The University of Iowa Women’s Wrestling team is in second place at the NCWWC Championships after Session 1 by sending ten wrestlers to the semifinals.

In the team race North Central is in first place with 111 followed by Iowa with 107.5 and McKendree is third with 103.

The Hawks were on a roll today at Xtreme Arena in Coralville, Iowa.

The Hawks came out strong by going 15-0 in the first round with all pins or tech falls. After the first three rounds Iowa scored bonus points in 27 of 30 matches they won with 18 tech falls and 9 pins.

Hawks in the semifinals: Rianne Murphy(103), Sterling Dias(103), Ava Bayless(110), Brianna Gonzalez(117), Macey Kilty(145), Reese Larramendy(145), Kennedy Blades(160), Kylie Welker(180), Naomi Simon(180) and Jaycee Foeller(207).

All fifteen wrestlers for Iowa are in contention for All American status. 

Only ten wrestlers can score points for each team and only one wrestler is allowed to score in each weight class.

 

 

It is hard to believe that with as great as the Hawks are doing that the team race is that close. I look for that to change after the semifinal round.

The big team points will be in the semifinals where the winner will be awarded 5th, 4th, 3rd, and 2nd place points.

The wrestling will begin at 10 AM tomorrow with Consolations and the crucial Semifinal round.

Tickets are available at https://www.ncwwc.com/

FloWrestling will have full coverage on their premium service.

 

NCWWC National Championships

Xtreme Arena

Coralville, Iowa

Saturday, March 8

Session 3 – Consolations and semifinals – 10 AM

Session 4: Finals – 6 PM

*Times listed are CST

 

 

NCWWC National Championships

103

Champ. Round 1 – Sterling Dias (Iowa) 21-5 won by fall over Summer Batts (Lock Haven University) 15-16 (Fall 0:39)

Champ. Round 2 – Sterling Dias (Iowa) 21-5 won by fall over Sienna Caruso (Lindenwood University) 15-11 (Fall 1:57)

Quarterfinal – Sterling Dias (Iowa) 21-5 won by fall over Jennesis Martinez (Colorado Mesa University) 11-1 (Fall 1:54)

 

103

Champ. Round 1 – Rianne Murphy (Iowa) 30-3 won by tech fall over Brianna Vollendroff (Chadron) 16-13 (TF-1.5 4:48 (17-6))

Champ. Round 2 – Rianne Murphy (Iowa) 30-3 won by fall over Carissa Hersom (Wartburg) 19-15 (Fall 0:36)

Quarterfinal – Rianne Murphy (Iowa) 30-3 won by tech fall over Avery Kibelbek (King University) 29-6 (TF-1.5 2:05 (10-0))

 

110

Champ. Round 1 – Emilie Gonzalez (Iowa) 33-6 won by tech fall over Lauren Nguyen (Sacred Heart) 21-16 (TF-1.5 0:43 (11-0))

Champ. Round 2 – Emilie Gonzalez (Iowa) 33-6 won by tech fall over Izabella Frezzo (New Jersey City University) 28-5 (TF-1.5 1:30 (10-0))

Quarterfinal – Kendra Ryan (North Central College) 20-6 won by decision over Emilie Gonzalez (Iowa) 33-6 (Dec 7-5)

 

110

Champ. Round 1 – Ava Bayless (Iowa) 32-3 won by tech fall over Alaina Sunlin (Wisconsin Stevens Point) 25-11 (TF-1.5 0:48 (11-0))

Champ. Round 2 – Ava Bayless (Iowa) 32-3 won by tech fall over Sarah Zimmerman (Simpson) 18-9 (TF-1.5 1:06 (12-0))

Quarterfinal – Ava Bayless (Iowa) 32-3 won by fall over Austria Holland (Adams State ) 10-1 (Fall 0:32)

 

117

Champ. Round 1 – Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) 37-0 won by fall over Josey Wehr (Delaware Valley) 2-4 (Fall 1:48)

