Iowa set for major early season test at National Duals Invitational

[HawkeyeHypnosis]

Iowa set for major early season test at National Duals Invitational

In just its second competition of the 2025-26 season, Iowa men's wrestling heads to Tulsa (OK) to test itself against the nation's best.

www.on3.com

From article:

This weekend, Iowa will compete as part of 16-team bracket to not only determine a champion, but to divvy up a total purse of more than $1 million dollars.

To do so, it’ll have to navigate a field featuring 15/16 teams ranked in the top 25 of the latest NCAA Division I Men’s Coaches Poll – including 10 of the top 12.

(The only exceptions being #1 Penn State – who declined to participate – and #6 Iowa state – who failed to qualify.)

 

[Fryowa]

Iowa wrestling is no more, folks.

It’s doneski. I said this was going to happen multiple times.

 

[Gibsonian]

Iowa had 3 takedowns the entire meet folks. 3

 

[Fryowa]

Iowa had 3 takedowns the entire meet folks. 3

And a forfeit at HWT.

Also, if your best HWT is Ben Keuter and you're supposed to be a top-tier, marquee wrestling program...you got problemos.

 

[Gibsonian]

What is wrong with Keuter anyway? He didn't wrestle one match did he?

 

[FanOHawk]

What is wrong with Keuter anyway? He didn't wrestle one match did he?

Someone said holis that's

And a forfeit at HWT.

Also, if your best HWT is Ben Keuter and you're supposed to be a top-tier, marquee wrestling program...you got problemos.

Very sad, great at standing around, no shooting till 3 period.

 

[Fryowa]

What is wrong with Keuter anyway? He didn't wrestle one match did he?

Nope.

 

[Grady]

Yeah, the finals matchup with Ohio St was sobering, for sure.
Altho I'm reminded of the old adage 'It's probably not as bad or as good as it seemed.' Iowa DID win 4 of the 9 contested matches, and at the end of a tough weekend of wrestling they still walk away with 4 guys ranked in the Top 3 in their weight class. That ain't chopped liver.
True, finishing 3rd or 4th at the NCAAs is this team's ceiling; but the ceiling isn't crashing down either. It's not like Penn State's football team this year, which started the season with expectations of a national title...nobody expects this Iowa squad to finish above 2nd or below 6th, and barring injury, that's where they'll end up.

 

[Gibsonian]

Ohio State is wrestling like Iowa used to, that's my heartburn.

I do appreciate the pep talk Grady though thanks. Time to come in from the ledge..............

 

[Fryowa]

...nobody expects this Iowa squad to finish above 2nd or below 6th...

I will bet real big money Iowa is not in the top 5 come nationals.

Top 5 is going to be Penn State, Iowa State, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, and nebraska in whatever order it ends up being, with Cornell and Michigan as potential wild cards in there because they have really good wrestlers at certain spots.

...and barring injury, that's where they'll end up.

I love TnT and have known them my whole life, but the one thing they've never been able to do is be healthy in March. Sanderson, Smith, Manning...love them or hate them their guys are always wrestling their best in March. Iowa as a team is ALWAYS totally banged up and limping into March looking like car crash victims. Kemerer was always hurt. Lee was always hurt, Marinelli was hurt at times, DeSanto, Murin, Cassioppi...and that was just from the single dream team we had that were actual natty team contenders.

That's not "just wrestling." If it was then we wouldn't be getting beat by nebraska, Cornell, Iowa State, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, etc like we have the past few years. Penn State is the only team that should beat Iowa on paper if you look at rosters, but November, December, and January don't win you titles. Sure it helps seedings to win those duals, but if you want guys in the finals they're going to have to wrestle the best guys at some point anyway.

Gable was great because he reinvented the sport. That will never go away. But let's be honest, there wasn't anyone within light years to compete with and no NIL. carl sanderson is greater because he not only can coach and recruit well (lots of money too), but his guys are at their peak in March.

 

[HawkPowerlifter]

I thought that some of our guys underperformed. Caliendo didn't seem to wrestle as well as I would have thought. Ayala too. Although, I was impressed with Block and Ferrari how they competed. I think it's going to a work in progress this year. And much like stated above, Iowa could slip even more.

 

[Grady]

That National Duals tourney was a beast -- four #1 ranked guys got beat.
And it could have been worse -- Nebraska won exactly 1 match vs Ohio St.

