How did Iowa wrestling fare in its final duals of the 2025 calendar year?

Pretty well is the answer, as the Hawkeyes rolled both UT Chattanooga and Utah Valley on Dec. 12 in Hannibal, Missouri for the Journeyman’s “UnCivil War”. Iowa won eight of ten bouts against UT Chattanooga, securing a 37-6 win in their first dual of the night. They followed that up with a 33-6 win over the Wolverines, also winning eight of 10 bouts.

The Hawkeyes’ only losses of the night came at 133 and 285 pounds, as Iowa did not wrestle starters Drake Ayala or Ben Kueter. Joey Cruz bumped up to 133 to fill the role while Easton Fleshman competed at heavyweight, but both were 0-2. Iowa also did not wrestle Massoma Endene, but Gabe Arnold admirably bumped up to 197 pounds and won two matches by decision despite giving up ample weight and height. Aside from that, Iowa’s lineup thrived in Hannibal, Missouri.

“We had three guys out,” Iowa head coach Tom Brands said. “Kueter, Endene and Ayala. We always say next guy in, you’ve got to go. Whatever our best team is, we will put it together. That’s what you do. It doesn’t matter if our best team is out there or not. I remember last year Ayala sat out against Ohio State and he really wanted to wrestle for the team, but we aren’t going to lose because Ayala doesn’t wrestle. There are 10 weight classes; everybody do your job and we are in good shape. We’ve got guys going forward the right way and that is what I like.”

At 125 pounds, Iowa’s Dean Peterson had a big win to open Iowa’s day, defeating No. 18 ranked Cooper Flynn in a 20-5 technical fall. That was the lone ranked matchup of the dual against the Mocs, but Peterson’s offense from neutral blew the matchup wide-open. He also secured a 7-2 decision over Utah Valley’s Bridger Ricks to cap off a 2-0 day.

At 141 pounds, Iowa’s Nasir Bailey also had a 2-0 day, including an 12-1 major decision over. No. 17 Haiden Drury. His takedown in the first period into eight near-fall points was the difference there. Leading up Bailey in duals was Ryder Block, who got a 20-5 technical fall over UT Chattanooga’s Yuta Otero and a quick win by fall over Utah Valley’s Kayd Craig to cap off a strong start to the season in 2025.

Victor Voinovich got both starts at 157 pounds for Iowa, locking up a 11-3 major decision against UT Chattanooga’s Cavarius Liddie and a 10-3 decision against Mark Takara of Utah Valley. Where Voinovich has struggled is in finishing attacks at times, but he had multiple takedowns in each bout to have a solid night.

The stars of the night for Iowa came at 165 and 174. Michael Caliendo had two emphatic wins by fall, followed up by high-octane offense from Patrick Kennedy to secure two technical falls before the third period even commenced. At 184 pounds, Iowa’s Angelo Ferrari also kept his winning ways going as the No. 1 ranked wrestler, with a 20-4 technical fall against Chattanooga’s Landon Jones and a 4-1 decision against a stingy Caleb Uhlenhopp.

See our match-by-match recap and analysis below off Iowa’s two emphatic wins.

Iowa wrestling vs. UT Chattanooga box score

• 125 – Dean Peterson (Iowa) over Cooper Flynn (Chattanooga) TF 20-4
• 133 – Bryce Luna (Chattanooga) over Joey Cruz (Iowa) Dec 4-1
• 141 – Nasir Bailey (Iowa) over Hunter Mason (Chattanooga) Dec 4-1
• 149 – Ryder Block (Iowa) over Yuta Otero (Chattanooga) TF 20-5
• 157 – Victor Voinovich (Iowa) over Cavarius Liddie (Chattanooga) Maj 11-3
• 165 – Mikey Caliendo (Iowa) over Tavian Camper (Chattanooga) Fall 1:55
• 174 – Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) over Kamdyn Munro (Chattanooga) TF 21-5
• 184 – Angelo Ferrari (Iowa) over Landon Jones (Chattanooga) TF 20-4
• 197 – Gabe Arnold (Iowa) over Kade Rule (Chattanooga) Maj 17-4
• 285 – Ethan Vergara (Chattanooga) over Easton Fleshman (Iowa) Dec 4-2

Iowa wrestling vs. Utah Valley box score

• 125 – Dean Peterson (Iowa) over Bridger Ricks (Utah Valley) Dec 7-2
• 133 – Geronimo Rivera (Utah Valley) over Joey Cruz (Iowa) Dec 8-3
• 141 – Nasir Bailey (Iowa) over Haiden Drury (Utah Valley) Maj 12-1
• 149 – Ryder Block (Iowa) over Kayd Craig (Utah Valley) Fall 0:53
• 157 – Victor Voinovich (Iowa) over Mark Takara (Utah Valley) Dec 10-3
• 165 – Mikey Caliendo (Iowa) over Zyon Trujillo (Utah Valley) Fall 1:52
• 174 – Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) over Tanner Lofthouse (Utah Valley) TF 20-5
• 184 – Angelo Ferrari (Iowa) over Caleb Uhlenhopp (Utah Valley) Dec 4-1
• 197 – Gabe Arnold (Iowa) over Kael Bennie (Utah Valley) Dec 4-2
• 285 – Jack Forbes (Utah Valley) over Easton Fleshman (Iowa) Maj 17-4