Iowa Wrestling Hits the Road for Big Ten Finale vs. Purdue
No. 7 Iowa wrestling is packing up for its final road test of the Big Ten regular season, heading into West Lafayette to take on Purdue in what’s shaping up to be a pivotal dual for both programs.
The Hawkeyes, sitting at 11-5 overall and 4-3 in the conference, are fresh off a gritty comeback win over No. 10 Michigan-a meet that reminded everyone why Iowa wrestling is never out of a fight.
That Michigan dual was a classic Carver-Hawkeye Arena moment. Down to the wire, it was No.
8 Drake Ayala-on senior night, no less-who delivered in a big way. His 21-5 technical fall over Gauge Botero at 133 pounds didn’t just earn bonus points; it sealed the 19-17 win and capped his home career with the kind of performance Hawkeye fans will be talking about for a long time.
Now, Iowa turns its attention to Purdue (9-5, 2-4 Big Ten), a team that’s been stumbling lately but is still dangerous-especially with Senior Day energy on their side. The Boilermakers are coming off back-to-back home losses to ranked Big Ten foes: a 30-12 defeat to No.
21 Wisconsin and a 28-6 loss to No. 11 Illinois.
But don’t let that skid fool you. Purdue has the talent to make things interesting, and with emotions running high on their home mat, they’ll be looking to play spoiler.
History Heavily Favors the Hawkeyes
If history is any indication, Iowa enters this matchup with a serious edge. The Hawkeyes have absolutely dominated the all-time series against the Boilermakers, holding a 48-4-3 record.
Purdue hasn’t taken down Iowa since 1961-a 23-9 win in Iowa City. The last time the Boilermakers even managed to avoid a loss was a 14-14 tie back in 1966.
That’s more than six decades of Hawkeye dominance.
But wrestling isn’t won on paper. Purdue will be motivated, and Iowa can’t afford to look past this one as the postseason looms.
When and How to Watch
- Start Time: Noon CT
- Streaming: BTN+ (Subscription required: $12.99/month or $89.99/year)
- Radio Broadcast: AM 800 KXIC, Hawkeye Radio Network, or stream via hawkeyesports.com on YouTube
- Commentators: Steven Grace and Mark Ironside will be on the call
Projected Matchups: Key Bouts to Watch
Here’s a look at the expected matchups, with a few weight classes still up in the air due to lineup flexibility:
| Iowa (Rank) | Weight | Purdue (Rank) |
|---|
| No. 6 Dean Peterson or Joey Cruz | 125 | Ashton Jackson or Isaiah Quintero |
| No. 8 Drake Ayala | 133 | Blake Boarman or Jacob Macatangay |
| Kale Petersen | 141 | No. 33 Greyson Clark or Isaiah Schaefer |
| No. 19 Ryder Block or Kael Voinovich | 149 | No.
31 Gavin Brown | | No.
14 Jordan Williams or Victor Voinovich III | 157 | No. 28 Stoney Buell or Isaac Ruble |
| No. 3 Michael Caliendo | 165 | No.
4 Joey Blaze | | No.
3 Patrick Kennedy | 174 | No. 16 Brody Baumann or Aidan Costello |
| Gabe Arnold | 184 | No. 26 James Rowley |
| Brody Sampson or Harvey Ludington | 197 | No. 30 Ben Vanadia or Noah Weaver |
| No. 8 Ben Kueter | 285 | Hayden Filipovich or Dominic Burgett |
There are some intriguing matchups here, starting with 165 pounds, where No. 3 Michael Caliendo is set to face No.
4 Joey Blaze in what could be the bout of the day. That’s a top-five showdown with serious postseason implications.
At 174, Patrick Kennedy-also ranked No. 3-could see No. 16 Brody Baumann, another test that should bring a mix of physicality and tactical wrestling.
And of course, all eyes will be on Ayala at 133. After his senior night heroics, he’ll look to keep the momentum going against a Purdue lineup that’s still figuring out its best option at that weight.
Final Thoughts
This is the kind of late-season matchup that can shape the narrative heading into the Big Ten Championships. For Iowa, it’s a chance to close out the regular season road slate on a high note and continue building momentum. For Purdue, it’s an opportunity to shake off recent losses and make a statement on Senior Day.
The Hawkeyes are favored, and rightfully so, but if there’s one thing Big Ten wrestling teaches us year after year, it’s that no dual is ever a given. Expect grit, intensity, and a few surprises as these two teams square off in West Lafayette.