A native of Fort Dodge, Iowa, Ayayla is a three - time Iowa state champion and most recently won his third stop sign in Fargo with his second title in junior freestyle in 2021. Ayala has put together a lengthy resume in the state of Iowa, winning the Conflict at Carver in 2018 and the Cliff Keen Independence Invitational that same year. Ayala would finish his freshman season as a runner up in the Iowa high school 3A state tournament at 106 pounds. In that offseason, Ayala won double titles at the Independence tournament, the Iowa freestyle/greco state tournament, and the Northern Plains regional setting him up for Fargo later that summer. Ayala would leave Fargo as an all - american in cadet freestyle after winning a national title the year prior.
Iowa Hawkeyes Reload For 2023-24 NCAA Season
Aug 16, 2023
This fall, Tom Brands will enter his 18th year as head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes, and his first season in Iowa City as head coach in the post-Spencer Lee era.
125 Finals, Spencer Lee, Iowa vs Drake Ayala, Iowa
Dec 31, 2022
Hawkeye teammates Spencer Lee and Drake Ayala square off in the finals of the Soldier Salute.
Iowa Dominates Inaugural Soldier Salute
Dec 30, 2022
The University of Iowa sent 11 wrestlers to the finals and won eight titles, highlighted by Spencer Lee's pin over Drake Ayala at 125 pounds. Full results are available here.
Semis For Soldier Salute Are Set
Dec 30, 2022
Iowa dominated the first day of the inaugural Soldier Salute by sending 13 wrestlers to the semifinals. Three-time NCAA champion Spencer Lee won his first two matches by fall and technical fall and will face U20 World Champion Jore Volk in the semifinals.
Spencer Lee Among 29 Hawkeyes Competing At Soldier Salute
Dec 28, 2022
It appears that Spencer Lee will compete for the second time this season after the University of Iowa released 29 wrestlers that will compete at the Soldier Salute on December 29-30 in Coralville. Lee made his season debut with a 16-5 major decision over Corey Cabanban during the Iowa State dual on December 4. The Hawkeye senior is seeking his fourth NCAA championship this season.Also included are national place winners Real Woods, Jacob Warner, and Anthony Cassioppi.The full list has 16 attached and 13 unattached wrestlers. Drake Ayala, who replaced Lee last season, will compete unattached.
2022-23 NCAA 125-Pound Preview: The Return Of Spencer Lee
Jul 17, 2022
The last three years of NCAA wrestling have been anything but typical and the next few seasons are primed to stay on the peculiar end of the spectrum thanks to the extra year of eligibility granted to every wrestler who participated in the 2021 season.
These Top 5 Seeds Are On Upset Alert Early!
Mar 10, 2022
Crazy things happen every year at NCAAs and I’m sure this year will be no different. After the initial look at the brackets, which can be found HERE, I’m putting some top seeds on upset alert.
Top 30 NCAA Conference Dark Horses
Mar 5, 2022
Every year on conference weekend we see standout performances from the talented but lower seeded wrestlers at their respective conference tournaments. I took a look at the seeds, the brackets, and the résumé’s in many of the NCAA conferences and condensed a list of the top 30 dark horses for this weekend’s conference tournaments.
8 Epic Matches From The Penn St. vs Iowa Rivalry
Jan 26, 2022
Penn State vs Iowa is an event that transcends the dual meet itself. The annual meeting between the Nittany Lions and the Hawkeyes has become a must-watch experience.
Penn State vs Iowa: Preview & Betting Lines Contest
Jan 25, 2022
#1 vs #2 is always highly anticipated. Make it two of the most historic programs and college wrestling’s most notorious crazy venue, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for an A+ dual. On Friday, January 28 the #1 Nittany Lions of Penn State travel to Iowa City, Iowa, to take on the #2 Iowa Hawkeyes in what is the most anticipated dual of the year. You can listen to all the action live on the FloWrestling radio broadcast!
Preview: #1 Iowa vs #6 Ohio State
Jan 19, 2022
The top-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes (10-0) take on #6 Ohio State (5-1) on Friday, January 21 in Columbus, Ohio, at 8 p.m. Eastern. The match will be aired live on the Big Ten Network but FloWrestling has you covered with a watch party for a second-screen experience. Here's a breakdown of the dual and what you can expect.
Five Big Questions One Month Before Iowa vs Oklahoma State
Jan 12, 2022
What can you expect when Iowa (8-0) faces Oklahoma State (8-0) on Saturday, February 12?The unique venue should come to mind. It doesn’t get much more innovative and creative than a dual on Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Unless, of course, you hosted a November dual on a football field in Iowa.
No Brakes For Drake: Ayala Taking Torch At 125 For Hawkeyes
Jan 11, 2022
From Charlie Falck to Matt McDonough, Thomas Gilman to Spencer Lee, the University of Iowa wrestling program under head coach Tom Brands has been known for winning and for winning with exceptional competitors weighing 125 pounds.
Hawkeyes Sending 15 To Scuffle
Dec 29, 2021
The Iowa Hawkeye's holiday tournament saga final turn will land them in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at the 2022 Southern Scuffle. With the cancelation of the Midlands Championships and then the cancelation of the Hawkeye Open, the Hawks needed somewhere to get their nonstarters matches and the Scuffle accepted them in.
Full Southern Scuffle Registration List
Dec 28, 2021
Every New Year's Day, the Southern Scuffle kicks off the beginning of the year with an electrifying lineup that produces some of the year's top collegiate matches. The 2022 Southern Scuffle will be no different. Check out the full registration list here with ranked wrestlers at the top of each weight class, and get ready to kick back, relax, and ring in the only way we know-how.
