PHILADELPHIA – University of Iowa graduate student Stephen Buchanan II won the 197-pound NCAA Championship on Saturday night, defeating Penn State’s Josh Barr, 5-2.

Buchanan, the No. 2 seed, used a second-period takedown and a third-period escape, along with a riding time point, to end up on top of the podium.

“You know, you get to the semifinals twice and you get denied by it, and you have to make the journey back the next morning,” Buchanan said. “And you don’t want to wrestle those two matches, but you do, and you pull through. You’re still left with this bittersweet feeling in your stomach, in your mind. You come back the next year and the same thing happens to you.

And you finally get on a new team. And you’re placed around people who will pour into you, who teach you the little things that make the biggest differences. And you get on that stage, and you use the things that they taught you to win, it means the world. I mean, the work that I put in, just the amount of time that people put into me, it means the world.”

The Loyal, Wisconsin, native is the first national champion at 197 pounds in program history since the NCAA implemented the current weight class configuration in 1999. Buchanan’s individual national title is the 86th in program history and the 14th under head coach Tom Brands.

“Awesome, love it, can’t say enough,” head coach Tom Brands said. “He’s a grateful guy, so I think he has the right perspective about it for sure. The way it was done is a tribute to a champion. The way that he did it, the way he goes about his daily business is a tribute.”

Buchanan finishes his season 26-1 and his career as a four-time All-American.

No. 2 seed Drake Ayala earned a second-place finish at 125 pounds, falling to top-seeded Lucas Byrd of Illinois, 3-2, in tiebreakers. With the score tied 1-1 after sudden victory, Ayala earned an escape in the first period but was hit with his second stalling call in the second tiebreak period.

The Fort Dodge, Iowa, native finishes his season with a 21-3 record and is a national runner-up for the second straight season.

No. 2 seed Michael Caliendo finished second on the podium at 165 pounds for the first time in his career. He dropped an 8-2 decision to top-seeded Mitchell Mesenbrink. With the score locked at 1-1 in the second period, Mesenbrink notched a takedown to make it 4-1, and an escape and a late takedown made it an 8-1 final.

The Geneva, Illinois, native finishes his season with a 24-3 record, with all three of his losses coming to Mesenbrink.

OF NOTE
–    Iowa’s 56 NCAA Champions have combined for 86 NCAA titles.
–    Iowa has earned a team trophy at the NCAA Championships 15 times in the last 17 championships.
–    The Hawkeyes have won 49 team NCAA trophies in program history and have 70 top 10 finishes in program history.
–     Iowa has had an NCAA finalist in 35 consecutive national tournaments (every year since 1990).
–    Iowa has crowned at least one All-American in 54 consecutive tournaments, a stretch dating back to 1972. Iowa has totaled 332 All-Americans during that stretch.
–    Iowa has had at least four All-Americans in 17 straight seasons and 17 times in Brands’ 18 years.

ALL-AMERICANS
1st – Stephen Buchanan II (197)
2nd – Drake Ayala (133), Michael Caliendo (165)
4th – Patrick Kennedy (174)
8th – Ben Kueter (285)

NCAA FINALS RESULTS
184 – #1 Carter Starocci (Penn State) dec. #2 Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa), 4-3
125 – #4 Vincent Robinson (North Carolina State) dec. #7 Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State), 2-1 TB1
133 – #1 Lucas Byrd (Illinois) dec. #2 Drake Ayala (Iowa), 3-2 TB1
141 – #3 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) dec. #1 Brock Hardy (Nebraska), 12-9
149 – #2 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) dec. #1 Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech), 1-0
157 – #3 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) dec. #8 Joey Blaze (Purdue), 4-2
165 – #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) dec. #3 Michael Caliendo (Iowa), 8-2
174 – #3 Dean Hamiti (Oklahoma State) dec. #1 Keegan O’Toole (Missouri), 4-1 SV1
197 – #2 Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) dec. #4 Josh Barr (Penn State), 5-2
285 – #2 Wyatt Hendrickson (Oklahoma State) dec. #1 Gable Steveson (Minnesota) 5-4

TEAM STANDINGS – TOP 10
1. Penn State, 177.0
2. Nebraska, 117.0
3. Oklahoma State, 102.5
4. Iowa, 81.0
5. Minnesota, 51.5
5. Ohio State, 51.5
7. Cornell, 50.0
8. NC State, 46.5
9. Northern Iowa, 45.5
10. Illinois, 44.5

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa softball team upset No. 5/6 UCLA, 7-4, on Sunday afternoon at Bob Pearl Field, in game two of the two game series.

