Kennedy Blades has been named as the USA Wrestling 2025 Women’s College Wrestler of the Year.
In her first year of college wrestling Blades won a national title at 160 lbs. by going 25-0 with 23 tech falls and two pins. She was also named the 2025 NCWWC Most Outstanding Wrestler in leading Iowa to their second straight national title.
The award was selected by a vote from three major groups: wrestling journalists, women’s college head coaches and the fans.
Each of these groups accounted for one-third of the vote.
Blades was voted the winner by all three voting groups to secure the award over seven other finalists, all of whom are college national champions.
Blades carried 11-of-18 first place votes in the journalist voting, 23-of-58 first place votes in the coaches voting, and 30% of the fan vote.
This past summer Blades won a silver medal at the Olympics at 76 kg.
Blades, originally from Chicago, Illinois, was a 2021 U20 world champion, 2023 U20 bronze medalist and a 2023 U23 silver medalist.
Blades along with teammates Kiley Welker and Macey Kilty of the University of Iowa were three of the eight finalists for the USA Wrestling 2025 Women’s College Wrestler of the Year.
Welker, a redshirt sophomore from Franksville, Wisconsin, was 27-0 with 21 tech falls and six pins while not surrendering a single point all season for the NCWWC title at 180.
Last season Welker won the title at 170 and is on track to be a four-time national champion.
Kilty, from Stratford, Wisconsin, transferred into the program this summer with one year of eligibility remaining and won a national title at 145.
Kilty went 28-0 with 20 tech. falls, three pins and four decisions for the season.
Congratulations to Kennedy Blades for being named for this honor and to Kiley Welker and Macey Kilty for being nominated.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
