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Iowa women's wrestling early 2025-26 lookahead

by:Tanner Lafever•about 13 hours•

TannerLafever

Iowa women's wrestling
As many as 28 wrestlers from Iowa's 2024-25 roster could return next season. (Photo Credit: Iowa Women's Wrestling Twitter)

The Iowa women’s wrestling program has now won national team titles in both years of its competitive existence.

It has crowned nine individual national champions and earned 27 separate All-American honors – all the while maintaining an undefeated dual record (35-0) and nabbing a pair of National Dual titles to boot.

So, naturally the question not a week after its latest triumph is this:

What’s next for the Hawkeyes?

The long answer is there’s still a long time until next season, not to mention a lengthy list of changes that could be coming to both Iowa and the sport of women’s college wrestling.

How does Year 1 of official NCAA Championship status alter the current landscape?

Will postseason qualifiers per team be reduced from 15 to (perhaps) as few as 10? Will the qualification process itself change from the regional competitions we’ve come to know?

What about the new revenue-sharing era for college athletics?

Iowa will be operating under a 30-athlete roster cap – a limit no other program in the sport will likely be beholden to.

At this point, there remains a plethora of ‘unknowns’ as to how things will look/operate next.

But one thing you can bank on – the Hawkeyes are going to put another elite team on the mat.

As many as 28/32 athletes from this year’s squad could return in 2025-26. Among them, five national champions, three national finalists plus eight others who’ve previously earned All-American honors.

(And the talent doesn’t stop there either.)

But before turning our entire attention toward the future, let’s first reflect on what Iowa will need to replace.

Key Departures

Macey Kilty (145 pounds)

  • 28-0 career record (all at Iowa in 2024-25)
  • 2025 NCWWC champion

It didn’t take a rocket scientist to identify Kilty as a can’t-miss addition when she decided last summer to use her lone remaining season of collegiate eligibility to compete for the Hawkeyes.

As it turned out, that’s exactly what the Wisconsin native was. She gave Iowa another bulletproof option in the back-half of the lineup, and her teammates one of the elite partners in the world to train with daily.

That latter aspect is one Kilty can still provide going forward – as she’ll continue to train in Iowa City while embarking on the rest of her senior-level career.

Again, it didn’t take a genius to predict the now-two-time World medalist’s positive impact on the Hawkeyes. But it’s another thing to make good on that promise – which is exactly what Kilty did every single day.

Nanea Estrella (138 pounds)

  • 55-8 career record (44-8 at Iowa)
  • 2025 NCWWC All-American (3rd)

No easy task to replace in her own right, Estrella was a force just about every time she stepped on the mat for the Hawkeyes.

Her three-year Iowa career was truncated by redshirt/injury, but when it mattered most, she came up big.

Estrella went undefeated at the 2025 NWCA National Duals to help her team to a title. Two months later, she valiantly fought back to a third-place finish at the national tournament (outplacing her #5 seed) to help the Hawkeyes win yet another championship.

Emmily Patneaud (131 pounds)

  • 73-30 career record (43-18 at Iowa)
  • 2x NCWWC All-American (6th in 2025, 5th in 2022)

An unsung hero during her time in Iowa City, Patneaud made her Hawkeye debut fresh off a serious knee injury.

She served as a valuable depth piece a year ago but assumed an even greater role in 2024-25.

Patneaud won a tight battle at 131 pounds for the right to represent Iowa in the postseason. Then, she made the most of it – earning a sixth-place NCWWC finish to conclude her college career as an All-American.

Meanwhile, another 131-pounder who’ll be leaving the Hawkeyes is Alexandra Baudhuin (56-41 career record, 29-22 at Iowa).

You’ll note that I’ve elected not to include four-time national finalist Jaycee Foeller (207 pounds) in this category. According to Iowa head coach Clarissa Chun, Foeller is likely to pursue an extra year of eligibility on grounds established by a recent court case involving Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia.