Freshman Talia Tretton (5-3) made her 12th start of the season start for Iowa. Tretton pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on two hits and fanning five. Junior Jalen Adams came in and threw 2 2/3 innings of relief. Adams allowed one run on four hits and fanned three and picked up her 14th win of the season. Six different Hawkeyes recorded a hit, three of which had multi-hit games. Sophomore Soo-Jin Berry led the way with two home runs and four RBIs. Sophomore Jena Young was perfect at the plate going 4-for-4 and scoring two runs.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Hawkeyes retired the Bruins in order in the first inning, and Tretton picked up her first strikeout of the game. Young started the Hawkeye batters off with a single up middle, and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Tory Bennett. A wild pitch allowed Young to reach third, but she was left stranded.

The Iowa defense put up its second three up three down inning in the second. In the bottom half of the inning, Simon drew a walk and Tretton notched a single to right that advanced Simon to second, but both Hawkeyes were left on base as the inning came to a close.

Both teams got on the board in the third inning. The Bruins loaded the bases with one out, plating the games first run on an RBI ground out in the top. Iowa took its first lead of the series in the bottom of the third. Young started the inning with a single up the middle, followed by another sac bunt from Bennett to move her to second. Berry came up to the plate and hit her first home run of the game out of center field, scoring Young and herself to give Iowa the lead, 2-1.

Both teams managed to get runners on in the fourth, but neither team added to the score, Iowa still on top, 2-1.

UCLA loaded the bases to start the fifth, as the Hawkeyes made a pitching change. Adams entered in relief and the Bruins for their first run of the fifth inning on a hit-by-pitch to tie the game at two. The Bruins took the lead, 4-2 after a RBI single to plate two. The Hawkeyes had one runner left on base in the bottom of the fifth.

Adams and the Hawkeyes held UCLA scoreless in the top of the sixth as the Bruins left the bases loaded.

Iowa continued their momentum by adding five runs in the bottom of the sixth that allowed them to ultimately take the game. Iowa loaded the bases with one out in the sixth on two walks and a single. Bennett then hit a bases clearing double  down the left field line to give Iowa the lead, 5-4. Berry then showed up big for the Hawkeyes hitting her second home run of the game to extend the lead, 7-4.

UCLA attempted to fight back, starting the seventh with a double to right center. The runner was able to advance to third, but ultimately a strikeout from Adams and two outs by the Hawkeye defense ended the game.

Iowa finished with seven runs on 11 hits and one error. UCLA finished the game with four runs on six hits and one error.

HEAR FROM ACTING HEAD COACH KARL GOLLAN

“We did the simple things right today and players stepped up in meaningful moments and got it done. When you have a day where both of those things happen you aways have a chance to do something good…and today we did a good thing. I’m happy for the team, our fans, and the university.”

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa baseball team finished off the series sweep over Ohio State with an 18-2 run-rule victory over the Buckeyes on Sunday afternoon at Duane Banks Field.

Iowa tallied 42 runs in just 23 innings in the series. The Hawkeyes are 9-1 over the last 10 games and are outscoring their opponents 115-30.

Reece Beuter got the start on the mound for the Hawkeyes in game three. He went five innings allowing two runs on one hit and struck out seven to earn the win

“Our guys came out and starting things out like they did the first two games of the series,” said head coach Rick Heller. “Scored three runs in the first and had traffic that didn’t get in after that and Ohio State answered with the two runs on the home run. Reece Beuter gave us a good start, on a tough day to pitch with the wind and the weather. He had trouble early, but he fought through it and showed some toughness. We put some runs up in the third and then Reece put up some zeros.”

