmes in right field to end the threat unscathed.

“The bullpen was outstanding today,” Heller added.  “Aaron Savary did a really nice job and then Jack Young bailed us out in the eighth. It was a tough situation, but Jack continues to do a great job out of the bullpen for us.”

Benjamin DeTaeye came in with the save opportunity for Iowa in the ninth inning. Leadoff hitter Mike Bolton Jr. sent a fly ball to deep center. Huckstorf turned and sprinted towards the warning track before making an over-the-shoulder catch to keep Bolton Jr. off base. DeTaeye earned his first save of the season after forcing a groundout and flyout to secure the win.

“We are pleased to have Ben (DeTaeye) back in the mix. He’s feeling confident and beginning to throw like we all knew he could,” said Heller. “He came in and closed the door. Huckstorf made an unbelievable, Willie-Mays-like catch and that completely changed the ninth inning.”

Iowa outhit Purdue, 14-5. The Hawkeye pitching staff stranded nine Boilermaker baserunners.

UP NEXT: The Hawkeyes (12-10, 1-1 B1G) go for the series win over Purdue on Sunday at Alexander Field. First pitch is slated for Noon (CT) in West Lafayette.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The University of Iowa volleyball team opened its spring scrimmage season with two wins on Saturday, knocking off Drake and Wayne State.

“This was a really nice start to our spring scrimmages,” head coach Jim Barnes said. “We demonstrated great teamwork and tenacity. We had kills from every player and I was impressed with our offensive performance.”

Newcomer Claire Ammeraal led the Iowa offense with 84 assists and 11 kills. Redshirt freshman Alyssa Warden registered a team-high 17 kills, whileGabby Deery and Nataly Moravec notched 13 and 12, respectively.

“Claire showed that she is a game-changing setter,” Barnes added. “She can set, attack and block. She also features a jump serve that produces aces. Claire disrupts the opponent blocks.”

Arizona transfer Joy Galles led the team in digs and passed well for the Hawkeyes. Defensively, Anna Davis paced the team in blocks. Davis also had a strong hit percentage of .345.

“Joy led our team on defense and in serve receive,” said Barnes. “Her veteran leadership combined with the leadership from Anna, Claire and MichelleUrquhart has improved our team quickly.”

The Hawkeyes continue their spring schedule with a scrimmage in Ames, Iowa, on March 30.

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Three University of Iowa wrestlers – Real Woods (141), Jared Franek (157) and Michael Caliendo (165) – capped their 2024 NCAA Championships run during Saturday’s medal rounds at the T-Mobile Center.

All three Hawkeyes finished as All-Americans at their respective weights at the championships. Woods finished fourth at 141, Caliendo finished fourth at 165 and Franek placed eighth.

Iowa’s fourth All-American –third-seeded Drake Ayala — will be the second of 10 matches in Session VI where he will face eighth-seeded Richard Figueroa of Arizona State in the 125-pound finals.

Iowa sits in fourth place with 67 points. Penn State is in first with 155.5 points, followed by Michigan with 71 points and Cornell with 68.5 points.

Woods went 1-1 during Session V, first winning a 4-0 decision over Iowa State’s Anthony Echemendia to advance to the third-place match. He fell to Nebraska’s ninth-seeded Brock Hardy, 7-6, to place fourth.

“Reflecting back on my career and my time at Iowa, I have a lot of gratitude,” said Woods. “I am grateful for all the people that are in the Iowa wrestling program, as well as in the Stanford wrestling program. I have had a lot of great experiences in my college career, and it has taught me a lot, helped me grow up as a man and helped me prepare for life ahead.”

The Albuquerque, New Mexico, native finishes his career with an 85-14 record. He is a four-time All-American, earning the honor twice at Iowa.

“As we all know, this time in life can be particularly challenging as you move ahead into adulthood,” said Woods. “I think that I am well prepared because of the environments I have been in at Iowa and at Stanford.”

Caliendo also went 1-1, winning 9-8 against Oklahoma State’s seventh-seeded Izzak Olejnik, in his first match before ending his season with a loss to top-seeded Keegan O’Toole of Missouri, 12-8. The All-America honor is the second of his career.

“The Iowa experience has been everything I could ask for,” said Caliendo. “I have all the resources to succeed, and I am going to keep taking advantage of that.”

The Geneva, Illinois, native ends his season with a 28-6 record.

“I had some good wins along the way,” said Caliendo. “But you always strive to get on top of the podium. That is what I am going to keep doing. I am going to keep training to get on top of the podium.”

After earning a spot on the podium in the blood round on Friday, Franek dropped the seventh-place match Saturday to finish eighth. He fell 11-2 to Nebraska’s Peyton Robb.

“The Iowa experience has been awesome,” said Franek. “It was everything and more than I could have imagined. Having the coaches that I have had the pleasure to work with and the teammates. Not only the guys on the team but also the RTC guys like Alex Marinelli, Kaleb Young, Jaydin Eierman, Spencer Lee and guys like that. They are around the program and have been here, done that. It is super cool to have guys like that around, pick their brains and get to work out with them, too.”

The Harwood, North Dakota, native finishes his career as a two-time All-American with an 119-28 career record.

“Overall, what I came here for is what I ultimately got out of it,” said Franek. “I am super happy. I wouldn’t take back the decision that I made.”

CONSOLATION SEMIFINAL RESULTS

141 | #3 Real Woods (Iowa) dec. #5 Anthony Echemedia (Iowa State), 4-0

165 | #6 Michael Caliendo (Iowa) dec. #7 Izzak Olejnik (Oklahoma State), 9-2

THIRD PLACE RESULTS

141 | #9 Brock Hardy (Nebraska) dec. #3 Real Woods (Iowa), 7-6

165 | #1 Keegan O’Toole (Missouri) dec. #6 Michael Caliendo (Iowa), 12-8

SEVENTH PLACE RESULTS

157 | #8 Peyton Robb (Nebraska) major dec. #10 Jared Franek (Iowa), 11-2

UP NEXT
Session VI of the NCAA Championships will begin at 6 p.m. (CT). The finals matches will be televised live on ESPN.