The Executive Committee of the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championship (NCWWC) made two big announcements.

The 2025 NCWWC will take place at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa on March 7-8. This will put the national tournament about a mile from the home of the University Iowa Women’s Wrestling team who won the 2024 title in their first year of competition.

Xtream Arena has become a popular host for elite wrestling competition over the last three years and this will certainly add to their reputation. 

This tournament will also be a good boost to the local Iowa City economy that supports Iowa Wrestling.

The Executive Committee also announced that there will be a move from six to eight regions to qualify for NCWWC. The top 4 at each region will qualify for NCWWC. With that the NCWWC will grow from 240 wrestlers this season to 320 wrestlers in 2025.

2025 Regionals will be on February 21-23. The process will begin in the upcoming weeks in choosing the eight regional sites.

This past season Iowa competed at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa at the Region V Tournament.

I would like to see Cedar Rapids host a regional this year. 

The increase in regionals is due to the explosive growth of women’s wrestling. There will be a total of 96 teams competing in Division I, II, and III women’s wrestling for the 2024-25 season. 23 of those programs will be competing for the first time next season.

Iowa Wrestling won the NCWWC and National Duals title this past season in their first year of competition. I have no doubt that the success of Iowa Wrestling has been a force in the growth of women’s wrestling.

My blog yesterday was about the funding being approved by the NCAA to create an NCAA national championship for Division I, II, and III for women’s wrestling.

https://iowawrestlingblog.com/2024/04/ncaa-approves-funding-for-national-collegiate-womens-wrestling-championship/

I look for a continued increase in women’s college wrestling programs to grow each year. Iowa is the only Power 5 conference member with women’s wrestling. I would like to see that increase as soon as possible.

My one concern is that the NCWWC will once again be on the weekend of Big Tens and all the NCAA qualifying conference tournaments for men’s wrestling. I believe that is a mistake. Find a weekend that the women’s national tournament is the only big event in college wrestling going on.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The NCAA Board of Governors on Thursday approved funding for women’s wrestling. The board approved $1.7 million in Association funding with $200,000 in 2025 and $1.5 million in 2026 to establish a National Collegiate women’s wrestling championship.

The first championship will be in the 2025-26 season.

In February the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics approved to recommend legislation for Division I, II, and II sponsorship. The divisions are expected to vote on the proposals during the 2025 NCAA Convention planned for Jan. 15-18 in Nashville, Tennessee. 

The growth of women’s wrestling has been amazing across the country. 45 states now have sanctioned high school girls wrestling and women’s wrestling is one of the fastest growing sport in American.

The University of Iowa Women’s Wrestling team has brought a lot of great attention to women’s wrestling. Iowa shattered the attendance record with 8,207 fans in Carver-Hawkeye Arena for the Trailblazer Duals on November 12, 2023. This was the home debut for the new women’s program. 

Iowa won the 2024 NCWWC national title and NCWA Duals in the first year for the program.

I look for more Division I programs to add women’s wrestling in the next two years as the sport continues to grow. 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Incoming Iowa Wrestling recruits competed at the Greco-Roman U20 Nationals in Las Vegas. Otto Black won the 63kg/138 lbs. title in dominating fashion. Black had three tech falls before defeating Jandon Drury 10-5 in the finals.

Black was a Junior Greco-Roman national champion at 126 in 2022 and 132 in 2023. 

Black, from Park, Colorado, committed to the Hawks on April 16. He won a 138 lbs. 4A Colorado state title this season with a 52-0 record and will be a member of the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024.

Leister Bowling placed second at 77kg/169 lbs. After two tech falls, Bowling won 7-0 in the quarterfinals and 9-7 in the semifinals. He dropped the finals match 8-0 to Aydin Rix McElhinney.

Bowling, from Longmont, Colorado, won a 175 lbs state title for Mead High School. Bowling and Black were teammates and led Mead to the 4A Colorado state title this season.

Bowling is in the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2025.

Black and Bowling have now qualified for U20 Greco-Roman World Team Trials on May 31-June 1 in Geneva, Ohio.

On Friday and Saturday Kael Voinovich and Isaiah Fenton will be competing at the Freestyle U20 Nationals  in Las Vegas.

Voinovich is in the Recruiting Class of 2024 and Fenton is a true freshman at Iowa.

