Region VII qualifier kicks off postseason for Iowa women's wrestling

At long last, the postseason has returned for women’s college wrestling, and that means the #1 Iowa Hawkeyes can finally (officially) turn their attention towards a repeat national title run.

Clarissa Chun’s team has been ranked tops in the NCAA from wire to wire this season. But everyone in the sport is on equal footing now.

Their task? Advance as many wrestlers as far as possible at NCWWCs (the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships).

But first, there’s the matter of getting there.

That’s what this weekend is for – as 96 programs from around the country divide amongst eight Regional Championship sites. Once there, the top four individual finishers at each weight class will qualify for NCWWCs – to be held two weeks later (March 7-8) in Coralville.

For the Hawkeyes, that means a two-hour trek to Cowles Fieldhouse in Indianola, Iowa – where, for the second year in row Simpson College will serve as regional hosts.

As for who’ll don the Tigerhawk-emblazoned, Black & Gold singlets, Iowa officially announced its 15 postseason entrants on Tuesday morning:

Our 1️⃣5️⃣ heading to Indianola 💪#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/n5LlcklzMC

— Iowa Women's Wrestling (@IowaW_Wrestling) February 18, 2025

*A reminder that in NCAA women’s wrestling teams may qualify up to 15 wrestlers for the national tournament (no more than two per weight class). Once there, only the top-scoring athlete at a given weight counts toward their team’s points.

In speaking with Coach Chun one week prior, she and her coaching staff had yet to finalize their postseason selections.

The truth is, Iowa has more than 15 All-American-caliber, much less postseason ‘worthy’ wrestlers on its roster. But rules are rules and tough decisions had to be made.

So, before we get to those who will be competing on Saturday, I wanted to highlight a few of the excellent wrestlers who (unfortunately) just missed the cut.

Just missed

Val Solorio – 110

Solorio (23-9) wrestled a brutal schedule this season, not the least of which included two of her own teammates. And still, the true freshman stood out.

All of it surely made for a tough call for the Iowa coaching staff – especially as the Pennsylvania native just recorded the most recent win in a 1-1 series split between herself and #5 Emilie Gonzalez.

It’s no stretch to say that Solorio would’ve been an All-American favorite this postseason had she been selected to represent the Hawkeyes.

A similar sentiment goes out to several other wrestlers on the Iowa roster.

Ava Rose – 117/124, Emily Frost – 131

These two sophomores were both invaluable contributors to Iowa’s razor-thin team title margin a year ago. Each fell one win shy of All-American status.

Neither will be in the lineup this time around, even as Frost (25-8) has been ranked in the top 10 for much of the 2024-25 season.

Karlee Brooks – 131, Skye Realin – 131, Lilly Luft – 138, Ella Schmit – 145, Rose Cassioppi – 160

Each of these five athletes missed prolonged portions of this season due to various injuries/illness/etc.

Brooks (9-5) was arguably the most-anticipated incoming freshman on the roster but only competed on two occasions all year.

Realin (6-0) looked every bit like Iowa’s ideal solution at 131 after transferring in fresh off making the U23 World team. Unfortunately, a serious November injury ended her season shortly after it began.

Returning All-American’s Lilly Luft and Ella Schmit have had it tough as well. The former only competed at two events while the latter missed two months in the heart of Iowa’s schedule.

So too, did redshirt freshman Rose Cassioppi – who’d cracked the top 10 at 160 pounds before missing time from November 22 to February 1.

#9 Cadence Diduch – 138, Katja Osteen – 207

Two other notable wrestlers squeezed out by the postseason limit were Diduch (17-5) and Osteen (a two-time All-American in her previous stop at Simon Fraser University).

The freshman Diduch was ranked ninth at her weight class in the final Coaches Poll of the year.

Meet the competition

Iowa is among 10 teams competing at the Region VII qualifier – seven of them from within the state border:

• Augsburg University (MN)
• Augustana (IL)
• Buena Vista (IA)
• Central College (IA)
• Cornell College (IA)
• #20 Dubuque (IA)
• #1 Iowa
• #24 Simpson College (IA)
• University of Sioux Falls (SD)
• #11 Wartburg College (IA)

While the Hawkeyes won their regional at the same host site a year ago – advancing all 15 athletes to NCWWCs – it’ll be a different look this go around thanks to the continued boom of women’s college wrestling.