Champ. Round 2 – Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) 37-0 won by tech fall over Jayleah Pletz (Lock Haven University) 19-13 (TF-1.5 2:30 (12-2))

Quarterfinal – Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) 37-0 won by tech fall over Alexandra Waitsman (William Jewell College) 22-7 (TF-1.5 4:16 (10-0))

 

124

Champ. Round 1 – Cali Leng (Iowa) 38-12 won by tech fall over Megan Edwards (Elmira College) 13-9 (TF-1.5 4:24 (10-0))

Champ. Round 2 – Cali Leng (Iowa) 38-12 won by decision over Lexy Basurto (Schreiner University) 19-13 (Dec 4-2)

Quarterfinal – Aspen Blasko (Grand Valley State) 32-7 won by tech fall over Cali Leng (Iowa) 38-12 (TF-1.5 5:45 (15-2))

 

131

Champ. Round 1 – Emmily Patneaud (Iowa) 22-9 won by tech fall over Zoe Gress (East Stroudsburg University) 15-7 (TF-1.5 5:42 (10-0))

Champ. Round 2 – Emmily Patneaud (Iowa) 22-9 won by decision over Cassia Zammit (Presbyterian) 20-6 (Dec 8-3)

Quarterfinal – Alexandra Szkotnicki (McKendree University) 41-4 won by decision over Emmily Patneaud (Iowa) 22-9 (Dec 6-0)

 

138

Champ. Round 1 – Nanea Estrella (Iowa) 26-4 won by tech fall over Paige Jackson (Lock Haven University) 16-16 (TF-1.5 1:31 (10-0))

Champ. Round 2 – Nanea Estrella (Iowa) 26-4 won by tech fall over Athena Willden (William Jewell College) 19-14 (TF-1.5 2:20 (11-0))

Quarterfinal – Paige Wehrmeister (Presbyterian) 32-7 won by decision over Nanea Estrella (Iowa) 26-4 (Dec 8-7)

 

145

Champ. Round 1 – Macey Kilty (Iowa) 25-0 won by tech fall over Skylar Little Soldier (Grand Valley State) 16-8 (TF-1.5 1:40 (10-0))

Champ. Round 2 – Macey Kilty (Iowa) 25-0 won by tech fall over Khadijah Sanusi (Sacred Heart) 17-14 (TF-1.5 1:39 (10-0))

Quarterfinal – Macey Kilty (Iowa) 25-0 won by tech fall over Sydney Perry (North Central College) 33-5 (TF-1.5 3:44 (10-0))

 

145

Champ. Round 1 – Reese Larramendy (Iowa) 28-2 won by tech fall over Karlie Stith (Mount Union) 25-15 (TF-1.5 0:55 (10-0))

Champ. Round 2 – Reese Larramendy (Iowa) 28-2 won by tech fall over Trinity Donovan (Quincy) 1-2 (TF-1.5 2:53 (13-2))

Quarterfinal – Reese Larramendy (Iowa) 28-2 won by tech fall over Zoey Lints (Elmira College) 30-4 (TF-1.5 3:59 (11-0))

 

160

Champ. Round 1 – Kennedy Blades (Iowa) 21-0 won by tech fall over Emma Matera (Ursinus) 24-11 (TF-1.5 0:41 (10-0))

Champ. Round 2 – Kennedy Blades (Iowa) 21-0 won by tech fall over Breanna Wier (Simpson) 34-12 (TF-1.5 1:41 (10-0))

Quarterfinal – Kennedy Blades (Iowa) 21-0 won by tech fall over Gretchen Donally (Colorado Mesa University) 27-7 (TF-1.5 2:07 (10-0))

 

180

Champ. Round 1 – Kylie Welker (Iowa) 25-0 won by tech fall over Jade Herzer (Wisconsin Stevens Point) 19-9 (TF-1.5 2:21 (10-0))

