It’s been a long, fulfilling week for members of the Iowa women’s wrestling program. On Wednesday, at the 2025 NCAA Convention in Nashville (Tenn.), Division I schools voted in favor making women’s wrestling the 91 official NCAA championship sport.

The No. 2 Iowa men’s wrestling team proved its strength in a 28-6 win over No. 9 Illinois inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Friday. Iowa’s No. 4 Drake Ayala highlighted the early slate of matches with a massive upset win over Illinois’ No.

No. 2 Iowa wrestling defeated No. 10 Illinois at home 28-6. The Hawkeyes stayed in control over the Fighting Illini despite many close matches between the two programs.

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.

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,

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.