Nanea Estrella of the University of Iowa has been named as the inaugural Big Ten Conference Jackie Robinson Community and Impact Award winner.
This is the first year for this prestigious award for the Big Ten that will be presented to a male and female athlete each year.
Estrella was presented with the award by Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti at a team meeting earlier today.
“We are always really excited to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our student athletes,” said Commissioner Petitti. “We see them do it athletically on the biggest stages, but also there’s a quiet thing they do, which is impact their communities and to recognize Nanea for what she does, there’s nothing better than being on campus, being able to do this in person.”
From HawkeyeSports.com:
The Makawao, Hawaii, native spearheaded an online donation drive in to help support the people of Lahaina after one the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history leveled the town in August of 2023. Though Estrella was not born in Lahaina, it was her second home as she went to high school at Lahainaluna.
“They always accepted me as one of their own,” Estrella says. “I’ve done so many fundraisers in Lahaina that made it possible for me to compete nationally in wrestling.”
The senior organized a toy/sports equipment drive and a virtual food drive for the Maui Food Bank to help the residents of Lahaina. Her efforts raised over $5,000 for the Maui Food Bank and sent countless toys and sports equipment to families who lost everything.
“It meant the world to me to come back to Iowa City and feel the support from Iowa and feel that Hawkeyes really want to help,” said Estrella. “The Hawkeye community gave me the same support that Lahaina gave me when I was younger. It gave me a little reminder of home and makes me feel so confident in my decision to be here. I’m just so grateful.”
It has been 20 months since the fires and the community of Lahaina is still far from being repaired. Estrella makes an effort that every time she returns home to help run wrestling practices as her way of giving back to the community while also continuing to grow the sport.
Estrella placed third at 138 this past season as a redshirt senior as Iowa won their second straight NCWWC national title.
Congratulations to Nanea Estrella for being named for this prestigious honor.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
