Buckeyes Topple Iowa Again, Stay Perfect with Statement Win in Front of Record Crowd
For years, Iowa wrestling has been a mountain Ohio State struggled to climb. But this season, the Buckeyes didn’t just reach the summit-they planted their flag.
With a 24-9 win on Friday night at the Covelli Center, Ohio State notched its second victory over the Hawkeyes this season and improved to 17-0 for the first time in program history. The win came in front of a record-setting crowd of 4,749 fans, and it wasn’t just a win-it was a message: Ohio State belongs in the conversation with the Big Ten’s elite.
Early Trouble, Then a Turnaround
The dual opened at 157 pounds, and Iowa came out swinging. The Hawkeyes took the first three bouts, building a 9-0 lead behind wins from Victor Voinovich III, No.
3 Michael Caliendo, and No. 3 Patrick Kennedy.
Kennedy’s 2-1 decision over No. 5 Carson Kharchla was especially tight, and it looked like Iowa might be setting the tone for the night.
But then came the turning point.
Fishback Flips the Script
At 184 pounds, No. 7 Dylan Fishback stepped in needing to stop the bleeding.
He and Gabe Arnold went the distance, trading points through regulation to force sudden victory. Fishback appeared to grab the win with a takedown in overtime, but the officials didn’t signal the points.
Arnold capitalized with a takedown of his own, seemingly snatching the win.
But Ohio State head coach Tom Ryan wasn’t having it. He hurled the challenge brick onto the mat, and after a quick review, the call was overturned. Fishback got the takedown, the Buckeyes got three points, and the Covelli Center came alive.
That moment flipped the energy-and the scoreboard.
Buckeyes Ride the Wave
With the crowd now fully engaged, No. 10 Luke Geog took over at 197 and delivered a dominant 13-4 major decision over Brody Sampson. Geog was relentless, scoring takedowns in every period and cutting Iowa’s lead to 9-7.
Then came a pivotal showdown at heavyweight. No.
3 Nick Feldman had a score to settle with No. 8 Ken Kueter, who had beaten him three times last season.
This time, Feldman flipped the script. A second-period takedown was the difference in a gritty 3-2 decision that gave Ohio State its first lead of the night, 10-9.
From there, the Buckeyes never looked back.
Bouzakis and Davino Keep the Pressure On
At 125 pounds, No. 2 Nic Bouzakis came out firing.
He racked up seven points in the first period alone against No. 6 Dean Peterson, including a big four-point near fall.
Peterson battled back, but Bouzakis stayed composed and walked away with a 9-5 win, extending the Buckeye lead to 13-9.
Then it was No. 2 Ben Davino’s turn.
The freshman phenom entered the dual 21-0 and kept the streak alive with a 4-2 decision over No. 9 Drake Ayala.
Davino controlled the tempo and added another ranked win to his résumé, pushing the team score to 16-9.
Mendez Slams the Door
With two matches left, Ohio State still had its closer in the bullpen: Jesse Mendez. The two-time NCAA champion and top-ranked 141-pounder didn’t waste time. He overwhelmed Kale Peterson with takedown after takedown, earning an 18-3 tech fall that added five more team points and officially shut the door on any Iowa comeback hopes.
The final match at 149 pounds saw No. 7 Ethan Stiles take on No.
18 Ryder Block. After a 1-1 regulation, Stiles sealed the deal with a sudden victory takedown, capping off the dual and sending the Covelli Center crowd home buzzing.
Eyes on the Next Test
Friday night’s win was more than just another notch in the win column-it was a defining moment in a historic season. The Buckeyes are now 17-0, with two wins over Iowa, and they’ve got their biggest test yet on the horizon.
Next weekend, they’ll head to Happy Valley to face No. 1 Penn State in a heavyweight Big Ten clash.
That one’s set for Friday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. on Big Ten Network. They’ll wrap up the regular season two days later at Maryland.
But for now, Ohio State can savor a night that felt like a changing of the guard. The Buckeyes didn’t just beat Iowa-they took control, made a statement, and showed the rest of the wrestling world that this team is for real.