FloWrestling will have full coverage on their premium service.

Freestyle 

Kael Voinovich – 70kg

Isaiah Fenton – 74kg 

U20 Freestyle Nationals Schedule

*****All times listed are CST

Friday, April 26

U20 Freestyle 

Preliminaries and Consolations

6:00PM – 10:30PM

Saturday, April 27

U20 Freestyle 

Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Consolations and Consolation Semifinals

Noon – 3PM

U20 Freestyle 

All Medal Matches

6:00PM – 7:30PM

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Incoming Iowa Wrestling recruits are registered to compete at the 2024 U20 Nationals in Freestyle and Greco-Roman at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Wrestlers will be competing to qualify for U20 Freestyle and Greco-Roman World Team Trials on May 31-June 1 in Geneva, Ohio.

Otto Black(63kg) and Leister Bowling(77kg) will compete in Greco-Roman on Wednesday and Thursday. 

Kael Voinovich(70kg) will compete in Freestyle on Friday and Saturday. 

Black and Voinovich are in the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024 and Bowling is in the Class of 2025.

University of Iowa true freshman Isaiah Fenton is registered to compete at 74kg in Freestyle.

Iowa true freshman Gabe Arnold has already qualified for the 2024 U20 World Team Trials by winning U20 Nationals last year and placing second at the WTT at 79kg.

FloWrestling will have coverage on their premium service.

Greco-Roman

Otto Black – 63kg

Leister Bowling – 77kg

U20 Greco-Roman Nationals Schedule

Wednesday, April 24

*****All times listed are CST

U20 Greco-Roman

Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Consolations

Noon – 5:00 PM

U20 Greco-Roman 

Consolation and Consolation Semifinals 

6PM – 8:30PM 

U20 Greco-Roman 

All Medal Matches

8:30PM – 10PM 

Freestyle 

Kael Voinovich – 70kg

Isaiah Fenton – 74kg (True freshman at Iowa)

U20 Freestyle Nationals Schedule

*****All times listed are CST

Friday, April 26

U20 Freestyle 

Preliminaries and Consolations

6:00PM – 10:30PM

Saturday, April 27

U20 Freestyle 

Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Consolations and Consolation Semifinals

Noon – 3PM

U20 Freestyle 

All Medal Matches

6:00PM – 7:30PM

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The annual Hawkeye Wrestling Club Banquet will be on Saturday, May 4. The banquet will begin at 5 PM at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center at 7725 Kirkwood Blvd SW in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The annual banquet is always a good time and an important fundraiser for the HWC.

Spencer Lee won the 2024 Olympic Team Trials at 57kg  last weekend. The buzz and excitement of a Hawk in the Olympics is always great to talk about.

There will be a buffet style dinner and a great crowd of Iowa Wrestling fans. A live and silent auction provides an opportunity to support our HWC.

Current members of the HWC, coaches, and alumni of legendary Hawkeye will be speaking.

There are many great and unique items available to bid on online for the HWC auction:

https://live.classy.org/auction/2024-annual-banquet/4676fb99-2fa0-476c-bd97-8ecf9a3a1035

To register for the  2024 HWC Annual Banquet:

https://boom.hawkeyewrestlingclub.com/event/2024-hwc-annual-banquet/e557393

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Iowa Wrestling coach Clarissa Chun has been named as the 2024 USA Wrestling Women’s Coach of the Year. The announcement was made by USA Wrestling at the conclusion of the Olympic Team Trials on Saturday.

Chun was also named as the NCWWC Women’s Wrestling Coach of the Year at the national championships in March.

In their first year of competition the Iowa Hawkeye Women’s team won the NCWWC National title and NWCA National Duals.

Iowa had six national champions while winning the 2024 NCWWC National Championships and were 16-0 in dual meets this season.

The Hawks qualified nine wrestlers for the Olympic Team Trials this past weekend. Impressive for a first year program.

Iowa will have several wrestlers and recruits competing in the upcoming U20 and U23 World Championships.

Congratulations to Coach Chun for being named as the USA Wrestling Women’s Coach of the Year.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

An online auction is now open for the University of Iowa Wrestling Take Down Homelessness fundraiser. The online auction will close on Friday, April 26 at 8 PM CST.

This is a great fundraiser where fans can bid in an online auction to have dinner with one of their favorite Iowa wrestlers and Tom Brands. All of the proceeds go to support Shelter House in Iowa City.

