We had former, current and future Hawkeyes competing in seven tournaments at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas from Wednesday-Sunday.
The Iowa Women’s Wrestling program had a great showing at the U.S. Open.
Three Hawks won titles: Brianna Gonzalez(53 kg), Kennedy Blades(68 kg) and Kylie Welker(76 kg).
Welker was named as Outstanding Wrestler of the U.S. Open for her great performance in winning the title at 76 kg. She was 4-0 with four tech falls and outscored her opponents 41-0.
It was a clash of reigning U23 World champions in the finals as Welker defeated longtime foe Yelena Makoyed by an 11-0 tech fall in 2:56.
Blades dominated the field at her new weight of 68 kg. Last summer Blades won silver at the Paris Olympics at 76 kg.
For the tournament Blades was 3-0 with three tech falls and outscored her opponents 33-0. Blades was named for the Most Exciting Wrestler Award.
Brianna Gonzalez defeated former teammate and #1 seed Felicity Taylor 6-5 after being behind 4-0 for the title at 53 kg.
Gonzalez may have been the surprise of the tournament by winning the title at 53 kg while not being seeded in the top eight.
Gonzalez, Blades, and Welker will join Macey Kilty as qualified for the best 2 of 3 bouts at Final X in Newark, New Jersey on June 14. The winner will represent Team USA at the 2025 World Freestyle Championships in Zagreb, Croatiao on September 15-18.
Marylynne Deede placed 4th at 76 kg. Emily Frost was 6th at 59 kg and Ava Bayless was 7th at 50 kg. Deede and Bayless qualified for the Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament May 16-17 in Louisville, Kentucky.
In the Men’s U.S. Open Austin DeSanto was fifth at 61 kg and Real Woods was fourth at 65 kg. Incoming Iowa transfer Massoma Endene placed seventh at 97 kg.
DeSanto, Woods and Endene have now qualified for the World Team Challenge Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky on May 16-17.
Spencer Lee has already qualified at 57 kg for Final X in Newark, New Jersey on June 14.
Incoming recruits at U20 U.S. Open
Incoming Iowa Wrestling recruit Leister Bowling dominated the field to win the 77 kg/169 lbs. title at the U20 Greco-Roman U.S. Open.
Bowling was 4-0 with four tech falls and outscored his opponents 35-2.
Bowling has now qualified for the Best 2 out of 3 finals at the U20 Greco-Roman World Team Trials in Geneva, Ohio on May 30.
In the Freestyle U20 U.S. Open Bo Bassett placed third at 65 kg and Michael Mocco was fifth at 125 kg.
Bassett and Mocco qualified for the U20 Freestyle World Team Trials in Geneva, Ohio on May 31.
Masters
Jeff McGinness placed third at Masters Nationals in Las Vegas at 78 kg/171 lbs. in the Class C Masters Division for ages 43-50.
After a quarterfinal win by tech fall McGinness dropped his semifinals match 6-0 to Rudy James, a World champ that has won six World masters medals and is a 10-time masters national champion. McGinness then received a medical forfeit in the consolation semifinals before winning by a tech fall to place third.
This was an impressive performance for McGinness who has not competed in over 20 years. I hope to see him compete next year at Masters Nationals.
Patrick Rhoades placed second at 88 kg in the A Master Division for ages 25-34. Rhoades was an NCAA Qualifier for Iowa at 165 in 2016.
Women’s U.S. Open in Las Vegas
50 kg
Ava Bayless (Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC) – 7th
Emilie Gonzalez (Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC) – DNP
53 kg
Brianna Gonzalez 1st
Felicity Taylor (Titan Mercury WC) 2nd
Isabella Marie Gonzales (Titan Mercury WC) * DNP
57 kg – Bella Williams (USOPTC) * DNP
59 kg – Emily Frost (Iowa Women’s WC/Curby 3-Style WC) 6th
62 kg – Nanea Estrella (Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC) DNP
68 kg – Kennedy Blades (Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC) 1st
76 kg
Kylie Welker (Iowa Women’s WC/Titan Mercury WC) – 1st
Marylynne Deede(LWC) – 4th
* – Incoming recruit from the Class of 2025
Men’s U.S. Open
61 kg – Austin DeSanto (Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC) 5th
65 kg – Real Woods (Cliff Keen WC) 4th
97 kg – Massoma Endene (Burg Training Center) 7th
U20 U.S. Open
57 kg – Dru Ayala DNP
57 kg – Anthony Lavezzola DNP
70 kg – Koye Grebel DNP
74 kg – Joey Kennedy DNP
92 kg – Brody Sampson DNP
U20 U.S. Open for incoming recruits
Freestyle
65 kg – Bo Bassett 3rd
86 kg – Tyrel Miller DNP
125 kg – Michael Mocco 5th
Greco-Roman
77 kg – Leister Bowling 1st
Masters Nationals
Class C for ages 43-50
78 kg – Jeff McGinness 3rd
Class A for ages 25-34
88 kg – Patrick Rhoades 2nd
Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
May 16-17
Louisville, Kentucky
U20 Greco-Roman and Freestyle World Team Trials
May 30-31
Geneva, Ohio
Final X – 2025 Senior World Team Trials Finals
June 14
Newark, New Jersey
2025 U20 World Championships
Sophia, Bulgaria on August 18-24
2025 World Freestyle Championships
September 15-18
Zagreb, Croatia
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
