The year 2024 provided wrestling fans with an abundance of action. Till the end of the year, the community was looking forward to bouts, which they were offered by the NCAA in the form of Soldier Salute. The annual event saw a ton of anticipation, and yes, it did deliver the action that the fans were craving, as they wanted to watch these NCAA wrestlers bout against each other on the mat.

However, two wrestlers from the University of Iowa captured the attention of the crowd. Yes, the Hawkeyes were the center of attention at the Xtream Arena, and their wrestlers Gabe Arnold and Angelo Ferrari garnered a ton of anticipation before their match. But things didn’t turn out on Iowa’s side, and the two wrestlers’ match ended in a different way than the public expected, causing an uproar.

The Iowa wrestlers’ bout didn’t go in a proper way

Now what’s an ideal way of wrestling? If you are an avid fan, then you might think of it as two wrestlers locking their feet on the mat and going at each other, trying to get the best out of the other. Yes, that’s correct! This is the brutal sport of wrestling, and fans look forward to such action, where these young talents show their brute strength to the world.

The third installment of the Soldier Salute offered the peak opportunity, but the way the 184 lb finals went confused many. The match was set to happen between Gabe Arnold and Angelo Ferrari. While Ferrari was ready to take on his fellow Hawkeye teammate, it was announced that Arnold wouldn’t be competing in the event, owing to a medical forfeit. This did nothing but scatter questions everywhere among the wrestling community.

Furthermore, when Iowa’s coach Tom Brands became involved and faced pressure from the public for answers, he refrained from disclosing any information about Arnold’s unexpected exit. Media tactic? Or is he trying to hide something? Who knows? It’s all speculation now. But is it all over for Arnold? No? It’s never over for an athlete of such a caliber. The team also shared a picture of Ferrari picking up his trophy after a swift victory on X.

The 2024-25 NCAA wrestling season is very long. Even the Hawkeyes’ coach confirmed that there would be a ton of opportunities coming towards both of the wrestlers in no time. Indeed, the Soldier Salute would have been an excellent platform for showcasing their talent, but unforeseen circumstances prevented the Iowa Hawkeyes teammates from continuing the bout. While the situation turned out to be the way things went, fans were pleased with the way Iowa handled the whole event.

Wrestling fans not having any of it

The Iowa City Area Sports Commission was responsible for organizing the Soldier Salute. So, whatever happened, it opened a window for blame to directly target the University of Iowa. And yes, coach Tom Brands also fell prey to criticism, as one fan stated, “This is why Brands needs to go.” Similarly, another fan wrote, “Time for Brands to go, give Schwab a call..” One fan wrote, “Thought Iowa liked tough wrestlin? Wussies.”

Over its three-year course, the Soldier Salute collegiate wrestling tournament has consistently produced successful bouts. Indeed, it has attracted talent from various colleges, who send their finest athletes to compete against their rivals. The Iowa City Area Sports Commission’s duty is to maintain all the necessities and let the event go smoothly. This year, there were no specific issues encountered during the bouts, only a match that did not meet the expectations of the crowd.

Not every time can things go the way the audience wants, but the criticism will come no matter what, as one fan wrote, “What do you gain by not letting them wrestle? It’s not like they don’t do it every day at practice, so just let us see it.” Out of frustration, another fan stated, “I call Bulls**t!!” This fan just demanded some wrestling action, stating, “Good gawd let them square off.”

So what about the event now? Soldier Salute ended on Monday, but the drama still continues. Indeed, this cycle will continue until the community has something new to discuss. But the current NCAA season has the potential to be one of the best wrestling seasons that the fans have experienced, owing to the rise of the rookies and many legends making their return to the league.