Loyal grad, All-American wrestler transferring to Iowa
The University of Iowa has successfully acquired All-American wrestler Stephen Buchanan, a Loyal graduate. Buchanan is transferring from the University of Oklahoma and will compete in the 197-pound weight class for the Hawkeyes, anAug. 27 Facebook post on the “Hawkeye Heaven” fan page announced.
“This addition strengthens Iowa’s wrestling lineup significantly,” the post stated.
Buchanan is a three-time All-American, an award given to the top eight finishers in each weight class in the NCAADivision I Wrestling Championships.
Born in Owen, Buchanan attended Loyal High School. He posted an 184-16 record competing for the Neillsville-Greenwood-Loyal team, and won the state title two times. After graduating in 2019, he attended the University of Wyoming, wrestling for the Cowboys. His first tournament was cancelled due to COVID, and he received an extra year of athletic eligibility. In 2021, he placed eighth in the NCAATournament. In 2022, he took third. He became the fourth, two-time All American in program history and the fourth Cowboy to win a Big 12 title, while also earning Second Team Academic All Big 12 Honors.
At Wyoming, Buchanan met coach Teyon Ware, a two-time national champion himself. After the 2021-22 season, Ware left Wyoming to be the assistant coach for his alma mater, the University of Oklahoma. Buchanan decided to follow and take a redshirt year, not wrestling competitively for the 2022-23 season. Last year, he earned a 29-3 record in his first season of action with the Sooners and picked up six wins in the NCAATournament, enough to place third in the tournament for a second time.
Buchanan’s only losses in the 2023-24 season came against top foes in the 197-pound class in four-time NCAA champion Aaron Brooks, as well as South Dakota State's Tanner Sloan and Missouri's Rocky Elam.
Overall, Buchanan is 85-25 and is looking to break the 100-win mark in his upcoming fourth and final season of wrestling competitively at the collegiate level.
Stephen Buchanan
