The Iowa Women’s Wrestling team made a way to win their first NWCA National Duals title with a thrilling 21-20 battle over #1 seed North Central in the finals. The Hawks had a 20-17 lead heading into the last bout at 191 where Jaycee Foeller dropped a 6-1 decision to Traeh Haynes, 6-1. With the Freestyle scoring North Central received three points and Iowa was awarded one point for scoring in the bout giving Iowa the one-point victory and the NWCA National Duals title.
Iowa won four matches and North Central won six in the dual meet.
Iowa got off to a quick start with a tech fall from Sterling Dias at 101 followed by a 5-5 decision on criteria by Ava Bayless at 109 for a 7-1 lead in the dual meet. Iowa then dropped the next five matches to fall behind in the team score, 16-12.
The key to those five losses by Iowa is that each wrestler scored in the match so one team point was awarded to Iowa in all five bouts. With the point that Foeller was awarded at 191 for scoring in her match that would give Iowa six crucial team points in matches they lost and that would prove to be the difference in the dual meet.
Marlynne Deede came up huge with a pin in 1:38 at 155 to make the team score 17-16 Iowa. Kylie Welker won an 11-3 decision at 170 to give the Hawks a 20-17 lead heading into 191.
In the semifinals Iowa dominated two-time defending National Champion King, 31-8. Iowa won with two pins, one tech fall, four decisions and one forfeit.
For Iowa to win the NWCA National Duals in the first year of their program and without their full lineup is impressive.
Congratulations to the Iowa Women’s Wrestling team for winning the NWCA National Duals title.
With the success of this tournament I would believe that the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls will host this event for years to come.
Iowa will compete next when they host the Iowa Duals in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday, January 21. A starting time has yet to be announced. I will keep you posted.
Kylie Welker of the University of Iowa will represent Team USA at the Zagreb Open in Zagreb, Croatia. Welker will compete at 76 KG/167 lbs. on Saturday, January 13.
NWCA National Duals Semifinals
Iowa defeated King University 31-8
101 – Sterling Dias (Iowa) over Mia Zuniga (King University) Fall 4:04
109 – Ava Bayless (Iowa) over Danielle Garcia (King University) Dec 2-0
116 – Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) over Melanie Mendoza (King University) Dec 8-0
123 – Felicity Taylor (Iowa) over Montana Delawder (King University) Dec 5-0
130 – Maria Victoria Baez Dilone (King University) over Emily Frost (Iowa) TF 10-0
136 – Claire DiCugno (King University) over Lilly Luft (Iowa) TF 10-0
143 – Reese Larramendy (Iowa) over Yasmine Oliveira (King University) Dec 7-0
155 – Marlynne Deede (Iowa) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
170 – Kylie Welker (Iowa) over Tiffani Baublitz (King University) TF 10-0
191 – Jaycee Foeller (Iowa) over Alexa Garcia (King University) Fall 5:49
NWCA National Duals Finals
Iowa defeated North Central College 21-20
101 – Sterling Dias (Iowa) over Madison Avila (North Central College) TF 11-0
109 – Ava Bayless (Iowa) over Jaslynn Gallegos (North Central College) Dec 5-5
116 – Sydney Petzinger (North Central College) over Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) Dec 6-4
123 – Amani Jones (North Central College) over Felicity Taylor (Iowa) Dec 12-3
130 – Salome Walker (North Central College) over Emily Frost (Iowa) Dec 8-2
136 – Yele Aycock (North Central College) over Lilly Luft (Iowa) Dec 6-2
143 – Alara Boyd (North Central College) over Reese Larramendy (Iowa) Dec 9-4
155 – Marlynne Deede (Iowa) over London Houston (North Central College) Fall 1:38
170 – Kylie Welker (Iowa) over Yelena Makoyed (North Central College) Dec 11-3
191 – Traeh Haynes (North Central College) over Jaycee Foeller (Iowa) Dec 6-1
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
