The Hawkeyes stayed in control over the Fighting Illini despite many close matches between the two programs. No. 28 Joey Cruz (125) got the Hawkeyes started on a strong start against Caelan Riley (ILL).

Ranked as Intermat's No. 10 dual team in college wrestling (No. 13 as a tournament team), the Fighting Illini present a worthy challenge for the No. 2 Hawkeyes with nine-ranked wrestlers, eight of whom are ranked 20th or higher.

The 2nd-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes kick off a big Friday night of wrestling on BTN with a top-10 Big Ten battle with the No. 9 Illinois Fighting Illini at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Heading into No. 2 Iowa men’s wrestling’s Friday dual meet against No. 9 Illinois, 133-pound Hawkeye grappler Drake Ayala was ranked as the No. 3 wrestler in the country at his weight. On Friday, though,

Iowa wrestling's Drake Ayala and Joey Cruz discuss wins vs Illinois, including Ayala's over No.2 Lucas Byrd

The Iowa women’s wrestling team continued its winning ways on Saturday evening, defeating the Augustana Vikings 44-1 in the second edition of the Iowa Duals inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.  Sterling Dias led off for the Hawkeyes at 103 pounds and secured a 5-0 victory,

In their first time back in Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the calendar flipped to 2025, Iowa wrestling rolled Illinois for a 28-6 victory on Friday night. The Hawkeyes won nine of 10 bouts, highlighted by 133-pounder Drake Ayala's win over No.