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Iowa Women's Wrestling: Mid-Season Report Card

by:Tanner Lafever•about 24 hours•

TannerLafever

Soldier Salute champions (Iowa women)
The Iowa women's wrestling team capped the first half of its season with a team tournament title at the 2024 Soldier Salute. (Photo credit: Iowa Women's Wrestling Twitter)

Following yesterday’s article on the Hawkeye men, it’s time for a similar mid-season evaluation of the Iowa women’s wrestling team.

The top-ranked team in the country has gone unscathed through its schedule to date.

Clarissa Chun’s squad is 9-0 in duals, the closest margin being a 16-point road victory at NAIA #1 Life University. They’ve also challenged themselves at several top-tier open tournaments to predominantly positive results.

On a near-weekly basis, the Hawkeyes have sought out and (mostly) prevailed against some of the best competition women’s college wrestling has to offer.

Now, the page/calendar turns to 2025, when they’ll look to cap off this season with a bang.

National Duals are on tap this weekend (Jan. 10-11), with the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships (NCWWC’s) set for March 7-8.

Iowa will be looking to repeat its 2024 performance – standing atop the podium at both events. And if the first two months of the season are any indication, this year’s group is very much on the right track to do so.

For those who haven’t already read the men’s report card, a refresher on my elementary-style grading system:

M = meeting expectations

P = progressing

N = needs work

We’ll go weight-by-weight to assess how the Hawkeyes have performed thus far.

Along the way, I’ll identify some of the (few) ‘question marks’ and/or areas for improvement as the Iowa women ready to begin (National Duals) and end (NCWWC’s) their second semester of competition with championship events.

103 pounds = M (meeting expectations)

Iowa closed the 2023-24 season with the top two wrestlers in the country at 101 pounds.

Two months into the 2024-25 campaign, a pair of Hawkeyes occupy those spots once again at the lightest weight class (now 103 pounds).

‘Gone’ is 2024 NCWWC champ Emilie Gonzalez (up at 110), but in her place at the top of the national rankings is true freshman Rianne Murphy.

Murphy (20-2) has been a bonus-point machine, including 11 falls. Her only defeats have come in one open tournament final versus NAIA’s #1 ranked wrestler and in another against a top high school prospect.

‘Backing her up’ at present, is reigning national runner up Sterling Dias.

Ignore the record (6-5) when it comes to the second-ranked redshirt sophomore. Those ‘losses’ include an opening weekend injury default to Murphy in a match that was 6-5 at the time, plus three-consecutive medical forfeits at the recent Soldier Salute.

(The latter trio appeared to be an effort to keep Dias’ match count limited in her first return to action since her aforementioned injury.)

Dias pinned 3/4 opponents at the Salute, dropping the other match 2-1 to NAIA #2 Katherine Hernandez (Life).

As she returns to form, I expect a similar version of the wrestler who was 42-4 with 32 bonus points victories in her career entering this season.

(Oh, and all four losses were to either her teammate (E. Gonzalez) or non-collegiate competition.)

If both Murphy and Dias are healthy and in-form come postseason, I feel confident we’ll see another all-Hawkeye matchup in the NCWWC final.

*Remember, in NCAA women’s wrestling a team can qualify up to 15 athletes for nationals – a maximum of two in any weight class.

110 pounds = P/M (progressing toward meeting expectations)

You’ll learn that (at times) I may fudge my own rules a bit when it comes to this exercise.

My first chance to do so is at 110 pounds, where Iowa is ‘in flux’ with a trio of great options.

A pair of reigning national champions – #2 Ava Bayless (16-3) and #5 Emilie Gonzalez (18-3) – are among those contending. So too, is talented true freshman Val Solorio (19-8).

The head-to-head record this season between the three is currently as follows:

  • Bayless (2-0) – 1-0 vs. Gonzalez (8-4), 1-0 vs. Solorio (5-0)
  • Gonzalez (1-1) – 1-0 vs. Solorio (6-2), 0-1 vs. Bayless (8-4)
  • *Solorio (0-2) – 0-1 vs Bayless (5-0), 0-1 vs. Gonzalez (6-2)

*Solorio did beat Bayless in a preseason wrestle-off match behind closed doors.

Again, Iowa has the best of ‘problems’ at this weight.

Whomever the coaches select for this postseason, a pair of Hawkeyes figure to reach All-American status.

From a national perspective, two elite additions to the already-stacked weight class (#1 Sage Mortimer – Grand Valley State, and #3 Samara Chavez – King) have me hard-pressed to predict Iowa will repeat as national champ at 110.

That was my general opinion entering the season, and two months of action have thus far reinforced that belief.

Regardless, it’ll be awesome to watch both in terms of how things shake out for the Hawkeyes and how the deepest weight class in the country resolves itself at the national tournament.

