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).

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,

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 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.

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.