19 Hawkeyes head to Women's Nationals for U20/U23 Trials

I won’t lie, was I able to catch up on some sleep these past few weeks without another imminent Iowa women’s wrestling event on the calendar? Sure.

But was my life really any better for a few extra hours of shut-eye? I kind of doubt it.

And that makes the timing of this weekend’s 2025 USMC Women’s National Championships all the better.

Jump back into the sport less than a month after the college season ended? Check.

Do so with one of the single best/most competitive events that the sport has to offer? EVEN BIGGER CHECK.

19 current/incoming Hawkeyes will take the mat in Spokane, Washington over the next three days. All of them will have their sights set on making Team USA – some for the first time, others looking to continue the habit.

Here's who is heading to Spokane! 🐥

U23 competition begins on Friday followed by U20 getting underway on Saturday. #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/knxLvuGmf5

— Iowa Women's Wrestling (@IowaW_Wrestling) April 2, 2025

And they’ll have to compete against the best young wrestlers in the country in order to make it happen.

So, let’s get right to it – starting with why this event is so awesome.

What is Women’s Nationals?

This weekend’s festivities will determine national champions and World team spots across numerous age divisions.

At the youngest levels, girls 8-14 will look to stamp themselves as the best in the United States.

Meanwhile, the U15 division will establish Team USA representatives for the Pan-American Championships to be held next month in Guatemala.

Stepping up to U17’s, the winner of each weight class earns the right to represent the United States on the (U17) World Championships stage later this summer in Athens, Greece.

But it’s the two elder-most divisions (U20/U23) that hold the most immediate interest for the Iowa women’s wrestling program.

Just like with U17’s – win your weight at U20’s and a World Championships spot is yours.

In 2025, that means an August trip to Sofia, Bulgaria. A year ago, the locale was Pontevedra, Spain – where four different Iowa women repped the Stars and Stripes.

As for the U23 division, the ultimate prize of the U23 World Championships awaits in Novi Sad, Serbia (Oct. 20-26).

A title this weekend puts a wrestler in the catbird seat for one of those 10 spots. However, they could be supplanted if a different age-eligible wrestler places in the top three at Senior World Team Trials in May (16-18).

A year ago, 2/3 Iowa U23 World teamers claimed their spots via a similar procedure – both (Macey Kilty and Kylie Welker) went on to medal at Worlds.

Something similar could ultimately happen in 2025, especially as it pertains to Welker and Kennedy Blades – neither of whom will compete at U23’s this weekend.

*Of note, the two finalists for each weight/division will wrestle a best-of-three series to determine a Women’s Nationals champion.

A loaded field

Now that we’ve covered the mechanics of the process, let’s get into what makes the actual competition so tough.

Per USA Wrestling, the event is already set to be the biggest and best in its history:

Of those numerous, highly credentialed entries, nearly 41 percent span the U20 (493) and U23 divisions (269).

And of that subset, a whole lot of them are Hawkeyes who’ve excelled on big stages before – including this one:

Previous World Team Members

U20 entries

• Rianne Murphy (U17 – 2023)
• Isabella Marie Gonzales (U17 – 2024) *incoming freshman
• Karlee Brooks (U17 – 2023)
• Cadence Diduch (U20 – 2024)
• Naomi Simon (U20 – 2024 bronze)

U23 entries

• Sterling Dias (U17 – 2018 bronze, 2019 silver)
• Brianna Gonzalez (U20 – 2024)
• Reese Larramendy (U20 – 2022/2024)

Nearly half (eight) of Iowa’s 19 entries have won this tournament at some age level – a few on multiple occasions.

Two others – Val Solorio (2022 U17 runner up) and Ella Schmit (2023-24 U20 runner up) have previously reached the best-of-three final.

Another four Hawkeyes – Rose Cassioppi, Emily Frost, Lilly Luft and Samantha Sachs – have finished fourth or better.

And two more – Ava Bayless and Emilie Gonzalez – were collegiate national champions as recently as a year ago.

That’s 16/19 Iowa entries who’ve competed/won on high-profile stages much like, if not identical to the one they’ll step onto in Spokane.

It’s a good thing too, because as we dive deeper into several of the challenging paths ahead of these Hawkeyes, they’re going to need every bit of their experience/talent to come out on top this weekend.

Returning champs (new division)

Four different (current) Hawkeyes who prevailed a year ago at Women’s Nationals will look to back it up in 2025.

Two – Brianna Gonzalez (53kg) and Reese Larramendy (65kg) – had already competed in the Black & Gold before those titles. A year later, they’ll jump from the U20 to U23 division and look to have similar success.

For Gonzalez, a measure of redemption could be at play after a disappointing fifth-place NCCWC finish last month.

Last April, she teched Clare Booe twice to prevail 2-to-1 in their U20 final series. But Booe reversed the result in their first college meeting – winning 3-2 in the NCWWC semifinals.

