Iowa Hawkeyes Fuel Steroid Rumors Around NCAA Wrestling Championships

The Iowa Hawkeyes achieved a commendable fourth-place finish at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships. It was certainly a good showing from a program that completed the regular season with a remarkable 14-1 record. Who were the pivotal figures behind its success? Stephen Buchanan, who made a name for himself by clinching the 197lbs title. But isn’t just their performances that have the Iowa stars talking.

Drake Ayala (133lbs) and Michael Caliendo (165lbs) both advanced to the finals but ultimately came in second. In addition, Patrick Kennedy achieved a fourth-place finish at 174lbs, while heavyweight Ben Kueter rounded out the competition with a seventh-place finish. The individual performances captured attention at the NCAA championships, yet a significant number of fans anticipated much more from the Iowa Hawkeyes. But a particular remark made after Cornell’s Meyer Shapiro caught the attention of a few Hawkeye wrestlers. What was his statement?

On X, Urban Cowboy posted the interview video with Shapiro, who remarked, “I could be a 49 pounder if all I wanted to be, you know. Some guys, you know, they’re taking steroids and they’re not taking steroids, you know, wink wink. It’s just crazy, you know.” These are significant allegations being made by the Cornell wrestler. Undoubtedly, he refrained from naming anyone, yet it certainly piqued the interest of several individuals associated with the Iowa Hawkeyes.

In response to the social media post, Jacob Warner remarked, “UH OH. SHOCKER!” In a comparable style, Alex Marinelli expressed, “NO REALLLLYYY😳” Given that Shapiro’s statement followed his match with Penn State wrestler Tyler Kasak, it is likely to attract considerable attention and scrutiny. What’s the reason behind that?

The assertion made by the Cornell wrestler regarding the potential use of performance-enhancing substances among some competitors, as indicated by his provocative remark, raises significant concerns in a sport that values integrity and fair play. Such assertions may raise questions regarding the authenticity of athletes’ accomplishments and the general equity within the sport.

In a spirited defense of his fellow wrestlers, Penn State wrestling alum Matt McCutcheon remarked, “Ah classic, the old can’t beat them or figure out how to compete with them the last 12 out of 14 years. Might as well go with steroids.” McCutcheon highlighted the ongoing achievements of Penn State in the world of college wrestling. This year, they secured their 13th NCAA team title, marking the 12th victory under the leadership of coach Cael Sanderson.

This underscored a clear assertion of power, yet Shapiro’s statement remained extremely controversial. However, are you familiar with Shapiro’s alarming revelation regarding his health?

Meyer Shapiro’s health update

In the 157lbs category, Cornell’s Meyer Shapiro entered with great expectations. Despite not holding the title in his weight class, he made a significant impact by achieving a fifth-place finish following a victory against Northern Colorado’s Vince Zerban, ultimately earning the distinction of All-American. Yet, an entirely different narrative unfolded regarding the Cornell wrestler’s journey this season.

“February 11th, I was put in the hospital pretty bad. I don’t really remember. I woke up February 14th. I was in a coma for a couple days. Yeah, it’s just been a really tough year. So I had three seizures. I’ve never had a seizure in my life, all in one day. When I was in the first part of the hospital, I almost punctured my lungs. So I had a bunch of blood in my lungs. I almost died,” Shapiro remarked. This is absolutely terrifying! In spite of the challenges posed by this condition, Shapiro persevered and successfully reached the NCAA finals.

Nonetheless, he ultimately secured the fifth position. Moreover, the Cornell wrestler recounted his experience, saying, “You know, it’s tough. It’s tough. Last year I got third, and I didn’t do as good as I did last year. I kind of lost it a little bit after I lost against Antrel. It was really heartbreaking. Taking a lot of time off the mat this year was tough. I didn’t see my record. I had like 12 matches this year. It was tough.” The entire season proved to be quite challenging for Shapiro. These health issues exacerbated his situation significantly.

The Cornell wrestler showcased impressive strength, having achieved victories against Noah Castillo, Johnny Lovett, and Vince Zerban. However, following his loss to Antrell Taylor and Tyler Kasak, he could not replicate his third place finish from the previous year. Shapiro persisted in shedding light on the harrowing aspects of his hospital experience, declaring, “I was in the hospital for a week. Didn’t stand for a week. About 400 cc’s of blood in my lungs. I was on a ventilator. I couldn’t breathe. It’s tough when people are not necessarily doubting me but telling me I haven’t wrestled anyone. I get it, man. I want to wrestle these guys. I want to do the best I can. It’s tough. I tried really hard.”

This situation is truly unfortunate for a competitor of Shapiro’s level. He aimed to secure the title, or at the very least, finish better than third place. Considering his present academic performance and qualifications, Shapiro has the opportunity to make a complete recovery and return even more formidable!