103 pounds

Returning

(Soph) Rianne Murphy

  • 2025 NCWWC All-American (3rd)
  • 32-4 career record

(RS JR) Sterling Dias

  • 2x NCWWC All-American (4th in 2025, 2nd in 2024)
  • 63-14 career record

As they’ve been since Coach Chun arrived in Iowa City, the Hawkeye lightweights will be loaded once again in 2025-26.

It all starts at 103 pounds, where Murphy returns as Iowa’s highest placer.

The true freshman lost just twice all season against NCAA competition – in the regional final to teammate Sterling Dias and in the national semifinals to now two-time NCWWC champion Olivia Shore (Otterbein).

Meanwhile, Dias had a sophomore campaign largely hampered by injury. Even though the Las Vegas native rounded into form by NCWWCs – finishing fourth – she’ll be looking for a clean bill of health next year as she seeks her first career individual title.

Iowa fans should also keep an eye on 103 (and 110) as potential spots for some Hawkeyes to switch weights next season.

110 pounds

Returning

(RS JR) Ava Bayless

  • 2x NCWWC All-American (4th in 2025, 1st in 2024)
  • 72-8 career record

(RS JR) Emilie Gonzalez

  • 2x NCWWC All-American (5th in 2025, 1st in 2024 *at 101 pounds*)
  • 67-11 career record

(Soph) Val Solorio

  • 23-9 career record

(RS JR) Nyla Valencia

Iowa’s logjam at 110 pounds isn’t going anywhere, as all three of last year’s challengers return.

That trio includes 2025 All-Americans Bayless/Gonzalez – who were also national champions the year prior – plus ‘third wheel’ Solorio, who certainly could’ve reached the podium had she been tabbed for the postseason lineup.

Bayless was 3-0 this season against Gonzalez and 2-0 against Solorio. Meanwhile, Gonzalez/Solorio split a pair of matches against one another.

And the embarrassment of riches is only going to grow in its lavishness.

That’s because Hawkeye fans will (hopefully) at long last witness the Iowa debut of Nyla Valencia after spring/summer ACL tears have robbed her of back-to-back college seasons.

Near her best, I believe Valencia is the top 110-pounder on the current roster. She showed that last spring with decisive wins over Gonzalez (12-1) and Bayless (11-4) – each coming within a few weeks of her being cleared for live wrestling following her first ACL recovery.

Valencia’s first competition post-ACL recovery was a dominant showing at the Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier.

At her best? I think Valencia can be the top 110-pounder in the country – including over the likes of reigning NCWWC/U23 World champ, Sage Mortimer (Grand Valley State).

More than anything, you just hope for good health for an incredible person – which still might not do Valencia justice BTW. But selfishly as a wrestling fan, we’d all be in for a real treat if we can finally see her at full strength come next season.

Simply put, there’s no deeper weight/team in the country than Iowa at 110 pounds.

117 pounds

Returning

(RS JR) Brianna Gonzalez

  • 2x NCWWC All-American (5th in 2025, 2nd in 2024)
  • 81-6 career record

The only thing left to accomplish on Brianna Gonzalez’s collegiate ledger is an individual national title.

In 2024, that was prevented by former Iowa teammate Felicity Taylor. This year, a surprising semifinal defeat took away both Gonzalez’s latest opportunity and her undefeated season.

Even so, the junior-to-be is so relentless and so consistent that, for the time being, you won’t find me picking anybody but her to get the job done in 2026.

All the better for her development – next season she’ll have a teammate at her weight who can truly push her day in and day out.

Newcomers

(FR) Isabella Marie Gonzales

  • #3 pound-for-pound HS recruit in the country, #1 at 120 pounds
  • 2024 U17 World team member (5th at 53kg)
  • 3x California state champ

If one Gonzalez (from California) at 117 pounds is good, why not add another?

Next year, Iowa fans will be introduced to Isabella Gonzales (no relation – notice the ‘s’ ending) – the top-ranked high school prospect in the 2025 class according to USA Wrestling.

Isabella owns just about all the prep/international accolades one could possibly hope for. And she just wrapped up her high school career with her third-consecutive title at the notoriously difficult single-class California State Championships.

