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Intrigue abounds for Iowa women's wrestling at Grand View Open

by:Tanner Lafever•01/31/25•

TannerLafever

Iowa women's wrestling
103-pound sophomore Sterling Dias is among ten ranked Hawkeyes who will take the mat during Saturday's Grand View Open. (Photo Credit: Iowa Women's Wrestling Twitter)

Last Saturday, the top-ranked Iowa women’s wrestling team capped an undefeated dual schedule with an impressive showing in New York.

A week later, the Hawkeyes will look to finish the 2024-25 regular season in similar fashion – this time much closer to home.

On tap for Clarissa Chun’s squad? A short 114-mile trek westward to Des Moines for the Grand View Open.

As has become its custom, Iowa won’t just be rolling up to any old tournament either.

The Grand View Open is yet another of the exceedingly challenging regular season events in women’s college wrestling.

Nearly 30 NCAA/NAIA schools are expected to compete in addition to numerous JUCO/community colleges – plus a variety of club programs. You can expect to see everything from top-ranked high schoolers to collegians to post-grads all in the same bracket(s).

In kind, the Hawkeyes are sending a deep, talented group of wrestlers – 21 in all.

I’ll get into more storylines/potential lineup battles to watch as we go weight-by-weight, but the inclusion of three young Hawkeyes immediately jumps out.

  • Karlee Brooks (131)
  • Lilly Luft (138)
  • Rose Cassioppi (160)

Neither Brooks nor Cassioppi have competed since mid-November, and Luft just once all season – in a pair of matches at the Soldier Salute.

More than anything, it’ll just be nice for Iowa fans to see the talented trio out on the mat again.

But first, let’s set the stage with whom the Hawkeyes will be competing against in Des Moines.

The Field

Between NCAA and NAIA programs currently listed on TrackWrestling, athletes from as many as 14 ranked teams could be in the field on Saturday.

NCAA ranked teams:

  • #1 Iowa
  • #5 McKendree (IL)
  • #10 Wartburg College (IA)
  • #21 Simpson College (IA)
  • #21 Fort Hays State (KS)

NAIA ranked teams:

  • #1 Life University (GA)
  • #2 Grand View (IA)
  • #3 University of the Cumberlands (KY)
  • #5 William Penn (IA)
  • #10 Missouri Valley College
  • #13 Baker University (KS)
  • #14 Texas Wesleyan
  • #16 Oklahoma City University
  • #19 Wayland Baptist University (TX)
  • #20 Midland University (NE)

All told, there could be up to 77 wrestlers with a top-10 ranking beside their name – including double-digits Hawkeyes (10) with said distinction.

And again, there’ll be plenty more talent in these brackets as well.

Valiant College Preparatory – an Arizona-based wrestling powerhouse (and former home to Karlee Brooks) – has registered four athletes for Saturday. So too have several other prep/club programs from around the country.

Meanwhile, a program like William Penn just brought in a pair of Nigerian Olympians for the second semester. Neither is ranked yet, but both are immediate national title favorites in the NAIA division and both could be in this field.

If that doesn’t speak to the competitiveness of this tournament, I’m not sure what would.

Plus, we still don’t know who else may show up with serious talent/credentials to their name.

Point being, Iowa women’s wrestling fans are in for a treat this weekend.

103 pounds

Last Saturday #1 Rianne Murphy returned after a month of inaction and promptly pinned two opponents in 0:55.

She’ll be joined in this bracket by her teammate, #4 Sterling Dias – who herself had an extended absence after injury defaulting (shoulder) in a match against Murphy back on opening weekend in November.

They’ll both have plenty at stake in terms of seeding implications for the postseason.

The NCAA’s second-ranked 103-pounder (McKendree’s Gabriele Tedesco) could also be in the field.

Dias fell to Tedesco, 6-2 at National Duals. Conversely, Murphy won an 8-8 criteria decision when the two met back in November.

Depending on how this shakes out – especially a Dias win over Tedesco – it could ensure that the two Hawkeyes are on opposite sides of the bracket for NCWWCs in March.

Also of note, NAIA #2 Katherine Hernandez (Life) could be lurking as well.

Hernandez defeated Dias, 2-1 at the Soldier Salute in the Hawkeye’s first tournament back from her aforementioned injury.

Reversing that result wouldn’t affect Dias’ ranking/seeding given the cross-divisional nature of the matchup. But one would imagine she’d be eager to get it back, nonetheless.

110 pounds

Arguably the weight to watch for Iowa on Saturday is 110 pounds.

There, as they’ve done all season, Ava Bayless, Emilie Gonzalez and Val Solorio will look to put their best foot forward toward earning a spot in the postseason lineup.