Ready for Regionals 😤

➡️ https://t.co/l2Vf1u9IKx#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/fmuJE0E5gZ

— Iowa Women's Wrestling (@IowaW_Wrestling) February 19, 2025

In 2024, six regional sites cumulatively advanced 24 wrestlers/weight class to the national tournament. Those figures have jumped to eight and 32 respectively this season. And because of that, regional assignments have shuffled significantly compared to a year ago.

In Indianola, just four programs (incl. Iowa) return from 2024 – the others being Buena Vista, #24 Simpson and #11 Wartburg.

From a broader perspective, the wider dispersal of teams/talent across regionals will only make the national tournament even stronger in March.

It will also, however, (likely) make qualification somewhat easier for the Hawkeyes.

14/15 Iowa wrestlers competing on Saturday currently hold national rankings at their respective weight class(es). The rest of the teams in the field combine for just seven total.

On paper, Iowa ‘should’ win regional titles at 9/10 weights and comfortably qualify all 15 Hawkeyes for NCWWCs.

(But we all know wrestling matches aren’t won on paper, don’t we.)

As we go through the individual weight classes there will be some history between several athletes – both from previous open tournament and dual competitions.

Iowa has defeated four of its fellow regional competitors in past duals:

• Augustana (44-1)
• Wartburg (42-1)
• Cornell (47-0)
• Sioux Falls (39-7) *2023-24 season

103 pounds

Names to know (Hawkeyes in bold):

• #1 Rianne Murphy (26-2)
• #4 Sterling Dias (15-8)

Simply put, it’d be a shock to see any finals matchup other than this pair Hawkeyes locking horns once again.

These two have already met twice this season, albeit months apart and under varying circumstances.

On opening weekend, Murphy defeated Dias – a returning NCWWC finalist – when the latter was forced to default from a close match due to a shoulder injury that wound up costing Dias nearly two months of competition.

They met again 2.5 weeks ago in another open tournament final. And once again, the freshman prevailed (5-0) – this time in a bout that went the full six minutes.

This result could also have implications on seeding at the national tournament – where Iowa will be hoping its two excellent lightweights wind up on opposite sides of the bracket in hopes of preserving the possibility of an all-Hawkeye final for the second year in a row.

Murphy has yet to lose against NCAA competition in her college career.

110 pounds

Names to know:

• #2 Ava Bayless (26-3)
• #5 Emilie Gonzalez (28-4)

Similar to 103, it’d be a stunner if two Hawkeyes didn’t meet to decide the regional title at 110.

Not only would this be a rematch from a bout earlier this season at the Soldier Salute (won 8-4 by Bayless), but it’d also pit two returning national champions against one another yet again.

Gonzalez won her title in 2024 down at 101 pounds. Bayless won hers at 109.

This year the two have converged at 110, each looking to repeat.

117 pounds

Names to know:

• #1 Brianna Gonzalez (31-0)
• #8 Shea Reisel (Dubuque) *2024 National Qualifier

Gonzalez is one of just four Hawkeyes to carry an undefeated record into this postseason.

A year ago, the now-sophomore won this regional, defeating Iowa teammate Felicity Taylor, 9-3.

Two weeks later, Taylor reversed that result (9-2) in their national championship final.

You can bet that Gonzalez is aiming for a clean sweep this go around.

Unstoppable. #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/h8sHWCB2W6

— Iowa Women's Wrestling (@IowaW_Wrestling) February 19, 2025

Her stiffest test figures to come from eighth-ranked Shea Reisel. The Dubuque junior was a national qualifier in 2024. However, Gonzalez dispatched Reisel via 12-0 technical fall when the two met back in December.

