The Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling programs are returning undefeated this year. Coming off with success after a double-dual win against NCAA colleges like Princeton and Army by the men’s team double-dual, the performances reflected outcomes in prominence. Returning after a long break, the Hawkeyes men’s and women’s wrestling programs are currently set for the upcoming event this week.

Strong performances put up by Hawkeyes No. 2 men’s and No. 1 women’s ranked programs have advanced them to the quarterfinals event of the Soldier Salute, a two-day match set at Xtream Arena in Coralville. With more than half of the wrestlers combined said to participate, the Hawkeyes are returning to the mat after their last dual appearance on December 6.

Iowa Hawkeyes return back to Soldier Salute

The Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling teams are returning with a bang. Not just one but both the men’s and women’s programs of the Hawkeyes are performing at Soldier Salute. After dominating the previous two years, the Hawkeyes return in competition alongside eleven other teams, including Nebraska, Minnesota, Northern Iowa, Iowa State, South Dakota State, and Missouri. The two-day event, however, comes into effect with the year-end.

Speaking on the Hawkeyes, men’s team head coach Tom Brands carries hope to solidify the team through this participation with their next target set for the Big Ten. “Being in our hometown is great from a travel perspective and all that. The event is growing. It’s becoming more legit, and that’s what you do. When you start something, you stay with it, just keep it on the same date, and you build it. And it’s building.”

While women’s head coach Clarissa Kyoko Mei Ling Chun hasn’t made any statements on the matter, the No. 1 ranked team, however, returns two weeks later to action in Day 1 of their match to be performed at Soldier Salute following their NCC Open appearance, returning with three championship wins.

Iowa Hawkeyes in participation

Day 1 indeed reflected with the Hawkeyes getting a strong uphold for the second round. The men’s team’s 111-69 win against Minnesota gives them a lead of 42 points. Reflecting on the performances, Hawkeyes men’s wrestling took away the win dominantly. Out of the 28 entries, only 14 of them advanced. Freshman Kael Voinovich, at 149 pounds, 5-4 against Gabe Willochell of Wyoming, came as a good start. Defeating Max Leete of America, Kale Peterson’s 9-6 win was a noticeable one. Other highlighting performances came from Drake Ayala with a 6-2 win and Ben Kueter with a 5-1 win, who also took the spotlight.

On the other hand, the women’s team win against Life University was a combined win of 46-11. With a total of twenty-two Hawkeye women wrestlers taking the mat, only nine of them achieved the feat of 21-0. The performance by No. 1 nationally ranked Sterling Dias, with a season record of 31-4, saw a small win of 2-1 against Katherine Hernandez. Spotlight moments, however, came from 131-pound wrestler Emily Frost against Madilyn Peach and 124-pound wrestler Cali Leng winning against Anna Krejsa.

The participation of approximately 50 wrestlers in total, combining both the Iowa Hawkeyes men’s and women’s programs, comes as quite unusual in comparison to their individual dual matches. The Hawkeyes are set to dominate the same field yet again after their 2023 performance. With two sessions already wrapped up on day 1, the qualified wrestlers will now return to action on Soldier Salute Day 2 for the semifinal match.