Only two can (and figure to) do so. At present you’d have to favor #2 Bayless and #5 Gonzalez – both of whom return as national champs and both of whom have wins over their freshman teammate.

Interestingly, it’s Solorio who’s wrestled their (potentially) toughest opponent this weekend – NAIA #1 Anaya Falcon (Life) – best this season.

Twice the freshman led Falcon deep into the second period, only to lose each match. I’d be fascinated to see what Solorio might do with another bite at the apple.

124 pounds

With no Hawkeye(s) entered at 117 pounds, we move up to 124 and find Ava Rose.

After a 29-16 freshman campaign during which she provided critical team points with a Round of 12 finish at nationals, Rose (9-9) has struggled somewhat this season.

Saturday would figure to be her last competition of 2024-25, as fellow sophomore Cali Leng (32-11) has established herself as a legitimate top-five competitor at the weight class.

Regardless, Rose will want to put in a strong showing against a field that could include a quartet of wrestlers ranked fourth-or-better in the NCAA/NAIA division(s).

131 pounds

Remember what I said about 110 pounds? Well, 131 might be even more interesting, as three Hawkeyes could be vying for a single postseason spot.

#10 Emily Frost (22-6) and Emmily Patneaud (13-6) are the known quantities at the weight.

Patneaud – a senior and a former All-American (2022) – may be the safer choice. But Frost – a Round of 12 finisher in 2024 – always has her signature headlock (and its bonus-point potential) at the ready.

Either could reach the podium for Iowa this postseason. Both will look to make a final impression on Saturday.

However, a last-minute entry could change the entire equation.

I mentioned Karlee Brooks in the intro. The prized freshman blitzed through this event a year ago as a 17-year-old high school entry.

Unfortunately, this hasn’t been the debut season she’d have imagined – missing all but one weekend of action due to various maladies. But perhaps there’s a possibility for Brooks (5-2) to salvage things in the final hour.

She earned bonus points in all five of her wins at the Missouri Valley Open in November. And I think it’s arguable that she could provide Iowa with both its highest ceiling and floor at 131.

Then again, we don’t know if redshirting Brooks might be the decision regardless of her results this weekend. She has only competed in one of her five available events as a true freshman thus far.

Whatever the choice, A) there’s no bad option, and B) Iowa’s NCWWC team title hopes likely won’t hinge upon it.

One thing is for sure though; we’ll learn a ton about all three this weekend.         

131 might be the deepest weight class of the tournament depending on who shows up. There’s a chance as many as 10 ranked wrestlers join the bracket – including several NCAA/NAIA national title contenders.

138 pounds

A similarly crowded Hawkeye presence will exist at 138 pounds in Des Moines.

Leading a four-pack of entries is #3 Nanea Estrella.

Following her first loss of the season, 4-3 to fellow title favorite Katie Lange (Grand Valley State), it’ll be interesting to see how the senior responds.

I presume she’ll do so with authority, putting the onus on younger teammates like #6 Cadence Diduch (15-3) and Lilly Luft (1-2) to keep up.

Again here, making a positive final impression could be valuable.

I can’t decipher whether 138 will be a weight where Iowa carries multiple athletes into the postseason or just one. And if I can’t decide, it’s possible the Iowa coaches have yet to do so either.

(I realize that’s somewhat flimsy ‘logic’ to apply to the situation – but still.)

With as many as three ranked NCAA foes and up to 60 percent of the NAIA top 10 potentially in the field there likely won’t be a shortage of ‘measuring sticks’ to compare Diduch/Luft to specifically.

Luft, in particular, could benefit from a deep Grand Valley Open run – whether it aids her postseason odds or not. It’s been a difficult year for the Charles City native after earning All-American honors as a freshman.

To date, Luft has wrestled just two matches this season – medically forfeiting a third.

145 pounds

There may not be much mystery at this weight, but its firepower warrants tuning in for regardless.

With #1 Macey Kilty sitting out this weekend, #2 Reese Larramendy takes up the mantle of prohibitive Hawkeye favorite instead.

Larramendy (18-1) – the reigning national champion – has registered bonus points in all but three matches this season:

  • An 8-1 loss to Kilty
  • A 10-1 win over teammate Ella Schmit
  • A 6-2 win over #5 Savannah Gomez (McKendree)

Besides Kilty, Schmit and (potentially) Gomez could join Larramendy in this weekend’s field at 145. So too, could longtime rival Jamilah McBryde (ranked #1 for NAIA’s Life University).

Whatever permutation of opponents shakes out, it’s a great opportunity for Reese to begin peaking for another title run.