Ben DeTaeye and Daniel Wright each pitched a scoreless inning to close out the game. The Hawkeyes only allowed two hits on the day.

Four different Hawkeyes each tallied three RBIs: Ben Wilmes, Gable Mitchell, Miles Risley, and Kellen Strohmeyer. Mitchel and Strohmeyer each hit home runs to help end the game early.

Iowa scored three runs in the first and responded to an Ohio State two run second inning with seven runs in the third frame. The Hawkeyes continued to pile on scoring five in the fourth, one in the fifth and two in the sixth.

“We’re in a good place right now as we had head out on the road for quite a while,” said Heller. “That’s going to be a challenge for us. It’s never easy but couldn’t be happier with where we’re at. Getting a sweep is never easy, especially against a talented team like Ohio State.”

Up Next
The Hawkeyes head to Normal, Illinois, to play Illinois State on Tuesday in their first of eight straight road contests.

The Iowa Hawkeye women bid for a third straight trip to the Sweet Sixteen when they play Oklahoma on Monday afternoon. Former Drake coach Jennie Baranczyk leads the Sooners and was a standout player at Iowa for current Hawkeye head coach Jan Jensen.

The Hawkeyes will have a challenge on defense against a Sooner team that plays at breakneck speed and averages 85 points per game.

The added challenge for the Hawkeyes is the Sooners will have the home court advantage. Iowa senior guard Sydney Affolter.

Senior guard Lucy Olsen says the Hawkeyes are ready for the pace.

Baranczyk coached against Iowa several times during her time at Drake but admits she will be thinking about her former Hawkeye teammate Jamie Cavey-Lang on Monday. Iowa’s former radio analyst died in December after a battle with cancer.

Baranczyk has led the Sooners to the NCAA Tournament three times and is hoping to lead them to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time.

It will be a three p.m. tip off in Norman.

(Milwaukee, WI) – Fresh off its second-consecutive first round victory over Lipscomb, Iowa State is set to face Ole Miss tonight (Sunday night) in the round of 32 with a trip to Atlanta and the Sweet 16 on the line.

The Cyclones rolled in their opening round game against the Bisons, winning 82-55. ISU’s 27-point margin of victory was the most lopsided win for the Cyclones in the NCAA Tournament in program history. The win gave head coach T.J. Otzelberger his fifth NCAA Tournament win at ISU – the most by a coach in program history.

The South Region’s six seed, Ole Miss survived the first round, downing First Four winner UNC 71-64. The Rebels at one point led by as many as 22 points only to see the Tar Heels claw all the way back, trimming the advantage to two with a minute left. The Rebs would hold on to win, advancing to the Round of 32 for just the fourth time in school history.

Tip-time at the Feserv Forum in Milwaukee is at 6:45-p.m.

Storylines:

• Iowa State’s “sixth starter,” Curtis Jones was named an AP Honorable Mention All- American earlier this week. Jones is the 30th All-American in school history and the second for T.J. Otzelberger at Iowa State, as Tamin Lipsey earned the same honor last year.
  • Jones and Keshon Gilbert were named to the NABC All-Central District this week. Jones was a first team selection, while Gilbert was named to the second team.
• Saint Mary’s transfer Joshua Jefferson has been a revelation for the Cyclones this season, as he has tallied 438 points, 251 rebounds, 108 assists, 72 steals and 26 blocks this season. He is the only player in the country with those numbers this season and the sixth since 1996-97 to do so. No player in Big 12 history has ever done it in a season.
• The school’s all-time leader in steals, Tamin Lipsey is averaging 10.2 points, 4.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game in his career. He is one of 26 players since 1947-48 to average those numbers in a career while playing at least 100 games. He is one of just 11 from a Power 5 Conference to do so. His 235 career steals are the eighth-most in Big 12 history.
• Four Cyclones were honored last week by the league’s coaches. Jones was named the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year, while also earning a spot on the All-Big 12 First Team. Junior Joshua Jefferson was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team, while also earning a spot on the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team. Lipsey was named to the All-Big 12 Third Team, while also being named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team. Gilbert rounded out Iowa State’s selections by being named to the All-Big 12 Third Team.