Champ. Round 2 – Kylie Welker (Iowa) 25-0 won by fall over Allison Brandt (York) 18-14 (Fall 0:48)

Quarterfinal – Kylie Welker (Iowa) 25-0 won by tech fall over Lydia Krauss (McKendree University) 21-6 (TF-1.5 1:09 (10-0))

 

180

Champ. Round 1 – Naomi Simon (Iowa) 37-3 won by fall over Isabella Renfro (Fort Hays State) 29-9 (Fall 2:40)

Champ. Round 2 – Naomi Simon (Iowa) 37-3 won by fall over Jada Arnold (Frostburg State) 11-6 (Fall 2:56)

Quarterfinal – Naomi Simon (Iowa) 37-3 won by decision over Brittyn Corbishley (North Central College) 26-8 (Dec 9-6)

 

207

Champ. Round 1 – Alivia White (Iowa) 26-9 won by fall over Sophie Pollack (Delaware Valley) 3-3 (Fall 0:33)

Champ. Round 2 – Alivia White (Iowa) 26-9 won by decision over Ella Beam (Presbyterian) 18-9 (Dec 6-1)

Quarterfinal – Tristan Kelly (McKendree University) 12-1 won by tech fall over Alivia White (Iowa) 26-9 (TF-1.5 4:44 (10-0))

 

207

Champ. Round 1 – Jaycee Foeller (Iowa) 25-2 won by tech fall over Mackenzie Laforest (D`Youville) 9-11 (TF-1.5 0:40 (10-0))

Champ. Round 2 – Jaycee Foeller (Iowa) 25-2 won by fall over Abbie Miles (Albion) 25-8 (Fall 0:20)

Quarterfinal – Jaycee Foeller (Iowa) 25-2 won by decision over Julia Richey (Simon Fraser University) 14-2 (Dec 3-0)

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The Hawkeye Wrestling Club will host a Social on Saturday, March 8 at Bat 17 at 1735 Benson Avenue in Evanston, Illinois from 2PM – 4:30 PM. 

The HWC Social will be between rounds of the 2025 Big Ten Championships in Welsh-Ryan Arena that begins at 10 AM. 

The HWC Socials are free of charge and provide a great opportunity to meet HWC wrestlers, former Hawkeye greats and other Iowa Wrestling fans.

I anticipate a large crowd of Iowa Wrestling fans at Big Tens.

 

 

From HawkeyeWrestlingClub.com:

For the past two years we have been partnering with local bars and restaurants to provide our fans with Pre-Match Socials! Our goal is to create an atmosphere where our community can grow and enjoy Hawkeye Wrestling together. Our social events are open to the public and free of charge! Guests can win raffle prizes, meet Hawkeye legends, and enjoy drink specials Before the Whistle

 

 

2025 Big Ten Championships

Northwestern – Evanston, Illinois

Welsh-Ryan Arena

Saturday, March 8

Session I – 10 AM

HWC  Social 2 PM – 4:30 PM

Session 2  through Semifinals – 5 PM

 

Sunday, March 9

Session 3 Consolations – Noon

Session 4  Finals – 4:30 PM

*Times listed are CST

Full coverage on BTN

Steven Grace and Mark Ironside call the action on AM 800 KXIC and audio streamed online at HawkeySports.com via YouTube.

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The Iowa Women’s Wrestling team will be looking to defend their title at the NCWWC National Championships in Coralville, Iowa on Friday and Saturday, March 7-8.

The Hawks are considered a big favorite to win the team title with six wrestlers as the #1 seed: Rianne Murphy(103), Brianna Gonzalez(117), Macey Kilty(145), Kennedy Blades(160), Kylie Welker(180), and Jaycee Foeller(207).

It is pretty rare to have a wrestler make a World or Olympic team while in college. It is even more rare for a wrestler to bring home a medal from the Olympic or World Championships while still in college.