Meanwhile, Schmit gets a second consecutive weekend to knock the rust off what had been a two-month absence from competition.

160 pounds

Rose Cassioppi represents another long-awaited return to action for a Hawkeye wrestler.

The redshirt freshman hasn’t competed since mid-November after what was a solid start to her debut season at Iowa.

Cassioppi (8-4) was ranked inside the top 10 at 160 pounds prior to her extended absence. Those four losses came against NCAA #1 Kennedy Blades (her teammate), NAIA #1 Latifah McBryde, a wild 14-13 match at the Missouri Valley Open and a subsequent medical forfeit at the same tournament.

We’ve yet to see the 2024 US Olympic Trials qualifier in the Hawkeye singlet since.

That changes on Saturday, and amidst a potentially loaded field of competitors.

Welcome back, Rose.

180 pounds

The story at 180 pounds this weekend is twofold:

  1. Will #6 Naomi Simon emerge victorious from yet another (potentially) loaded weight class?
  2. Will the true freshmen keep up her ridiculous bonus-point streak in the process?

Incredibly, Simon (28-2) has won all of her matches this season by either tech. fall or pin.

That streak encompasses several highly ranked opponents – including a three-time All-American and Olympic Trials qualifier this past weekend.

That said, it figures to be put to a major test on Saturday depending on who else shows up.

70 percent of the NAIA top 10 could be in the bracket – among them #1 and #2 at the weight.

So too could McKendree junior, #7 Tristan Kelly. The under-ranked 180-pounder is a 2022 U20 World bronze medalist – a feat matched by Simon this past fall.

207 pounds

The last (and no less busy) weight class of the weekend comes at 207 pounds.

Three Hawkeyes – Sam Calkins, Katja Osteen and Alivia White – enter the field. But it’s probably the latter two most worth keeping an eye on for possible postseason implications.

Why? Because it’s still up in the air whether Iowa brings multiple heavyweights to its regional qualifying event in February.

At the very least, the number one option appears set with top-ranked Jaycee Foeller – a three-time national finalist. Meanwhile, the race for (a potential) number two is currently led by #6 Alivia White.

The sophomore has been on a tear dating back to National Duals – winning 8/9 matches as the starter with Foeller nicked up. And her best win of the season just came a week ago.

Out in New York, White (20-7) defeated #3 Alyssa Favara of Lock Haven via 10-0 tech. fall.

Combined with two wins over Osteen – herself having been ranked in the top 10 this season – and it’d seemingly require a strong reversal of fortunes this weekend for White to be surpassed.

As for the non-Iowa competition, it’s possible #1-3 from the NAIA ranks will all be in attendance in Des Moines.

That would be a whole lot of fun.

How to watch

Alright, having now covered all the angles of each weight, where can Iowa women’s wrestling fans watch what should be an amazing Saturday’s worth of action?

The Grand View Open will stream exclusively on Rokfin (subscription required).

At a price of $14.99 for a one-month subscription, I can understand some hesitation to make the plunge. However, I’d present the following argument in favor:

  1. You really should get full bang for your buck with 21 Hawkeyes competing amongst a highly competitive/credentialed field.
  2. It’s possible the Regional Championships (Feb. 22) will also be streamed on Rokfin – as they were in 2024.

That second point is important, because a one-month subscription now would cover Iowa fans all the way through the regional.

(I’m not making a cent from Rokfin, by the way – so trust this as strictly wrestling-based motivation from yours truly.)

The Grand View Open begins at 9:00 a.m. (CT) on Saturday. And according to the tournament flyer, it’ll “run straight through until all matches are completed.”

With 6-8 mats being used and roughly 500 wrestlers across the Gold/Silver divisions I’d expect it to be a long day in Des Moines.

Having said that, Iowa fans might be wise to utilize TrackWrestling to follow mat assignments/results/etc.

You can also follow me on social media throughout the day. I’ll be passing along any significant news/results as it happens.

Short time

There you have it.

A super preview (at least I like to think it is) for a super Saturday of Iowa women’s wrestling.

Assuming I survive the titanic Iowa/Penn State men’s clash tonight I’ll be raring to go again tomorrow morning.

As for the Grand View Open recap, it’ll be up Saturday night or Sunday morning depending on how late into the evening the tournament runs. Either way, I’m sure I’ll have plenty to say about it (per usual).

Thank you everyone, as always, for reading. I hope you’ll follow along throughout the tournament as the #1 Hawkeyes look to close their regular season strong.

And again, don’t forget to check back in for my full recap once proceedings have concluded.

I’ll talk to you guys real soon. Enjoy the wrestling!

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