The University of Iowa men’s wrestling team, currently ranked fourth in the nation, is set to compete at the Soldier Salute tournament on January 3-4 at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa. The event will be streamed live on B1G+, and fans can also listen to the radio broadcast on AM 800 KXIC or online through hawkeyesports.com. Social media updates will be available on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
Session I of the tournament starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, followed by Session II at 3:30 p.m. Session III is scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday, with the final session beginning at 5 p.m.
Among notable performers this season is Massoma Endene, a transfer who has posted a 6-1 record since joining Division I competition. Endene has achieved victories over top-ranked opponents and played a key role in Iowa’s win against Oklahoma State. His only loss was to Rocky Elam from Iowa State.
Several Hawkeye wrestlers made their debuts for Iowa during the team’s shutout victory over Bellarmine earlier this season. Freshmen Harvey Ludington and Leo DeLuca have participated as attached competitors under NCAA guidelines that allow freshmen up to five dates of competition without using eligibility.
Iowa recently finished as runners-up at the National Duals Invitational after defeating Missouri, Illinois, and Oklahoma State before losing to Ohio State in the finals. The program earned $170,000 in prize money for its performance and has now placed second at National Duals five times.
The current roster features several sets of brothers competing together—a tradition that includes head coach Tom Brands and associate head coach Terry Brands.
In terms of starting weight classes under Tom Brands’ leadership, Iowa has typically begun matches at 125 pounds and holds an impressive dual meet record when doing so.
Five returning All-Americans are part of this year’s team: Drake Ayala (125/133), Nasir Bailey (133), Michael Caliendo (165), Patrick Kennedy (174), and Ben Kueter (285). The program has produced an All-American in every national tournament since 1972.
At recent tournaments, four Hawkeyes won titles at the Jim Koch Wisconsin Open while three others secured crowns at the Luther Open earlier this season.
Eight newcomers joined the roster for 2025-26—including four transfers—bringing additional NCAA experience to various weight classes.
The Hawkeyes were ranked third nationally in preseason polls by FloWrestling and NWCA, and fourth by Intermat. This season’s schedule features nine dual opponents ranked among the top 25 teams nationally according to NWCA Preseason Coaches’ Poll; six are within the top ten.
Fans can watch eight televised dual meets throughout the season across BTN and ESPN networks; other events including portions of Big Ten Championships will be available via B1G+ or FloWrestling with subscriptions required for streaming platforms.
Michael Caliendo claimed a U23 National Title earlier this year while Kael Voinovich finished sixth in his division during competition held in Geneva, Ohio.
Construction was completed last May on Iowa’s new Goschke Family Wrestling Training Center—a $31 million facility providing expanded training space for both men’s and women’s programs with direct access to Carver-Hawkeye Arena via underground tunnel.
Iowa City continues its reputation as “Wrestletown USA,” leading collegiate wrestling attendance for eighteen consecutive years—averaging more than 13,000 fans per home date last season—and filling Carver-Hawkeye Arena to capacity twice during that span.
Ten wrestlers on this year’s roster have NCAA Championship experience; Drake Ayala extended Iowa’s streak of NCAA finals appearances to thirty-four straight tournaments by reaching last year’s final along with teammates Michael Caliendo and Stephen Buchanan II.
Historically one of college wrestling’s most successful programs—with twenty-four national championships—Iowa boasts fifty-six individual NCAA champions who have collectively won eighty-six titles as well as thirty-seven Big Ten team championships since inception.
Last academic year saw ten Hawkeye wrestlers earn Academic All-Big Ten honors out of fifty-six university student-athletes recognized conference-wide for winter sports achievement; eligibility requires full-time enrollment exceeding twelve months plus maintaining a cumulative GPA above three-point-zero.
Since moving into Carver-Hawkeye Arena in 1983—and especially under Tom Brands—the Hawkeyes have maintained high winning percentages both overall (288-27) and during home matches (139-14).
Looking ahead after Soldier Salute concludes next week—the team opens Big Ten conference action hosting Wisconsin on January 9.