Last fall, Gonzales won her second Who’s Number One title in as many years.

I’m not sure if Isabella can challenge Brianna for the top spot in Year 1. But if rules still permit Iowa to send multiple qualifiers to the national tournament in 2026, I won’t be surprised one bit if Isabella earns one of those spots as a true freshman (and does some damage once she gets there).

124 pounds

Returning

(JR) Cali Leng

  • 2025 NCWWC All-American (7th)
  • 55-25 career record (40-13 in 2025)

(Soph) Karlee Brooks

  • 9-5 career record
  • Ranked #1 at 120 pounds in the 2024 high school class

(JR) Ava Rose

  • 2024 NCWWC qualifier (Round of 12)
  • 39-27 career record (10-11 in 2025 at 117/124 pounds)

(RS FR) Mia Goodwin

  • Redshirted in 2024-25
  • 7-5 career record (competing unattached)

One of Iowa’s most intriguing weights entering next season will be 124 pounds.

Multiple Hawkeyes with postseason experience return – headlined by Cali Leng.

The Ohio native was the single most out-of-nowhere storyline for this year’s Iowa team – leaping from a nondescript 15-12 freshman season to the #4 seed at the 2025 national tournament, where she’d earn All-American honors.

How does a tireless worker like Leng grow even more in the next seven months?

Conversely, it was a down second season for classmate Ava Rose, finishing a win under .500 after coming up one win short of the NCWWC podium in 2024.

Can she regain her form during the forthcoming offseason? Or will someone like Mia Goodwin pass her in the pecking order after a freshman year redshirting in the Iowa room?

But perhaps the most fascinating variable of the entire group is Karlee Brooks.

The heralded 2024 recruit had her freshman season beset by illness/injury. If she can regain her form/confidence between now and November I don’t see a reason why she can’t 1) challenge Leng for the starting spot, and 2) challenge for an individual national title.

We should get a decent indicator of how Brooks is progressing with U20 World Team Trials next month.

131 pounds

Returning

(SR) Skye Realin

  • 30-5 career record (6-0 at Iowa)
  • 2024 U23 World Team member, 2x NCWWC/NAIA All-American

(JR) Emily Frost

  • 2024 NCWWC qualifier (Round of 12)
  • 48-20 career record (25-8 in 2025)

Yet another weight class in which Iowa was without a possible/likely postseason starter in 2025, 131 pounds should have plenty of capable options next season.

Chief among them is the return of Skye Realin.

The multi-time All-American had only just made her Iowa debut when an early-season injury sidelined the Hawaii native for good. But that limited preview sure was promising.

Realin won all six matches, all by either tech. fall or pin, and all against quality NCAA/NAIA foes.

Among those results were pins of a two-time NAIA national finalist and this year’s fifth-place NCWWC finisher at 131 pounds. So too, were a pair of notable shutout tech. falls – including one of Iowa teammate Emily Frost.

Realin’s lone match at Carver this season ended via fall.

Frost – a sophomore – was Iowa’s postseason rep at this weight class in 2024, finishing one spot off the podium.

The headlock-throwing New Yorker took another step forward in 2025 and certainly could’ve All-American’d for the Hawkeyes had she been selected for the postseason lineup.

Health-permitting, Realin projects as a top-of-the-line starter with Frost a ‘depth piece’ that most programs would kill to have.

Newcomers

(FR) Samantha Sachs

  • #11 pound-for-pound HS recruit in the country, #3 at 130 pounds
  • 2024 Fargo Junior champ
  • 2025 California state champ

Pushing the returners will be touted California freshman Sam Sachs – who’s still relatively new to wrestling.

But Sachs has grown by leaps and bounds since her introduction to the sport some three-years-and-change ago. And now she sits as one of the nation’s premier prospects as she readies for the college level.

