IAwrestle is proud to announce the return of Night of Conflict on Friday, October 10, 2025, in Iowa City. The preseason showcase will be held at the Courtyard Iowa City University Heights (901 Melrose Ave, Iowa City, IA 52246). Doors will open at 6:30 PM with wrestling set to begin at 7:00 PM.
Fans unable to attend in person can watch the action live on the IAwrestle Rokfin channel. At this time, tickets are being offered exclusively to participating wrestlers, coaches, and families, with public ticket sales scheduled to open closer to the event date. Please contact us at IAwrestlecontact@gmail.com for VIP tables.
This year’s edition marks a heartfelt homecoming, nearly 10 years to the day from the inaugural Night of Conflict on October 16, 2015, held at the iconic Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. The event immediately made a statement by bringing marquee matchups to one of the sport’s most iconic stages. From there, the event hit the road across the state—stopping in Sioux City, Des Moines, Cedar Falls and Waterloo—each year building on its reputation as the place to see state champions collide, national talent test themselves, and rising stars announce their arrival.
Through the years, Night of Conflict has featured dozens of eventual NCAA standouts and Division I recruits, cementing its status as a proving ground for wrestlers looking to compete on the biggest stages. Whether at Carver or a convention center packed shoulder to shoulder, the event has always been about the same thing: putting elite high school talent under the spotlight and giving fans a preview of the future of wrestling.
“This is more than just a wrestling event—it’s a chance to showcase the sport in Iowa and give these athletes a stage,” said IAwrestle founder Tony Hager. “Bringing Night of Conflict back to Iowa City for the 10-year anniversary makes this one even more special.”
While specific bouts are still being finalized, expect the signature blend of in-state rivalries, out-of-state showdowns, and emerging talents ready to make their mark.
More event information can be found at NightofConflict.com
Cale Vandermark (Ankeny Centennial) vs Zaiyahn Ornelas (Wilber-Clatonia, Nebraska)
The next match will feature a three-time state champion out of Nebraska taking on an Iowa Fargo All-American. Ankeny Centennial’s Cale Vandermark will face Wilber-Clatonia’s Zaiyahn Ornelas in a lightweight battle.
Vandermark took fourth as a high school freshman and sophomore at the Iowa high school state tournament, but this year he hit a high mark by reaching the state finals. He had one of Iowa’s more impressive performance out at Fargo, losing in the Round of 32 followed by five straight consolation wins to get onto the podium where he ultimately took seventh.
Ornelas comes in having won state titles in his first three seasons at the Nebraska high school state championships, and he has also finished as the runner-up at USA Wrestling’s Preseason Nationals in each of the last two years.
Justis Jesuroga (Southeast Polk) vs Owen McMullen (Bishop McCort, Pennsylvania)
The next match will pit two nationally ranked seniors head-to-head in a middleweight battle that is sure to bring the action to Iowa City. Southeast Polk’s Justis Jesuroga will face Pennsylvania’s Owen McMullen from Bishop McCort. Both Southeast Polk and Bishop McCort rate among the best high school programs in the country.
Jesuroga is coming off a strong year that started with him winning a Fargo title the summer before his junior year, and since then he has added a Class 3A state title followed by a third place finish at U17 Nationals. He went undefeated at Junior National Duals and was one win outside of placing in the Junior division of Fargo this past July. MatScouts has Jesuroga as the #134 wrestler overall in the Class of 2026 and he rose to #3 overall in Iowa.
McMullen has had a wild career to say the least wrestling up at at 172 and 189 as a high school sophomore to be able to compete in McCort’s talented high school lineup. Despite giving up weight, McMullen was still able to find some success despite being overmatched by his opponent’s body size. He would go on to earn All-American honors at the US Open, but a knee injury sidelined McMullen for his entire junior season and he was able to get back into competing over the summer. MatScouts has McMullen ranked #154 overall in the Class of 2026, and he is already committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Announced Matchups:
Kaiden Belinsky (Don Bosco) vs. Urijiah Courter (West Marshall)
Abe Heysinger (Dubuque Hempstead) vs Ace Schweitzer (Central City, Nebraska)
Brayden Koester (Bettendorf) vs Eli Leonard (Mount Horeb/Barneveld, Wisconsin)
Eddie Woody Jr (Southeast Polk) vs Cruzer Dominguez (Creighton Prep, Nebraska)
Gage Spurgeon (Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont) vs Easton Enyeart (Ballard)
Cale Vandermark (Ankeny Centennial) vs Zaiyahn Ornelas (Wilber-Clatonia, Nebraska)
Justis Jesuroga (Southeast Polk) vs Owen McMullen (Bishop McCort, Pennsylvania)