Meanwhile, Booe’s opponent in that NCWWC final – 2025 champ Sydney Petzinger (North Central) – is zero for her last three against Gonzalez, including two blowouts and a wild comeback win for the Hawkeye during January’s National Duals.

Other contenders could be previous age-level World teamer Elena Ivaldi and multi-time college All-American Kendra Ryan (North Central).

Gonzalez defeated Ivaldi (10-0) a year ago at the Last Chance Olympic Trials qualifier. Ryan has competed at 110 pounds/50kg over the past few years, so it’ll be interesting how she adjusts to the bump up in weight class (~6.5 pounds to 53kg).

Conversely, 65kg seems like a pretty cut and dry two-horse race.

Current Hawkeye Reese Larramendy seeks her third World team in the past four years. Former Hawkeye Bella Mir (now of North Central) seeks her second since 2023.

These two met in the semifinals at NCWWC’s last month – a 6-3 win for Mir, albeit a bout that turned on a four-point sequence in which Larramendy appeared to stop wrestling after hearing a whistle from an adjacent mat.

Regardless, it’d be fascinating to see who garners the edge in a potential best-of-three series between the former Iowa teammates.

Returning champs (same division)

With the caveat that anything – even crazy things – can happen in the sport of wrestling, I’d be shocked if Naomi Simon doesn’t roll through the U20 division at 76kg this weekend.

Why? Well, because she just did so a year ago – winning all six matches via bonus points – and this year’s field appears less difficult.

Of course, it’s possible that someone surprises, perhaps from the high school level. But at present, I think Kalila Schrive (Menlo) represents Simon’s stiffest competition.

They wrestled in last year’s best-of-three final at the very same weight class in the very same venue/division. Simon won by technical fall in both matches – 14-3 and 12-0.

Not to put the cart before the horse, but I think this weekend could be just the start of a stellar summer for the reigning U20 World bronze medalist. But before the 18-year-old takes on the rest of the world, she’ll need to be the best in America first.

Meanwhile, there’s a bit more unknown for Iowa’s last returning U20 World teamer – Cadence Diduch.

This time a year ago, she fought her way through a gnarly bracket at 62kg to earn a spot on Team USA. Now, she’ll try to do so at a new weight class (65kg).

The second element was a bit of a surprise to see given that Diduch competed at 138 pounds (~62.6kg) during her freshman season at Iowa.

That said, variables of a bump up in weight aside, 65kg looks like an easier path than 62kg.

The most credentialed opponent in the field besides Diduch is North Central’s Sydney Perry – a fellow true freshman from Illinois.

Perry took fifth at U17 Worlds back in 2022 and was seventh at 145 pounds (~65.8kg) last month at NCWWC’s.

The newbies (incl. one returning champ)

We’ve talked a lot about returning Hawkeyes, but this weekend also provides a great introduction to a pair of newcomers.

Iowa’s 2025 recruiting class currently sits at just two athletes, but both are mighty and both will be in action in Spokane.

Isabella Marie Gonzales – ranked #3 in the country regardless of age/weight class – is a returning U17 World teamer. And after nearly reaching the World final last summer (ultimately finishing fifth), she faces a new challenge in the U20 division.

Wrestling at 53kg, she’ll have a who’s who of high school stars littered throughout the bracket. But the top contenders may be two names we’ve already mentioned – Clare Booe and Elena Ivaldi.

Both Booe and Ivaldi will also compete in the U23 division, which starts on Friday and ends Saturday around lunchtime.

How might they respond for U20’s (Saturday afternoon/evening and Sunday morning)? And whether they’re fresh or not, is Gonzales ready to surpass her elder foes either way?

Elsewhere this weekend, Iowa’s other California ‘cruit goes for her first World team amidst a stacked 59kg field.

Samantha Sachs finished fourth and fifth in her past two forays at Women’s Nationals. But in a 10-month span that’s already seen her win her first-ever Fargo and California high school state title(s) perhaps she’s ready to cap it with her crowning achievement to date.

In contention will be a pair of current Hawkeyes (more on them in a bit) plus a pair of fellow high school seniors with whom Sachs (ranked #10 pound-for-pound and #3 at 130 pounds) is battling for preeminent prep standing.

One of those – #1 (at 130) Aubre Krazer – reached the final at this same U20 weight a year ago. The other – #2 Bella Williams – was a U17 champ at 65kg.

Seeing double (or more)

Iowa has multiple wrestlers competing in several brackets this weekend.

I just mentioned 59kg in the U20 division. There, Hawkeyes Karlee Brooks and Emily Frost will both have something to say about who reps Team USA.

Brooks was a U17 World teamer just two years ago (defeating teammate-to-be Isabella Gonzales for the spot). She took fourth last April, with her only contested loss coming in the semifinals to the eventual U20 World champion.

Now, after an injury/illness plagued freshman season she gets a fresh opportunity to perform like her usual free-flowing, point-scoring self.

She’ll have to navigate some of the aforementioned high school talent, plus fellow Hawkeye Emily Frost – fourth at this weight in both 2023/24.