124 pounds

Names to know:

• #4 Cali Leng (32-11)
• Liannette Ortiz (Wartburg) *lost 6-6 on criteria to Leng at National Duals
• Telia Peters (Sioux Falls) *2024 National Qualifier
• Sandie Pfeil (Augustana) *2024 National Qualifier, lost to Leng via fall in January
• Hannah Suboni-Kaufman (Augustana) *2024 National Qualifier

One of Iowa’s most in-form wrestlers entering the weekend – Cali Leng looks to qualify for her first national tournament on Saturday.

The sophomore boasts a current seven-match winning streak, including three victories versus top-seven-ranked opponents and another against a returning All-American. That run has propelled the Ohio native into (and up) the rankings at 124 pounds.

She’ll join a field on Saturday with no shortage of experienced postseason competitors. Of note, Wartburg’s Liannette Ortiz wrestled the Hawkeye to a narrow 6-6 defeat (on criteria) back in early January.

131 pounds

Names to know:

• Emmily Patneaud (17-8)
• #4 Kylie Rule (Wartburg) *2024 All-American (8^th at 130)
• Khylie Wainwright (Wartburg) *lost via fall (1:41) to Patneaud at National Duals
• Brinley Green (Sioux Falls) *2024 National Qualifier

One could argue that no Hawkeye competing this weekend has a better opportunity in front of her than Patneaud.

The senior emerged as the coaching staff’s choice at 131 pounds with a strong close to her season.

Regardless of lacking a ranking before her name, Patneaud profiles as every bit of an All-American contender. Why? Well, for one, because she’s done it before – taking 5^th back in 2022 for McKendree.

She’s very difficult to break down and excels at turning errant shots from her opponents into scores of her own.

The concern for Patneaud on Saturday wouldn’t seem to be qualifying but improving her seed for NCWWCs. And the only way she can probably do that is by knocking off #4 Kylie Rule.

Back in January, the Wartburg sophomore sat out a would-be matchup between the two when their teams met a National Duals. So, we don’t yet know how they might fare against one another.

One thing’s for sure – you can bet Patneaud and the Iowa coaching staff would love the opportunity to find out.

138 pounds

Names to know:

• #5 Nanea Estrella (20-3)
• #10 Aniyah Kelly (Wartburg) *2024 National Qualifier
• Nina Makem (Augsburg) *2x All-American (5^th at 136 in 2023, 8^th at 155 in 2024)
• McKenna Hendrickson (Sioux Falls) *2024 National Qualifier

The heavy favorite at 138, Nanea Estrella will look to regain the top form she’d shown leading up to the last few weeks of the regular season.

Estrella has lost three of her last seven matches following a 16-0 start – not looking like her usual, dynamic self.

Not that you asked my opinion, but I still believe the senior is every bit the national title contender she seemed like in mid-January. And what better place to start gaining momentum toward that end than Saturday’s regional?

Estrella hasn’t previously wrestled #10 Aniyah Kelly (Wartburg), who sat out the dual between their two teams at National Duals. Estrella has, however, previously crossed paths with Augsburg’s Nina Makem.

Back in November of 2022, she won a 3-3 match (on criteria) between the two at the Missouri Valley Open.

145 pounds

Names to know:

• #1 Macey Kilty (19-0)
• #2 Reese Larramendy (23-1)
• #9 Annie Obermark (Simpson)

The class of the field at 145 is unquestionably the two Hawkeyes.

Kilty – the back-to-back senior World medalist – represents Larramendy’s only collegiate loss in her last 38 matches, and thus, the biggest threat to the sophomore’s bid to repeat as national champion.

Assuming they meet again in the regional final it’ll be interesting to see what adjustments Larramendy has made since their one-sided meeting at the Soldier Salute in late December (controlled 8-1 by Kilty).

160 pounds

Names to know:

• #1 Kennedy Blades (16-0)
• #9 Alex Hofrichter (Dubuque) *2024 All-American (7^th at 155)
• #10 Keeley Kehrli (Simpson)
• Sawyer Graham (Augustana) *2024 Round of 12 finisher

We’ll keep it simple here.

When it comes to Kennedy Blades, Iowa fans had better make sure they’re watching, and opponents had better make sure they watch out.

