Iowa Outmuscles Nebraska in Front of Record Crowd, Extends Dominance in Rivalry
Friday night in Lincoln was cold, but the atmosphere inside Devaney Center was electric. A program-record 7,891 fans braved the chill to watch No.
6 Nebraska take on No. 4 Iowa in a marquee Big Ten wrestling showdown.
But despite the late push from the Huskers, it was the Hawkeyes who walked out with a 22-14 win-and their 19th straight victory over Nebraska, a streak that dates all the way back to 2005.
This one wasn’t as close as the final score might suggest. Iowa controlled the tempo early, took advantage of momentum-shifting moments, and rode a big pin at 149 pounds to a commanding lead they never relinquished. The dual also marked a milestone for Hawkeye head coach Tom Brands, who notched his 300th career dual win.
Let’s break it down, weight by weight.
125 pounds: Cruz Outlasts Koehler
Nebraska opened with Alan Koehler at 125, facing Iowa backup Joey Cruz. Cruz wasted no time, getting in on a single-leg early in the first period to grab a 3-0 lead. Koehler chipped away with escapes in the first and second periods, but Cruz stayed composed and added an escape of his own in the third to secure a 4-2 decision.
Koehler drops to 10-11 on the season. With Ohio State on deck, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Nebraska give Kael Lauridsen a look at this weight.
133 pounds: Ayala Turns the Tide on Van Dee
Nebraska’s Jacob Van Dee, ranked No. 8, came out firing. He scored a slick takedown early in the first, but from that point forward, it was all Drake Ayala. The 11th-ranked Hawkeye responded with three takedowns of his own and tacked on a riding-time point to close out a 12-6 decision.
The loss is Van Dee’s first of the dual season, dropping him to 12-2 overall.
141 pounds: Hardy Hits the Century Mark
In a gritty, low-scoring battle, Nebraska’s Brock Hardy delivered a milestone moment. The third-ranked Husker edged Iowa’s No. 13 Nasir Bailey in a 1-0 decision, earning his 100th career win in the process.
Hardy escaped early in the second period and then slammed the door shut with stingy defense the rest of the way. He’s now 13-3 on the year and becomes the 32nd Husker to reach the 100-win mark-a big-time achievement in a pressure-packed rivalry match.
149 pounds: Block’s Pin Swings Momentum
This is where things really turned.
Nebraska’s Chance Lamer, ranked No. 12, was in a tight one with No. 10 Ryder Block.
Lamer briefly took the lead in the second period, but Block tied it up with escapes and then went in for the kill in the third. A single-leg takedown transitioned seamlessly into a cradle, and Block locked it up for the fall.
The pin gave Iowa a 12-3 lead and all the momentum. Lamer, now 12-2 on the season, falls to 2-2 in dual action.
157 pounds: Taylor Wins a Chess Match in OT
Antrell Taylor, Nebraska’s fifth-ranked 157-pounder, had to dig deep against Iowa’s No. 11 Jordan Williams.
After trading escapes in regulation, the match went to sudden victory. Taylor stayed aggressive, kept Williams on the edge, and eventually forced a second stall call to earn a 2-1 win.
It wasn’t flashy, but it was smart, composed wrestling. Taylor moves to 14-2 on the year.
165 pounds: Caliendo Overpowers Araujo
This one was all Iowa.
Michael Caliendo, ranked No. 3, showed exactly why he’s a national title contender. He overwhelmed Nebraska’s LJ Araujo with four takedowns and relentless pressure, cruising to a 14-4 major decision.
The bonus points extended Iowa’s lead to 16-6. Araujo, a redshirt freshman, falls to 10-5 but continues to gain valuable experience at this level.
174 pounds: Kennedy Edges Minto in Overtime Thriller
Another top-10 showdown, another close finish.
Nebraska’s Christopher Minto and Iowa’s Patrick Kennedy traded escapes in regulation, and neither could break through in sudden victory. In the first tiebreaker, Kennedy escaped quickly. Minto chose neutral in the second, needing a takedown to win, but couldn’t crack Kennedy’s defense.
Final score: 2-1, Kennedy. Minto drops to 13-3 on the season.
184 pounds: Arnold Stays One Step Ahead of Allred
Silas Allred and Gabe Arnold have history, and Friday night’s bout added another chapter. After splitting close matches last year, Arnold struck first with a takedown in the opening frame. The rest of the match was a tactical grind, with each wrestler earning an escape, but Allred couldn’t find the opening he needed.
Arnold took it, 4-1. Allred now sits at 11-5.
197 pounds: McDanel Dominates
Camden McDanel gave Nebraska a much-needed spark.
The sophomore put on a takedown clinic against Brody Sampson, scoring six total-four of them in the third period alone-to earn a 20-5 technical fall. It was Nebraska’s only bonus-point win of the night and cut into Iowa’s lead, making it 22-11.
McDanel improves to 13-4 and accounted for six of Nebraska’s nine total takedowns in the dual.
285 pounds: Ferrari Closes with Authority
Heavyweight AJ Ferrari capped the night with a strong showing against Iowa’s Ben Kueter. Ferrari hit a textbook double-leg late in the first period, then added an escape in the second to go up 4-0. Kueter managed a late escape but couldn’t break through Ferrari’s defense, even with a last-second shot that nearly connected.
Ferrari moves to 8-1, giving Nebraska its fourth win of the night.
Final Takeaway
Nebraska showed grit late, but Iowa’s early dominance-highlighted by a pivotal pin at 149 and bonus points at 165-created a cushion the Huskers couldn’t overcome. The Hawkeyes remain a tough matchup for Nebraska, who hasn’t cracked the code in over two decades.
Still, there were bright spots. Hardy’s milestone, McDanel’s breakout, and Taylor’s poise in overtime all point to a team with talent and potential. But to close the gap on programs like Iowa, Nebraska will need more consistency across the board-and to find ways to flip those razor-thin matches at the middle weights.
Next up: Ohio State. And another chance to show growth.