Top-Ranked Iowa Wrestling Faces Ohio State in High-Stakes Dual

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The second-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team will clash with fourth-ranked Ohio State in a highly anticipated dual meet on Saturday, Jan. 25, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The matchup, set for 1 p.m., features top-tier talent and a storied rivalry between the two programs.

The dual will be televised live on BTN, with Shane Sparks providing play-by-play commentary and Jim Gibbons offering analysis. Fans can also follow the action via radio on AM 800 KXIC or through an online audio stream on hawkeyesports.com. Social media updates will be available on X (@Hawks_Wrestling), Facebook, and Instagram.

Iowa leads the all-time series against Ohio State 42-4, with the Buckeyes’ last victory coming in 2012. The Hawkeyes have dominated at home, boasting a 15-1 record in Iowa City. The teams last met in 2022, when Iowa secured a 21-12 victory in Columbus.

This year’s dual features several top-10 individual matchups, including a showdown at 133 pounds between Iowa’s third-ranked Drake Ayala and Ohio State’s 10th-ranked Nic Bouzakis. At 149 pounds, Iowa’s second-ranked Anthony Echemendia will face Ohio State’s ninth-ranked Dylan D’Emilio. Other key bouts include 165 pounds, where Iowa’s second-ranked Michael Caliendo takes on Ohio State’s No. 9 Paddy Gallagher, and 174 pounds, featuring Iowa’s fifth-ranked Patrick Kennedy against Ohio State’s sixth-ranked Carson Kharchla.

Iowa head coach Tom Brands holds a 10-2 record against Ohio State. The Hawkeyes are coming off a dominant 28-6 victory over ninth-ranked Illinois, where they won eight of 10 matches and outscored their opponents 69-21 in total match points.

Seven Hawkeyes remain undefeated this season, including Stephen Buchanan (197 pounds), Michael Caliendo (165 pounds), and Anthony Echemendia (149 pounds). The team also boasts six past All-Americans and a strong freshman class, with eight newcomers competing under new NCAA guidelines that allow freshmen to participate in up to five competitions without using a season of eligibility.

The dual is part of a packed schedule for Iowa, which includes seven televised matches on BTN this season. The Hawkeyes will also compete in the Big Ten Championships, set for March 8-9 in Evanston, Illinois.

Iowa wrestling continues to draw massive crowds, leading the nation in attendance for the 17th consecutive year. Carver-Hawkeye Arena, known as Wrestletown, USA, has sold out its season ticket allotment for the fourth straight year, with an average attendance of 14,847 fans per home date during the 2023-24 season.

The Hawkeyes’ next matches will be on the road against Penn State on Jan. 31 and Maryland on Feb. 2.