Iowa Wrestling Take Down Homelessness online auction:

https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/bid/4936

From  shelterhouseiowa.org

Since 1983, Shelter House has provided safe shelter and helped people improve the quality of their lives as they move beyond homelessness. We began in an old home in Iowa City with a capacity of 29 sleeping spaces including beds, couches, and mats on the floor. Today, Shelter House operates a 70-bed emergency shelter in addition to four homes and an apartment building through which we provide over 60 permanent supportive housing units. 

We focus on programs and support services including housing, employment, and mental health recovery that help hundreds of adults, children, and families each year to get back on their feet. We aim to be a voice for systemic community change through excellence in service, financial stewardship, and the development of strong community partnerships.

In September of 2022 there were five Iowa wrestlers that participated in Take Down Homelessness. This year the list has grown to 18 Iowa wrestlers and Iowa Head Wrestling Coach Tom Brands.

You can also make a separate donation on the above website to Shelter House.

I ask that you do your part as an Iowa Wrestling fan and get the word out on this fundraiser for a great cause.

Iowa wrestlers participating in Take Down Homelessness

Drake Ayala 

Gabe Arnold               

Abe Assad   

Ryder Block                               

Nelson Brands           

Michael Caliendo     

Tony Cassioppi           

Joey Cruz 

Jared Franek                                 

Patrick Kennedy     

Kale Petersen              

Caleb Rathjen               

Cullan Schriever       

Cobie Siebrecht       

Brody Teske               

Victor Voinovich           

Real Woods               

Jesse Ybarra 

Coach Tom Brands

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Eight members of the Iowa Women’s Wrestling team competed at the 2024 Olympic Team Trials in State College, Pennsylvania. 

In the Challenge Tournament Felicity Taylor placed third at 53kg, Reese Larramendy was fourth at 68kg, and Kylie Welker was third at 76kg.

Nyla Valencia(50kg), Emilie Gonzalez(50kg), Ava Bayless(50kg), Brianna Gonzalez(53kg), and Marlynne Deede(76kg) did not place.

Rose Cassioppi qualified for the Olympic Trials but did not compete.

I am impressed that Iowa qualified nine wrestlers for the Olympic Team Trials after completing just their first year of competition. Iowa won the NCWWC national title and NCWA National Duals this season.

I will continue to cover our Iowa Women’s Wrestling team and incoming recruits as they compete this summer.

2024 Olympic Team Trials

Challenge WM 50kg

Champ. Round 1 – Nyla Valencia (IWWC / TMWC) won by decision over Ava Bayless (IWWC) (Dec 11-4)

Cons. Round 1 – Ava Bayless (IWWC) received a bye () (Bye)

Cons. Round 2 – Mia Palumbo (SWC) won by fall over Ava Bayless (IWWC) (Fall 3:50)

Challenge WM 50kg

Champ. Round 1 – Nyla Valencia (IWWC / TMWC) won by decision over Ava Bayless (IWWC) (Dec 11-4)

Quarterfinal – Audrey Jimenez (SKWC) won by tech fall over Nyla Valencia (IWWC / TMWC) (TF 10-0)

Cons. Round 2 – Emilie Gonzalez (IWWC / TMWC) won by injury default over Nyla Valencia (IWWC / TMWC) (Inj. 0:00)

Challenge WM 50kg

Champ. Round 1 – Mia Palumbo (SWC) won by tech fall over Emilie Gonzalez (IWWC / TMWC) (TF 11-0)

Cons. Round 1 – Emilie Gonzalez (IWWC / TMWC) received a bye () (Bye)

Cons. Round 2 – Emilie Gonzalez (IWWC / TMWC) won by injury default over Nyla Valencia (IWWC / TMWC) (Inj. 0:00)

Cons. Round 3 – Emilie Gonzalez (IWWC / TMWC) won by tech fall over Kaelani Shufeldt (LHU) (TF 10-0)

Cons. Semi – Samara Chavez (SMC) won by fall over Emilie Gonzalez (IWWC / TMWC) (Fall 0:55)

Challenge WM 53kg

Champ. Round 1 – Brianna Gonzalez (IWWC / TMWC) received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal – Katie Gomez (SKWC) won by tech fall over Brianna Gonzalez (IWWC / TMWC) (TF 10-0)