Failure to do so means you’ll likely either A) miss an awesome highlight-reel move, or B) wind up a part of one.

Those are just the rules when it comes to the Olympic silver medalist. I’m not sure why it’d be any different during her first ever collegiate postseason.

180 pounds

Names to know:

• #1 Kylie Welker (19-0)
• #5 Naomi Simon (32-2)
• Kami Senlycki (Wartburg) *2024 All-American (6^th at 170)

41 combined victories, 41 bonus-point wins.

Those numbers pretty much tell it all when it comes to Kylie Welker and Naomi Simon.

Welker hasn’t allowed a single point thus far in her sophomore season – which she’ll look to cap with a second-consecutive national title in the next few weeks.

Simon’s only defeats have come in the Soldier Salute final against Welker and in the Missouri Valley Open final against #3 Sabrina Nauss (Grand Valley State), an 8-4 match that turned on one four-point 50/50 sequence.

Wartburg’s Kami Senlycki – a returning NCWWC semifinalist – could provide a nice regional semifinal test for the freshman from Decorah.

This is another weight class where Iowa will be hoping the seeds break its way at the national tournament. Because should that happen, an all-Hawkeye final at 180 is very much in the cards.

207 pounds

Names to know:

• #1 Jaycee Foeller (19-2)
• #7 Alivia White (23-8)
• #9 Rewa Chababo (Wartburg) *lost 4-0 to White at National Duals
• Zoe Adam (Sioux Falls) *2024 National Qualifier, lost to White (8-4) last season

We haven’t seen Jaycee Foeller on the mat for Iowa since December 30^th at the Soldier Salute.

She was a last-minute injury scratch just before National Duals, so Saturday will mark some 54 days between competitive bouts for the senior from Missouri.

Luckily, she’s no stranger to this part of the wrestling calendar.

Foeller has yet to lose against NCAA competition this season. She’s also a three-time finalist (and three-time runner up) in her postseason career. With one opportunity left, the goal is clear: take that elusive final step and become a national champion.

She’ll be the prohibitive favorite at this regional having outscored her Iowa teammate (and chief competitor) Alivia White by a combined 20-0 margin over three previous meetings.

Meanwhile, White is making her postseason debut after narrowly missing the lineup as a freshman. She earned that spot thanks to a strong late-season run which included a 10-0 tech. fall over #4 Alyssa Favara (Lock Haven).

I’d anticipate this duo making it 5/5 all-Iowa finals at the weights in which multiple Hawkeyes are entered.

How to watch

Saturday’s action gets underway at 10:00 a.m. (CT) in Indianola and will run throughout the day.

You’ll be able to watch every match – contested across three mats – streaming live on Rokfin (subscription required).

*Rokfin is the same service that hosted coverage for the Grand View Open earlier this month – where numerous Hawkeyes competed. For anyone – myself included – who may’ve shelled out $15 for that event (and subsequently cancelled the recurring one-month subscription) you will still be covered for this Saturday’s regional.

And for those of you unable to follow along with the livestream, I’ll also be on site providing relevant updates/results throughout the competition via social media.

Short time

If I may offer the briefest of humble brags – I truly believe this will be the most comprehensive Iowa women’s wrestling regional preview that you’ll find anywhere.

I tried to cross every ‘T’ and dot every ‘I’ in hopes of getting you all as prepared as possible for the postseason run ahead of us.

Let me do all the leg work, you guys just worry about watching the wrestling.

Heck knows there’ll be plenty of great action from great competitors in the weeks to come to keep you occupied.

And for those who may be experiencing women’s postseason wrestling for the first time, welcome! I’ve done my best to cover all the relevant, differing details which distinguish the women’s format from the men’s. That said, if you ever desire additional clarification/explanation on anything please do not hesitate to ask.

I’m seriously fired up to cover all that lies ahead. Not only is it fun for me personally, but I take great joy in helping others engage with this sport as well.

So, let’s get to it. The 2025 women’s college wrestling postseason is officially upon us.

What could be better than that?