117 pounds = M (meeting expectations)

Nothing to see here, just Brianna Gonzalez doing Brianna Gonzalez things.

Iowa’s #1 ranked 117-pounder is the epitome of consistency (and dominance).

And after losing in last year’s national title match to teammate Felicity Taylor (9-2), she has the look of someone hell-bent upon finishing the job this go around.

Gonzalez (21-0) has won 16 matches via bonus points.

The other five include:

  • two forfeits
  • a 7-1 decision over #3 Karissa Turnwall (Emmanuel)
  • a 6-0 decision over NAIA #4 Salyna Shotwell (Life)
  • a 12-3 decision at 124 pounds over NAIA #6 Anna Krejsa (Life)

After dropping a one-sequence match (8-4) against North Central’s Sydney Petzinger last January at National Duals, Gonzalez has dominated the current #2 ranked 117-pounder by a combined score of 18-1 across a pair of subsequent matches.

Yeah, she’s pretty good.

124 pounds = P (progressing)

Arguably Iowa’s biggest question mark entering this season, 124 pounds remains a bit up in the air.

Highly touted freshman Karlee Brooks has only made one (brief) pre-Thanksgiving appearance – and that was up at 131 pounds at the prestigious Missouri Valley Open.

Meanwhile, Iowa’s postseason starter a year ago – sophomore Ava Rose – initially dabbled at 117 pounds in the early going this year.

Back at her new/old weight since December, Rose (a 2024 Round of 12 NCWWC finisher) is just 4-4 so far.

Thankfully, the Hawkeyes have found a capable substitute to any preconceived ‘plans’ folks like me may’ve had for 124.

Sophomore Cali Leng has wrestled everyone everywhere to the tune of an absurd 34 matches to date. She’s also picked up some notable wins in the process, although with many of those coming against NAIA opponents, she’s still probably being undervalued by the latest NCAA Coaches’ rankings.

Leng (24-10) has shown me enough to think she’s a capable All-American contender this postseason.

That said, it does sound like Brooks will be throwing her hat in the ring in the not-too-distant future.

Coach Chun said the following during this week’s media availability about the talented freshman (among others):

“They’re not there yet unfortunately. They’re back ‘in’, (but) it’s just making sure that we don’t get pulled off again by putting them in (too soon).”

“It’s hard because we’d love to plug them in. But this weekend isn’t the time yet.”

131 pounds = P (progressing)

A decent parallel to 124 pounds for Iowa is the next weight class up, 131.

There, the anticipated starter was/is newcomer Skye Realin – a 2024 U23 World team member.

Realin – ranked #6 nationally amidst a 6-0 start – hasn’t competed since mid-November at Iowa’s first home dual(s). In that brief period, however, the two-time college All-American sure looked the part.

Among her half-dozen victories (all via bonus points) are wins over NAIA’s second, sixth and tenth-ranked wrestlers. The Hawaii native also has resounding performances against #10 Cayden Condit (Lindenwood) and teammate Emily Frost.

I believe Realin is a legitimate national title contender if she returns in good form/health for the postseason. Until then, Iowa has a pair of other capable options in its two Emily’s.

Sophomore Emily Frost (18-5) and her headlock-loving self is back after finishing in the Round of 12 last March. She’s reached the finals at a pair of open tournaments – losing 10-0 both times to returning national finalists.

Also in play is senior Emmily Patneaud and her 58-24 career record. In terms of age, style and build Patneaud couldn’t be more different than her fellow Emily (Frost).

The former McKendree All-American (fifth in 2022) wrestles with a compact/controlled approach and is every bit an All-American contender once again.

Both Emily’s are capable of scoring valuable points for the Hawkeyes if called upon at the national tournament (just as Frost did a year ago).

But if you’re Iowa fans/coaches, the (high) ceiling at 131 likely rests upon Realin’s shoulders.

138 = M (meeting expectations)

One of the best Hawkeye stories of 2024-25 has been the return of Nanea Estrella.

After a serious Lisfranc injury ended her season a year ago in mid-December, she looks every bit like a title contender/favorite at 138.

Ranked #3 nationally – behind only a pair of past national champs – Estrella (14-0) has only gone the distance twice this season. The senior controlled those matches too, shutting out a pair of age-level World medalists.

Backing her up is another promising freshman, Cadence Diduch.

The Illinois native has done nothing but impress since making her Iowa debut in early December.

Diduch (11-1) already has wins over four top-10 NAIA foes, including three of the top four at 138 pounds. One of those came in the finals of the Soldier Salute, as she gutted out an 8-6 victory over #2 Samantha Barragan (Texas Wesleyan).

Both Diduch and (especially) Estrella figure to be primed for deep postseason runs in March.