 

[HawkIowa44]

The Iowa program over the last 10 years or so has usually had one guy that can win a title, 3 to 5 guys that always don't show up at the NCAA's and a couple guys that podium higher than they should. No different this season. PSU will have at least 4 or 5 guys in the finals and teams like OSU, OKSU and Nebraska will be right behind them. So that means the Hawks could finish anywhere between 2nd and 6th (always a surprise team too). That's the Iowa future for a while.

Is there any possible replacement out there for the current staff that anyone could see bringing back this program to where it once was? And I know NIL is a big part of that.

 

[Gibsonian]

I thought that some of our guys underperformed. Caliendo didn't seem to wrestle as well as I would have thought. Ayala too. Although, I was impressed with Block and Ferrari how they competed. I think it's going to a work in progress this year. And much like stated above, Iowa could slip even more.

Something was wrong with Ayala. He moved slowly, totally reactive, not himself at all. I've never seen him like this.

 

[HawkPowerlifter]

Something was wrong with Ayala. He moved slowly, totally reactive, not himself at all. I've never seen him like this.

Yeah, Idk....he didn't wrestle well and what his style he normally wrestles. It also sucked we had to forfeit at HWT. I'm chalking it as too early but I think this year some teams are going to be stacked. Every weight is going to need to step up.

 

[Gibsonian]

Yeah, Idk....he didn't wrestle well and what his style he normally wrestles. It also sucked we had to forfeit at HWT. I'm chalking it as too early but I think this year some teams are going to be stacked. Every weight is going to need to step up.

Almost looked like a weight management/diet/ blood sugar issue, he was totally off his game.

 

[Fryowa]

Is there any possible replacement out there for the current staff that anyone could see bringing back this program to where it once was? And I know NIL is a big part of that.

A few years ago I would've said Spencer Lee but that ship has sailed. He's turned into a head case and I don't think he's there mentally anymore. He grew up never losing and that can be a good thing (sanderson) or it can completely turn you on your head. Lee lost his NCAA title match, lost the Oly gold medal match, and just lost a World Championship gold medal match a few weeks ago. He hasn't been right in the head since Ramos pinned him and I really believe that's all it took. He's cooked and I can see that kid living out of a van and running across the country for no reason like Forrest Gump some day. Those people who cannot process losing whatsoever are tortured souls permanently. Spencer Lee hates silver and in his mind a silver makes him a total loser. That's great if you're a guy who really does never lose but they can't process it if it happens. They tilt like a pinball machine.

If the Hawks were going to go after someone it would've been David Taylor who's with OK St now but again, that ship has sailed. He's a guy who wants to be the next Sanderson, he's young, and he's relatable to recruits. TnT were the guys who everyone wanted to wrestle for, but the intensity, and destroy your body, nothing-but-winning matters mindset isn't the mindset of 2025. I don't think there's anyone out there available who's better, certainly no one exists anymore with the Gable/Brands/Iowa City traditional approach.

But as you mentioned, at the end of the day NIL is what matters and I think given PSU's money, Brands/Taylor/Manning/etc. would win. Who I think would really be good for a program is Jordan Burroughs but he's 100% bought into freestyle and he'll wrestle till he dies.

NIL is king no matter who's coaching IMO.

 

[Fryowa]

Almost looked like a weight management/diet/ blood sugar issue, he was totally off his game.

Part of it has to be the way Iowa trains. I've talked to guys who've wrestled there and at HWC afterwards and there's a reason no one sticks around in IC anymore after college and they all go to some other RTC. The Brandses were built psychotic like that and it worked for them, there's smarter ways to do it now. Back then you trained till you dropped under Gable and losing was was never acceptable under any circumstances. Now there's more science to it for one, there's lots of competition that Gable never had (not even close), and of course, NIL to deal with. Back then if you didn't fit Gable's style he told you thanks but no thanks and that was it. You had nowhere else to go and be on a championship-level team. In 2025 the wrestlers have leverage they never had before and you have to cater to some prima donnas and different attitudes or you're gonna lose out on your roster.

 

[Fryowa]

The Iowa program over the last 10 years or so has usually had one guy that can win a title, 3 to 5 guys that always don't show up at the NCAA's and a couple guys that podium higher than they should.

Iowa doesn't have anyone contending for a title. Rankings don't mean squat, we don't have anyone on this roster who's going to threaten it.

 

[HawkIowa44]

Do any of the recent recruiting hall have what it takes or is it way too early to judge them? I know another Spencer Lee isn't probably walking into the program, but is there any hope in the kids TNT have signed?