From the Notes:

• As a head coach, Otz is 194-107 overall and has guided the Cyclones to a 95-44 record over the last four years.
  • Otzelberger’s 94 wins through his first four seasons are the most in program history.
• Coach Otzelberger is the only Iowa State men’s basketball coach to take multiple teams to the Sweet 16.
  • He was the 51st coach in NCAA Division I history to take a team to the Sweet 16 twice in his first three years on the job.
  • In four years, Otzelberger has five NCAA Tournament wins – the most by any coach in program history.
• Otz currently holds the school’s highest winning percentage by a head coach.
• Otzelberger became the school’s record holder for most wins over an AP Top 25 team this season, as ISU has toppled 25 ranked foes under T.J.
  • Otz also holds the record for most wins over AP Top 10 teams with 12.
• At No. 15 in the AP Top 25, Iowa State has been ranked in the AP Top 15 for 29-straight weeks, the third-longest streak in the nation behind Tennessee’s 36 and Duke’s 33.
• The Cyclones are ranked No. 9 in the NET. Iowa State slots in at No. 10 in the KenPom rankings and is No. 7 in ESPN’s Basketball Power Index.

Switching Sides:

• Iowa State and Ole Miss are meeting for just the third time ever on Sunday.
  • ISU is 2-0 against the Rebels, with the most recent meeting coming in 2019 when ISU downed Ole Miss on the road.
• Ole Miss is making its first postseason appearance since 2019 and earned its highest seed since 2001.
  • Ole Miss defeated UNC in the first round, marking the team’s first win since 2015.
  • The Rebels will attempt to make the Sweet 16 for just the second time in program history.
• Ole Miss has seven players who have hit 1,000 points in their college careers: Matthew Murrell, Sean Pedulla, Dre Davis, Jaemyn Brakefield, Jaylen Murray, Mikeal Brown-Jones, and Davon Barnes.
• Ole Miss has hit the record book for numerous team stats on the season, setting all-time bests in assist-turnover ratio and turnovers per game, while ranking third for most steals and third for made threes.
• Ole Miss head coach Chirs Beard is in his second season at the helm of the Rebel basketball program. Beard is 43-23 during his time in Oxford.
  • Beard is no stranger to the Cyclones, as he is a former Big 12 staple. He spent 10 years as a TTU assistant before becoming the team’s head coach in 2016. At Tech, Beard took the Red Raiders to the national title game in 2018-19 season.
    • Beard also was the head coach at Texas.
  • His career coaching record is 280-121, as he’s been a head coach for 13 seasons.
• Ole Miss is ranked No. 28 in the NET. The Rebels are No. 26 in KenPom and No. 31 in ESPN’s Basketball Power Index.

(Norman, OK) – The University of Iowa women’s basketball team defeated 11th-seeded Murray State, 92-57, on Saturday in the Lloyd Noble Center in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes advance to the Round of 32 where they await the winner of third-seeded Oklahoma and 14th-seeded FGCU.

Murray State would open the game on a 6-2 run as junior Hannah Stuelke picked up her second personal foul just a couple minutes into the game. Freshman Ava Heiden would make an instant impact off the bench, sparking a 13-0 Hawkeye run as Iowa’s lead grew to nine with just under five minutes to play in the opening quarter. Iowa’s defense held the Racers scoreless for over three minutes of gametime. Following the run, the Hawkeyes had a 2:45 scoring drought before freshman Taylor Stremlow would come in off the bench and knock down a three-pointer to end the drought. Heiden led all scorers after 10 minutes with nine points. After the first, Iowa led Murray State, 18-12.

Stremlow got the scoring started in the second quarter with a three-pointer. Heiden would then score three consecutive buckets to give Iowa a 10-point lead while marking a new career high in points. Murray State would cut the lead to three before senior Lucy Olsen scored back-to-back buckets to push the lead back to seven. The Hawkeyes ended the half on a 7-0 run as freshman Aaliyah Guyton’s jump shot at the buzzer would give Iowa a 42-30 advantage after 20 minutes. Olsen led the way with eight points and three assists.