Cons. Round 2 – Brianna Gonzalez (IWWC / TMWC) won by decision over Sydney Petzinger (CWC) (Dec 8-0)

Cons. Round 3 – Felicity Taylor (IWWC / TMWC) won by decision over Brianna Gonzalez (IWWC / TMWC) (Dec 9-4)

Challenge WM 53 KG

Champ. Round 1 – Felicity Taylor (IWWC / TMWC) received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal – Haley Augello (IZZY / NYAC) won by decision over Felicity Taylor (IWWC / TMWC) (Dec 5-1)

Cons. Round 2 – Felicity Taylor (IWWC / TMWC) received a bye () (Bye)

Cons. Round 3 – Felicity Taylor (IWWC / TMWC) won by decision over Brianna Gonzalez (IWWC / TMWC) (Dec 9-4)

Cons. Semi – Felicity Taylor (IWWC / TMWC) won by tech fall over Vayle Baker (WPWC / NYAC) (TF 11-0)

3rd Place Match – Felicity Taylor (IWWC / TMWC) won by decision over Alisha Howk (SKWC) (Dec 5-1)

2nd Place Match – Areana Villaescusa (WCAP) won by fall over Felicity Taylor (IWWC / TMWC) (Fall 3:50)

Challenge WM 68 KG

Champ. Round 1 – Reese Larramendy (IWWC / CKWC) received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal – Reese Larramendy (IWWC / CKWC) won by decision over Brooklyn Hays (Unattached) (Dec 10-8)

Semifinal – Alex Glaude (BDRTC / TMWC) won by decision over Reese Larramendy (IWWC / CKWC) (Dec 9-1)

Cons. Semi – Reese Larramendy (IWWC / CKWC) won by decision over Kaylynn Albrecht (TMWC) (Dec 8-4)

3rd Place Match – Brooklyn Hays (Unattached) won by tech fall over Reese Larramendy (IWWC / CKWC) (TF 11-0)

Challenge WM 76kg

Champ. Round 1 – Marlynne Deede (IWWC) won by tech fall over Tavia Heidelberg-Tillitson (Menlo) (TF 10-0)

Quarterfinal – Kylie Welker (IWWC / SPAR / TMWC) won by tech fall over Marlynne Deede (IWWC) (TF 10-0)

Cons. Round 2 – Marlynne Deede (IWWC) won by tech fall over Madison Sandquist (SHU) (TF 12-2)

Cons. Round 3 – Precious Wieser (TMWC) won by decision over Marlynne Deede (IWWC) (Dec 8-4)

Challenge WM 76kg

Champ. Round 1 – Kylie Welker (IWWC / SPAR / TMWC) received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal – Kylie Welker (IWWC / SPAR / TMWC) won by tech fall over Marlynne Deede (IWWC) (TF 10-0)

Semifinal – Yelena Makoyed (CWC/TMWC) won by decision over Kylie Welker (IWWC / SPAR / TMWC) (Dec 6-4)

Cons. Semi – Kylie Welker (IWWC / SPAR / TMWC) won by decision over Skylar Grote (TMWC) (Dec 6-0)

3rd Place Match – Kylie Welker (IWWC / SPAR / TMWC) won by decision over Dymond Guilford (TMWC) (Dec 5-4)

2nd Place Match – Yelena Makoyed (CWC/TMWC) won by no contest over Kylie Welker (IWWC / SPAR / TMWC) (NC)

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The weight class of 57kg/125 lbs. was first used in the 2014 Freestyle World Championships. Since that time 57kg has been contested at eight World Championships, two Olympics, and another Olympic Games this summer.

An Iowa Hawkeye has represented Team USA at 57kg in six of the eight World Championships and in all three Olympics.

Earlier today Spencer Lee defeated another Iowa Hawkeye Thomas Gilman to win the 2024 Olympic Team Trials. This marks the third straight Olympic Trials that an Iowa Hawkeye has won 57kg.

Daniel Dennis won the Olympic Trials in 2016 over another Hawkeye Tony Ramos in the finals. Thomas Gilman won the 2020 Olympic Team Trials.

Dennis did not place in the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics and he is now the head coach of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club.

Gilman won Bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, just placed second at 57kg at the 2024 Olympic Team Trials, won a 57kg World title in 2021, World Silver in 2017 and 2022 and placed fifth in 2018.

