Naomi Simon dominated in winning the 76 kg title at U20 Nationals in Spokane, Washington to make the U20 World Team for the second straight year.
Simon was 5-0 with five pins including pins in 2:41 and 2:28 over Stella Stiegler of Virginia in the Best of Three Finals and will now represent Team USA at the 2025 U20 World Championships in in Sophia, Bulgaria on August 20-22.
Simon won a Bronze medal at 76kg at the 2024 U20 World Freestyle Championships.
As a true freshman this season at 180 Simon was 38-4 and placed third at the NCWWC Nationals for Iowa.
Simon was an undefeated four-time state champion from Decorah with a career record of 150-0 and the biggest recruit to ever come out of Iowa for girls wrestling in 2024.
Lilly Luft(62 kg) and Cadence Diduch (65 kg) placed second. Both dropped close matches in the Best of Three Finals.
Luft only competed in five matches this season due to injury as a sophomore and placed fifth at NCWWC Nationals last season as a true freshman.
Diduch was 17-5 as a true freshman and was a 2024 U20 World Team member.
Luft and Diduch will represent Team USA at the U20 Pan American Championships in Lima, Peru on July 10-12.
Ava Bayless placed second at 50 kg at U23 Nationals.
Bayless will now represent Team USA at the 2025 U23 Pan American Championships in Queretaro, Mexico on April 10-11.
U20 Nationals
50 kg – Val Solorio 5th
57 kg – Cali Leng 8th
59 kg – Karlee Brooks 6th
59 kg – Emily Frost 5th
62 kg – Lilly Luft 2nd
65 kg – Cadence Diduch 2nd
72 kg – Naomi Simon 1st
U23 Nationals
50 kg – Emilie Gonzalez – 3rd
50 kg – Ava Bayless 2nd
53 kg – Brianna Gonzalez 3rd
65 kg – Reese Larramendy 3rd
72 kg – Rose Cassioppi 6th
76 kg Naomi Simon – U20 World Championships in Sophia, Bulgaria on August 20-22.
62 kg Lilly Luft – U20 Pan American Championships in Lima, Peru on July 10-12.
65 kg Cadence Diduch – U20 Pan American Championships in Lima, Peru on July 10-12.
50 kg Ava Bayless – U23 Pan American Championships in Queretaro, Mexico on April 10-11.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