The third quarter was all the Hawkeyes as Iowa outscored Murray State, 30-10, over the 10-minutes. The Hawkeyes outscored the Racers, 20-4, in the first five minutes including making nine straight field goals as 14 of their 20 points came in the paint. Senior Sydney Affolter co-led the scoring attack with nine points on 4-of-4 shooting to go along with four rebounds. After sitting for much of the first half, Stuelke also added nine points and three rebounds. The Hawkeyes shot 13-of-19 (68.4 percent) from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc in the third. Iowa dominated the glass outrebounding the Racers, 13-5. After three, Iowa led Murray State, 72-40.

Seven different Hawkeyes scored in the fourth quarter as senior AJ Ediger and senior Addison O’Grady led the way with four points apiece. Iowa outscored the Racers 20-17 in the fourth, once again winning the rebound battle, 10-7.  Freshman Callie Levin and junior Jada Gyamfi each added two points apiece. Levin was the 12th different Hawkeye to score as everyone who played in the game for Iowa ended up in the scoring column.

Iowa shot 41-of-73 (56.2 percent) from the field and 8-of-17 (47.1 percent) from deep. The Hawkeyes shot just four free throws were they converted on two. Iowa won the rebounding battle 44-32 as they also held Murray State to a season low 57 points. Olsen notched a double-double with 12 points and 12 assists, marking a new career high for assists. Heiden led Iowa with 15 points and 7 rebounds. Affolter added 11 points while grabbing eight rebounds whole Stuelke matched Affolter with 11 points, all coming in the second half. Stremlow rounded out Hawkeyes in double-digits with 10 points, marking a new career high.

UP NEXT
Iowa will take on the winner of 3-Seed Oklahoma and 14-Seed Florida Gulf Coast on Monday, March 24 in Norman, Oklahoma. Game time and tv designation is to be announced later today.

POST-GAME NOTES
– Iowa broke its program record for most assists in a NCAA Tournament game. (28)
– Ava Heiden set a new career-high with 15 points (7-11 FG) and seven rebounds.
– Heiden is the fifth Hawkeye freshman since 2009 to net 15+ points in a NCAA Tournament game.
– Heiden’s 15 points tied for the most of any freshman this season.
– Heiden has scored 10+ points in three straight games which is a career-best.
– Taylor Stremlow also recorded a new career-high reaching double figures for the first time.
– Lucy Olsen dished out a career-best 12 assists and recorded her first double-double as a Hawkeye.
– Olsen became the third Hawkeye since 2009 to register 10+ assists and a double-double in a NCAA Tournament game. (Caitlin Clark and Sam Logic)
– Iowa recorded a season-high with 62 points in the paint.
– The Hawkeyes are 11-3 this season when Olsen registers six or more assists.
– Iowa’s defense held Murray State without a field goal for the final 4:41 of the first half.
– Iowa improved to 3-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament with a first-year head coach.
– The Hawkeyes are 7-2 on a neutral floor this season.
– Iowa has won 11 out of their last 14 games.
– Iowa’s last seven wins have come by double digits.
– The Hawkeye defense held the Racers to a season-low five 3-pointers.
– The Hawkeyes snapped Murray State’s 10-game winning streak in the first meeting between the two programs.
– Iowa held the nation’s leading offense (87.8 ppg) to 57 points which was its lowest of the season.
– Murray State is now 1-5 when being held to 75 points or less.
– Iowa is 17-5 in the NCAA Tournament since 2019.
– The Hawkeyes are 25-4 in a tournament setting since the 2022-23 season.
– Iowa has won six straight first round games in the NCAA Tournament.
– The Hawkeyes have won their opening round game by double digits five consecutive times.
– Iowa has earned nine straight 20-win seasons, which is the second longest streak in program history. (1984-94)
– Jensen surpassed Lisa Bluder and now has the second most wins by a head coach in their first season at the University of Iowa. (23)
– Jensen third coach to win 20+ games at Iowa in first season.
– Iowa is 19-2 this season when scoring 70+ points.
– Iowa is 16-7 all-time in first round NCAA Tournament contests.
– The Hawkeyes are 95-6 when recording 80+ points and 20+ assists since 2018-19.
– Iowa is 79-7 when dishing out 20+ assists in a single game since 2020-21.
– Since 2020-21, Iowa has won 104 games when scoring 80+ points.

