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Iowa women to compete at second Throwdown on the Yorktown

by:Tanner Lafever•05/18/25•

TannerLafever

Throwdown on the Yorktown
As far as wrestling venues go, it's tough to beat the flight deck of the USS Yorktown looking out across South Carolina's Charleston harbor. (Photo Credit: Charleston RTC Twitter)

The Iowa wrestling brand has been associated with the sport’s biggest events around the world since the days of Dan Gable. But this November, it’ll arguably be associated with its most unique competition venue to date.

That’s because the Hawkeye women’s program is headed to Charleston, South Carolina – where it’ll wrestle atop a World War II era Navy aircraft carrier.

(Yes, you read that correctly.)

On Sunday afternoon, Iowa announced its upcoming participation in the 2025 Throwdown on the Yorktown.

Held on Saturday, November 15th atop the USS Yorktown – this will be the second ever edition of the event. A year ago, the inaugural edition featured eight programs and six duals – including the following schools:

  • Army West Point (men)
  • The Citadel (men)
  • Gardner-Webb University (men)
  • Lander University (men)
  • Newberry College (men)
  • University of Virginia (men)
  • Campbellsville University (women)
  • Presbyterian College (women)

Iowa’s opponent(s) will be revealed at a later date, but there are plenty of intriguing options amongst the NCAA/NAIA ranks to pair with this one-of-a-kind setting:

The 2024 Throwdown on the Yorktown provided this spectacular wrestling backdrop. (Photo Credit: Throwdown on the Yorktown Twitter)

About the USS Yorktown

You can learn much more about this historic vessel at the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum website. But here are a few of the highlights:

  • Commissioned on April 15, 1943, the USS Yorktown became the tenth aircraft carrier to serve in the United States Navy.
  • Was a “significant participant” in the Pacific offensive during WWII and known as the “Fighting Lady.”
  • Modernized to operate jet aircraft in the 1950s and redesigned as an anti-submarine aircraft carrier during Vietnam (1965-68).
  • Recovered the Apollo 8 astronauts and capsule in December 1968.
  • Decommissioned in 1970, and towed from New Jersey to Charleston, South Carolina in 1975 to become the centerpiece of the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum.
The USS Yorktown (CV-10). (Photo Credit: US Naval History & Heritage Command)

Short time

I’ll have further updates as this unique event draws closer in the fall. But needless to say, this represents a pretty awesome opportunity for the Iowa women’s wrestling program.

Now, the back-to-back national team/dual champions will enter an already historic season – capped off by the first-ever sanctioned NCAA Championship – with another must-see event near the beginning of their 2025-26 schedule.

And not that anybody asked – but I for one, am incredibly stoked to watch this unfold as well.

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