Meanwhile, 50kg is preposterous everywhere you look.

In the U20 division, no fewer than four past age-level World medalists are present. So too, are numerous other young stars who’ve proven themselves on the prep/collegiate scenes.

At the top of the list? 2024 Olympic Trials runner up Audrey Jimenez.

That’s who Iowa’s Rianne Murphy and Val Solorio will have to contend with in a bracket the could have some truly bonkers matchups as early as the Round of 16, if not even sooner.

U23’s won’t be nearly as crowded from an outside standpoint – though returning champion Heather Crull, U20 third-placer Julianna Ocampo and 2024 NCWWC runner up Kaelani Shufeldt all present significant threats.

But Iowa will flood the field with three athletes of its own – Ava Bayless, Sterling Dias and Emilie Gonzalez.

It wouldn’t shock if any member of the trio emerged victorious, though Dias (last year’s runner up) has the added challenge of bumping up seven pounds from her collegiate weight class.

At 57kg (U20), Cali Leng (seventh at NCWWC’s) and freshman Mia Goodwin have their work cut out for them as well.

Returning to form

The theme amongst Iowa’s four remaining entries is (hopefully) a return to form and/or from injury.

Both Lilly Luft (fifth at 136 pounds) and Ella Schmit (seventh at 143) were All-Americans for the Hawkeyes in 2024. Both have also had success in and around that time when it comes to Women’s Nationals.

Luft took fourth at 62kg (U20) two years ago. Schmit reached the 65kg (U20) best-of-three finals in both 2023 and 2024.

This past college season, both endured two-plus-month gaps in competition – Luft in particular due to several difficult injuries. Neither wrestled for Iowa at NCWWC’s.

If either is full-go this weekend a berth in the finals would not stun me.

For Luft (62kg – U20), NCWWC finalist – and 2023 U17 bronze medalist – Haylie Jaffe presents a tall task wherever they may meet in the bracket. But beyond Jaffe, no one else jumps out as insurmountable if Luft’s near her best.

Whereas for Schmit, 68kg in the U23 division could have as many as 8-9 title threats – including the Bettendorf native.

Another Hawkeye who missed two-plus months this past season was Rose Cassioppi.

In 2023, Cassioppi was flying high during the summer with a third-place U20 finish and a runner-up US Open (senior division) finish to boot. She wasn’t nearly as fortunate in 2024, missing out on Olympic Trials – which she’d qualified for – due to a concussion.

If she’s in form, Cassioppi fits right alongside a couple tough collegians in the smaller U23 field at 72kg. All of them, however, will be chasing reigning U20 World champ Jasmine Robinson.

And last but not least, Ava Rose (55kg – U20) makes what I believe will be her Women’s Nationals debut.

The junior-to-be finished one win shy of NCWWC All-American honors in 2024 but slipped to a record of 10-11 this season.

How to watch

Your entire tournament viewing experience this weekend will be available via FloWrestling.

By the looks of it, there’ll be a 14-mat setup in Spokane, and let me tell you – boy are you going to need it.

(Or at least I am as someone locked into this event for three straight days.)

As you can see from the schedule below, it’s long hours and lots of matches when it comes to Women’s Nationals.

You’re definitely going to want snacks and a source of hydration at the ready.

You’ll probably need to utilize the multi-screen feature in order to catch every match in real time.

(Flo does archive every individual bout, in case you miss something.)

And if any/all of that fails, you’ll still have me covering things from start to finish – both here on the site and on my social media.

Friday, April 4^th

12:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

• (U23) Preliminaries, Quarterfinals and Consolations

5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

• (U23) Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Consolations

Saturday, April 5^th

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

• (U23) Best-of-three Championship Finals + 3^rd/5^th/7^th place matches

4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

• (U20) Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Consolations

Sunday, April 6^th

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

• (U20) Best-of-three Championship Finals, Consolations, Consolation-Semis + 3^rd/5^th/7^th place matches

Short time

Alright, you’re ready.

Shoot, let me rephrase that – we’re ready.

Not that any of our own preparedness for this weekend measures up whatsoever to that of the 19 Hawkeyes set to compete in Spokane, but hey, we can try.

I mentioned it during the introduction, but it truly is great to get back to another big-time wrestling event – especially for the Iowa women.

One month was more than enough time for me to recharge the batteries post-NCWWC’s. Now I’m raring to go for spring/summer ahead.

Here’s hoping you guys out there are ready to scratch that same itch.

I highly encourage you to follow along with Women’s Nationals however you can. There’s no better showcase than this to watch the best young women’s wrestling talent in America.

And if your head isn’t totally spinning from consuming the current/incoming Hawkeyes, you might want to peek around elsewhere, too.

Because be it U23’s, U20’s or especially U17’s, not only is there a ton of great wrestling going on, but you’ll more than likely catch a glimpse of the future of Iowa women’s wrestling as well – whether you know it yet or not.