And that doesn’t even include returning All-American Lilly Luft (fifth). The Charles City (IA) native just made her own season debut at the Soldier Salute, and figures to factor into the discussion over the next two months.

145 pounds = M (meeting expectations)

Iowa fans quite possibly watched a 145-pound national championship preview last weekend at the Soldier Salute. And neither should/would be all that unexpected.

That’ll happen when a back-to-back senior World medalist joins a returning national champion in the room.

Reese Larramendy (15-1) may have held the #1 national ranking entering the Soldier Salute, but #3 Macey Kilty (16-0) has always been the prohibitive title favorite in 2024-25.

That notion was bolstered by Kilty’s controlled 8-1 win against her younger teammate.

However, it shouldn’t obscure that Larramendy appears to be reaching all-new levels herself.

The redshirt sophomore has only wrestled the full six minutes on one other occasion this season – a 10-1 win over (another) Iowa teammate, 2024 All-American Ella Schmit.

Larramendy’s last match before facing Kilty may have been one of her best-ever performances.

There, the Nevada native eviscerated ongoing rival and NAIA #1 Jamilah McBryde, 13-0 by first-period tech. fall.

For one, it was an incredible individual display by Larramendy. And two, it sure made me feel like we’re destined to see her and Kilty square off again with an NCWWC title on the line.

160 pounds = M (meeting expectations)

So, it turns out an Olympic silver medalist translates pretty well to collegiate wrestling.

(Phew, crisis averted.)

#2 Kennedy Blades has been everything Iowa could’ve hoped for when it made the enormous splash of adding her to the program in July.

At 10-0 in her young Hawkeye career, the 21-year-old puts on a show every time she steps on the mat.

That was never more evident than during her Soldier Salute title match on December 30. Facing an excellent opponent in NAIA #1 Latifah McBryde (Life), Blades responded to the challenge with aplomb:

Her star power (and production) has drawn even more eyeballs to the Iowa women’s wrestling program.

It hardly took a genius to predict any of these things a few months back. Even still, it’s worth mentioning what an enormous boon it’s been for Hawkeye wrestling to have her in Iowa City.

And perhaps soon she’ll have done enough to ‘warrant’ that elusive #1 ranking next to her name.

(More on that ‘quirk’ HERE, for those interested.)

180 pounds = M (meeting expectations)

Unless I’m missing something, #1 Kylie Welker has yet to allow either of the following this season through 15 matches:

  • a single match to go beyond the three-minute first period
  • a single match point to any opponent

That’s the stratosphere the returning national champion, reigning U23 World champion and 2024 Senior World bronze medalist is operating within thus far.

Don’t expect it to change any time soon, either.

It’s only that sort of dominance which could in any way obscure the phenomenal start of true freshman Naomi Simon.

All 22 of the Decorah native’s victories this year have come via bonus points – including a team-leading 13 falls.

The only blemishes on her record are a 10-0 loss to Welker, and a back-and-forth 8-4 defeat to current #2 Sabrina Nauss (Grand Valley State) in the Missouri Valley Open final.

I’m not going to argue with anyone who proclaims the top two 180-pounders in the country both reside in Iowa City. The good news is, they’ll get the chance to prove it.

207 pounds = P/M (progressing toward meeting expectations)

Three-time national runner up Jaycee Foeller has been ranked #1 at 207 since the season began.

And a pair of her teammates have joined the Hawkeye heavyweight in the top five at various points.

The latest of those is sophomore #5 Alivia White (12-6), who earned that ranking in no small part due to a pair of wins over Katja Osteen (18-11).

As at several other weight classes, Iowa’s ‘conundrum’ at 207 is one of the ‘first-world’ variety.

Foeller (19-2) has clearly separated herself from the others, but who will the coaching staff tab to join her in the postseason lineup (if anyone)?

I also give 207 the P/M designation at this point because, lofty rankings aside, things don’t feel ironclad quite yet.

Osteen/White both have impressive wins and curious losses. Meanwhile, Foeller has tasted defeat twice already, albeit in nip-and-tuck matches against two elite NAIA opponents.

Like I said earlier, Iowa has plenty to work with here.

But hey, no team is perfect, right?

Final assessment

Other than a few pending health-related hurdles, this Iowa women’s wrestling team looks every bit like one destined to repeat as National Dual/Team champions in the coming months.

(Not that I’m sure many of you all thought otherwise.)

And the scariest part for the rest of country is that the Hawkeyes can get even better.

I’d urge any less-familiar Iowa fans to make this group appointment viewing for the rest of this season.

The talent is that good. The point-scoring mentality is ever-present. And with the Tigerhawk logo across their chest, it puts a simultaneous target on their back against every opponent who stands across from them.

I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds between now and March.

When it’s over, make sure to head back over here to read my final grades for the 2024-25 Hawkeyes.

(Keep tuning in during the interim too, of course.)

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