(Wichita, KS) – Darrion Williams scored a season-high 28 points, JT Toppin had 25 points and 12 rebounds, and No. 3 seed Texas Tech dominated No. 11 seed Drake in the paint on its way to a 77-64 victory Saturday night in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Elijah Hawkins added 16 points for the Red Raiders (27-8), who denied the Bulldogs their first Sweet 16 trip in more than five decades and will play No. 10 seed Arkansas in the West Region semifinals Thursday night in San Francisco.

Bennett Stirtz scored 21 points and Daniel Abreu added 15 for Drake (31-4), which was outscored 50-20 inside by the bigger, stronger Red Raiders, and had its eight-game winning streak come to an end.

The Red Raiders will play John Calipari’s Razorbacks for a spot in the Elite Eight.

Drake bids for a trip to the Sweet Sixteen tomorrow when the Bulldogs play Texas Tech in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Wichita. Drake coach Ben McCollum is good friends with Texas Tech head coach grant McCasland, assistant coach Jeff Linder and several other Red Raider assistants.

These teams played in an exhibition prior to the start of the season and McCollum says the Red Raiders will be their toughest test to date.

Defending the three pointer was a key in the win over Missouri and it will be Saturday against a Texas Tech team that attempted 47 three pointers in a win over UNC-Wilmington.

That’s Drake junior guard Bennett Stirtz. Senior forward Mitch Mascari feels playing Missouri was good preparation for this game.

The CAM Cougars Boys Track & Field team have 15-man roster this season and are ready for many of the athletes to compete in both running and field events. CAM is led by two seniors, Brayden Chester and Kegan Croghan. The squad is made up of eleven underclassmen but many of them have quality experience.

CAM lost one senior from last year’s group giving them the ability to bring back nearly everyone plus a handful of freshmen. Head Coach Drew Ticknor says his seniors will be relied on to score but also look for Junior Collin Bower to score in the mid-distance running events.

The Cougars’ first meet of the year came at the IATC Indoor Championships in Ames last week. That was the first of 13 regular season meets with the next being the Bulldog relays at Bedford on April 1st.

Ticknor says despite being small in numbers, he is excited about his group.

The Cougars believe scoring will come from across the board this season.

A lot of the athletes on this year’s squad will wear many different hats.

The CAM Cougars will look to boost that experience this Spring and compete all season long.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa women’s basketball assistant coach, Raina Harmon, was named to the 2025 ABIS Women’s Basketball Coach Watchlist. Harmon was previously named to the watchlist in 2024.

Harmon is in her eighth season as an assistant coach with the Hawkeyes.

THE HARMON FILE
• In Harmon’s seven seasons with the Hawkeyes, she has helped Iowa to a 207-62 overall record, including back-to-back National Championship appearances.
• Iowa is the first Big Ten team to compete for back-to-back National Championships in Big Ten conference history.
• The Hawkeyes won a share of the Big Ten regular-season title in 2022 with a 14-4 record, finished second in the Big Ten with an 14-4 conference mark in 2019 and third in 2020 with a 14-4 record.
• Helped Iowa to Big Ten Tournament Championships in 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
• One of 15 leaders part of the Big Ten Conference’s LGBTQ+ Working Group.
• With Harmon on the sidelines, the Hawkeyes have been to the NCAA Tournament six times; 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
• Kathleen Doyle earned consensus All-America status with nods from Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), United States Basketball Writers Association (WSBWA), and Associated Press (AP.)
• Guided Doyle (2019 and 2020) to first team All-Big Ten honors as well as 2020 Big Ten Player of the Year.

The ABIS Black Coaches Watchlist includes collegiate and professional sports top Black mem and women head and assistant coaches, across the country, in various sports. Thirty-five collegiate women’s basketball coaches were selected for this honor.

The watchlist is shared with search firms, college commissioners, athletic directors, and professional sports organizations.