Tony Ramos was a World Team member in 2014 and 2015.

Now we have Spencer Lee at 57kg.

Team USA still has to qualify for the Olympics by placing in the top three at 57 kg at the World Olympic Qualifier in Istanbul, Turkey on May 11-12. I will keep you posted.

From Ramos to Gilman to Lee for the Hawks representing Team USA at 57kg in the Olympic/World Championships. Who’s next?

Iowa Wrestling at 57kg for Team USA

2014 World Team – Tony Ramos

2015 World Team – Tony Ramos

2016 Olympics – Daniel Dennis

2017 World Team – Thomas Gilman (Silver)

2018 World Team – Thomas Gilman (5th)

2020 Olympics – Thomas Gilman (Bronze)

2021 World Team – Thomas Gilman (Gold)

2022 World Team – Thomas Gilman (Silver)

2024 Olympics – Spencer Lee

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Spencer Lee won two straight matches against Thomas Gilman in the All-Hawkeye Best-of Three Finals at 57kg to win the Olympic Team Trials in State College, Pennsylvania. 

In the first match Gilman was up 1-0 at the end of the first period. Lee got his offense going in the second period to win the match 6-3. In the second match Lee was up 8-2 when he pinned Gilman in 5:58 to win the 57kg title.

Team USA still has to qualify for the Olympics at 57kg by placing in the top three at 57 kg at the World Olympic Games Qualifier in Istanbul, Turkey on May 11-12. I will keep you posted.

If anything, I believe that going to an Olympic Qualifier will help Lee get more matches and will actually help him prepare for the Olympics.

The Summer Olympics are in Paris, France on August 5-11.

Also in the Hawkeye Wrestling Club Alex Marinelli was 2-2 and did not place at 74kg and Tony Cassioppi did not place at 97kg.

I thought Spencer Lee looked great this weekend. Lee, the #4 seed at 57kg, defeated Nico Megaludis 8-0 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals Lee jumped out to a 9-0 lead over 57kg 2023 World Team member Zane Richards before securing a 13-6 decision.

Congratulations Spencer Lee.

Thomas Gilman has had a great career and he is definitely not done. I have no doubt that Gilman will help Lee prepare for the Olympics. I would think that Gilman would also go on the trip to Turkey and be ready to go should he be needed.

Thomas Gilman won a 57kg World title in 2021, an Olympic Silver in 2021, and a World Silver in 2017 and 2022.

2024 Olympic Team Trials

Challenge MFS 57kg

Champ. Round 1 – Spencer Lee (HWC / TMWC) received a bye

Quarterfinal – Spencer Lee (HWC / TMWC) won by decision over Nico Megaludis (PittWC / TMWC) (Dec 8-0)

Semifinal – Spencer Lee (HWC / TMWC) won by decision over Zane Richards (IRTC / TMWC) (Dec 13-6)

Final MFS 57kg

Round 1 – Spencer Lee (HWC / TMWC) won by decision over Thomas Gilman (NLWC / TMWC) (Dec 6-3)

Round 2 – Spencer Lee (HWC / TMWC) won by fall over Thomas Gilman (NLWC / TMWC) (Fall 5:58)

Challenge MFS 74 KG

Champ. Round 1 – Alex Marinelli (HWC / TMWC) won by decision over Tyler Berger (PRTC / SKWC) (Dec 4-0)

Quarterfinal – Jason Nolf (NLWC / TMWC) won by decision over Alex Marinelli (HWC / TMWC) (Dec 7-2)

Cons. Round 2 – Alex Marinelli (HWC / TMWC) won by decision over Levi Haines (NLWC / TMWC) (Dec 11-7)

Cons. Round 3 – Quincy Monday (NJRTC / TMWC) won by tech fall over Alex Marinelli (HWC / TMWC) (TF 11-0)

Challenge MFS 97kg

Champ. Round 1 – Christian Carroll (CWC / TMWC) won by decision over Anthony Cassioppi (HWC / TMWC) (Dec 6-6)

Cons. Round 1 – Anthony Cassioppi (HWC / TMWC) received a bye () (Bye)

Cons. Round 2 – Eric Schultz (NWTC) won by fall over Anthony Cassioppi (HWC / TMWC) (Fall 5:48)

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!