Naomi Simon defeated Chisato Yoshida of Japan 9-0 to win the Bronze medal at 76kg at the U20 World Freestyle Championships in Pontevedra, Spain.
Simon dropped a hard fought 9-8 decision to Mariia Orlevych of Ukraine in the opening round. This is an impressive showing for Simon to bring home a medal at the World Championships and to defeat a Japanese wrestler by a 9-0 score.
Simon is a true freshman for the Hawks who came in ranked #2 at 170 lbs. and #13 P4P for the final 2024 high school rankings. Originally from Decorah, Iowa Simon was the first undefeated four-time state champion in Iowa High School Girls Wrestling history.
Brianna Gonzalez(53kg), Cadence Diduch(62kg), and Reese Larramendy(65kg) did not place.
Larramendy won an NCWWC national title at 143 lbs. last season as a redshirt freshman. Gonzalez placed second in the country at 116 lbs. also as as a redshirt freshman.
Diduch, originally from Freeport, Illinois, is a teammate of Simon in the Recruiting Class of 2024. She was ranked #2 at 135 lbs. and #12 P4P in the final high school rankings.
Iowa Women’s Wrestling Head Coach Clarissa Chun was in Spain as the personal coach for the Hawks competing.
Incoming recruit Otto Black captured Silver on Tuesday at 63kg/138 lbs. at the Greco-Roman U20 World Championships.
Iowa Hawkeye Ben Kueter will compete at 125kg on Saturday and Sunday, September 7-8 at U20 Worlds.
U20 World Freestyle Championships in Pontevedra, Spain
53 kg – Brianna Gonzalez (Baldwin, Calif./Iowa Women’s WC), eliminated
Loss Jyoti Jyoti (India), 3-1
62 kg – Cadence Diduch (Freeport, Ill./Iowa Women’s WC), eliminated
Win Seoyeon Bae (Korea), fall, 4:11
Loss Melanie Jimenez Villalba (Mexico), fall, 5:38
65 kg – Reese Larramendy (Reno, Nev./Iowa Women’s WC), eliminated
Loss Margarita Salnazarian (Individual Neutral Athlete), 10-7
76 kg – Naomi Simon (Decorah, Iowa/Iowa Women’s WC), bronze medal
Loss Mariia Orlevych (Ukraine), 9-8
Win Chisato Yoshida (Japan), 9-0
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