138 pounds

Returning

(Soph) Cadence Diduch

  • 17-5 career record
  • 2024 U20 World team member (62kg)
  • Ranked #2 at 135 pounds in the 2024 high school class

(JR) Lilly Luft

  • 2024 NCWWC All-American (5th)
  • 31-15 career record (1-4 in 2025)

(RS Soph) Danni Swihart

  • 17-16 career record (9-11 in 2025)

At this point, it looks like a two-Hawkeye race for the pole position at 138 pounds next season.

Both Cadence Diduch and Lilly Luft were highly ranked recruits at their weight class coming out of high school. Both had (different) impressive showings in consecutive years as college freshmen.

Diduch didn’t make her Iowa debut until early December but rose as high as fifth in the national rankings thanks to a pair of strong mid-season tournaments – including a title at the Soldier Salute.

Meanwhile, Luft’s freshman breakthrough came a year earlier. The Charles City native stepped in after injuries to both of Iowa’s top options and went on to close her season in fine fashion with a fifth-place finish at NCWWCs.

But in 2024-25 multiple injuries kept Luft almost entirely out of competition.

If she’s healthy and in form, Luft gives Iowa (another) an excellent starting-caliber option next season. Although at this point, you’d probably give Diduch the slight edge based on recent production plus her head-to-head advantage over Luft dating back to high school.

Danni Swihart will be in her third year in the Iowa program as a redshirt sophomore.

145 pounds

Returning

(RS JR) Reese Larramendy

  • 2x NCWWC All-American (3rd in 2025, 1st in 2024)
  • 78-6 career record (31-3 in 2025)

(RS JR) Ella Schmit

  • 2024 NCWWC All-American (7th)
  • 51-19 career record (17-7 in 2025)

(Soph) Kiara Djoumessi

  • 0-2 career record
  • Ranked #15 at 140 pounds in the 2024 high school class

All three of Larramendy’s losses this season were against either current/former teammates, Macey Kilty (twice) and Bella Mir (once).

The latter – in the national semifinals – halted the sophomore’s bid for a repeat individual title.

With Kilty’s graduation, I expect Larramendy to resume her place atop the weight for Iowa as well as make a run at the top of the podium next March.

Pushing her teammate every step of the way will be Bettendorf native Ella Schmit. The junior missed a two-month portion of the 2024-25 season as Kilty/Larramendy formed the best one-two punch in the nation.

As a reminder, Schmit is a 2024 All-American and a two-time U20 World Team Trials finalist in her own right. Operating at her best, there’s no reason she can’t match/exceed her previous All-American finish (seventh) in 2025-26.

Another former in-state recruit – Kiara Djoumessi – rounds out 145.

The Waverly Shell-Rock alum contested just two matches as a freshman – both on opening weekend.

160 pounds

Returning

(RS JR) Kennedy Blades

  • 2025 NCWWC champion
  • 25-0 career record

(RS Soph) Rose Cassioppi

  • 12-6 career record
  • 2024 US Olympic Trials qualifier
  • Ranked #2 at 164 pounds in the 2024 high school class

We’ll keep it brief here.

Kennedy Blades is back for the Hawkeyes. And Blades being back means great things for Iowa and big trouble for everyone else.

Nothing is ever truly certain in the sport of wrestling. That said, you certainly feel good about the chances of a Hawkeye victory (and bonus) points every time the Olympic silver medalist takes the mat.

Of greater priority for the Iowa coaching staff is continuing to develop its depth at 160 pounds.

Sophomore-to-be Rose Cassioppi has the profile of a great ‘number two’ for the Hawkeyes. That said, she had a bit of an uneven freshman year surrounding an extended absence of her own – a common theme I’m sure you’ve noticed among several athletes this past season.

If she can regain the form that helped her qualify for the 2024 US Olympic Trials Iowa will have both unmatched top-end talent and depth when it comes to this weight.

180 pounds

Returning

(RS JR) Kylie Welker

  • 2x NCWWC champion (2024-25)
  • 52-1 career record (27-0 in 2025)

(Soph) Naomi Simon

  • 2025 NCWWC All-American (3rd)
  • 39-4 career record

(RS Soph) Haley Ward

  • 2024 NCWWC qualifier (DNP’d as the #4 seed at 170 pounds)
  • 28-5 career record

Another weight for Iowa with a superstar headliner plus superb depth behind them is 180 pounds.

Kylie Welker hasn’t lost to a single collegiate opponent during her Iowa career, and the 2024-25 season was her best yet. The Wisconsin native won 27/27 matches via bonus points – springboarding off a sterling World Championships performance last October.

She’ll lead a group overflowing with talent.

In 2024, it was Haley Ward whose excellent freshman season buoyed Welker’s title-winning run.

Ward’s only losses up until NCWWCs were to either senior-level competition or current national champions. Two pins unexpectedly ended her tournament run, and subsequent surgery put her out of commission for the following season.

Fast-forward to 2025 and Naomi Simon stepped into the ‘best supporting actress’ role at 180 for Iowa.

And if we’re sticking with the cheesy analogy, the true freshman would’ve won the Academy Award in runaway fashion too.

Simon’s four losses on the season all came against national finalists – including three times to Welker. Of her 39 wins – all but the last two came by either tech. fall or pin.

Were it not for an unfortunate draw on the same side of the bracket as Welker, I believe we’d have seen Simon reach last weekend’s NCWWC final as well.

So yeah, Iowa’s in pretty good shape here, folks.

207 pounds

Returning

(5th-year SR) Jaycee Foeller?

  • 4x NCWWC/NAIA national runner up (2022-25)
  • 94-16 career record (58-10 at Iowa, 26-3 in 2025)

(JR) Alivia White)

  • 2025 NCWWC All-American (4th)
  • 49-17 career record (30-11 in 2025)

(RS SR) Katja Osteen

  • 2x NCWWC All-American (6th in 2023, 6th in 2022)
  • 47-22 career record (22-11 at Iowa in 2025)

(RS JR) Sam Calkins

  • 25-13 career record (18-11 in 2025)

I mentioned the potential scenario regarding Foeller a while back.

Her return for an extra fifth year would crystallize things for Iowa at 207 pounds. It’d also give the Missouri native one last chance to win the individual national title which has repeatedly eluded her.

But even if one omits Foeller from the equation, Iowa still has two other proven All-American options to choose from.

Alivia White ended her sophomore season in tremendous fashion, placing fourth at nationals in her debut appearance. And up until the postseason lineup was announced, it was debatable whether she’d even be Iowa’s other representative at 207.

Kata Osteen won the last match of the regular season (9-1) against White to narrow their season series to 2-1. She too, has All-American bona fides dating back to a previous stop at Simon Fraser University.

And just in case Iowa didn’t have nearly enough depth – Sam Calkins represents a fourth national qualifier caliber heavyweight for the Hawkeyes.

Other additions?

When I wrote a version of this piece a year ago, it turned out Iowa’s roster was far from solidified.

Two more freshmen (Murphy/Goodwin) and a transfer (Osteen) would commit/sign in the spring thereafter. And a few months later, the Hawkeyes added Realin, Kilty and Blades within the span of 11 days.

Point being, it’d be foolish to assume Iowa is done adding talent between now and next season.

The curveball this time around, however, is the soon-to-be-enforced 30-athlete roster limit. A revenue sharing school like Iowa – the only one I know of in the sport thus far – will be forced to keep its women’s wrestling roster at or below that number.

Assuming Foeller does return for a fifth and final season, Iowa is at an even 30 right now.

There’s no point speculating about possible transfers out of Iowa City because I didn’t foresee any of the three that happened a year ago. But if a spot (or more) does open up, Coach Chun & Co. have shown an appetite and an ability to bring in high-level talent in the offseason where they see fit.

(And from a prospective transfer’s point of view, clearly the Iowa program has plenty of appeal.)

So, we’ll continue to monitor Iowa’s roster situation throughout the months to come. That said, if the Hawkeyes do enter next season with this (projected) team they’d sure look primed and ready to make a run at a national title three-peat in 2026.

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