I went through past world and Olympic teams. I do to see where there has ever been three current Olympic/World team members competing on a college wrestling team at the same time.

To have three straight weights with a current Olympic or World medalist is not only impressive but unprecedented.

Macey Kilty won bronze at the 2024 World World Championships, Kennedy Blades won silver at 2024 Olympics and Kiley Welker won bronze at the 2024 World Championships.

The Olympics had six weights contested. The non-Olympic weights competed at the 2024 World Championships.

 

 

Macey Kilty – 145

Kilty is currently ranked and seeded #1 at 145. She defeated at the time #1 ranked defending national champion teammate Reese Larramendy 8-1 at Soldier Salute and by a 12-0 tech fall in the finals at the Region VII Championships.

Kilty, from Stratford, Wisconsin, transferred into the program this summer with one year of eligibility remaining . She won silver at 65kg at the 2023 and bronze at the 2024 Senior World Championships and was a 2018 Cadet World champion. She has won six age-level World medals for Team USA.

This is the first year of competition in college for Kilty.

 

Kennedy Blades – 160

Blades is ranked and seeded #1 at 160.

Earlier this week Blades was named as the UWW Wrestler of the Month for February after winning gold at 68kg at the Zagreb Open Ranking Event in Zagreb, Croatia on February 7 where she was 4-0 with two pins and two tech falls.

UWW(United World Wrestling) is the international governing body for wrestling based out of Switzerland.

Blades won silver at the Summer Olympics in Paris last summer at 76kg/176 lbs. She transferred to Iowa and is competing in her first year of college wrestling. 

Blades, from Chicago, Illinois, was a 2021 U20 world champion and 2023 U20 bronze medalist. She was also a 2023 U23 silver medalist.

 

Kiley Welker

Welker is ranked and seeded #1 at 180.

Welker, a redshirt sophomore from Franksville, Wisconsin, won an NCWWC national title at 170 lbs. last season for the Hawks. In October Welker won a U23 World title and won bronze at the 2024 Senior World Freestyle Championships. She was named as the 2024 NCAA Women’s Wrestler of the Year by The Open Mat.

Welker was also a 2021 Junior World champion, 2021 U23 World Bronze medalist, and placed 10th at the 2021 Senior World Championships.

Kylie Welker was the first recruit to commit to the University of Iowa Women’s Wrestling program.

 

 

Tickets for the NCWWC National Championships are still available at https://www.ncwwc.com/

 

NCWWC National Championships

Xtreme Arena

Coralville, Iowa

Friday, March 7

Session 1: Championship 1st round – 10 AM

Session 2: Quarterfinals – 5 PM

 

Saturday, March 8

Session 3 – Consolation semifinals and finals – 10 AM

Session 4: Finals – 6 PM

*Times listed are CST

Full coverage on FloWrestling

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

We are in the final weekend of the high school season for our incoming Iowa Wrestling recruits.

Bo Bassett will be at the PIAA AA State Championships on Thursday-Saturday with full coverage on FloWrestling.

Harvey Ludington will be competing at the New Jersey State Tournament on Thursday-Saturday.  FloWrestling will have full coverage.

Ty and Jarell Miller will be at the Ohio State Tournament on Friday-Sunday. NFHS Network will have a live stream and FloWrestling will have all matches on archive.

 

 

After the regular season is completed I will continue to follow all of our incoming recruits on the freestyle circuit.

As I have done for years I will post a blog on Friday for upcoming weekend competitions and a follow up blog with results on my “Recruits in action” series.

 

 

Recruiting Class of 2025

Leo DeLuca – Blair Academy(Morristown, New Jersey) 120 lbs. 

Season Completed – National Prep champion

 

Paolo Ciatto – Iona Preparatory(New Rochelle, New York)  170 lbs.

Season completed: State Runner-Up

 

Leister Bowling – Longmont(Mead HS), Colorado  175 lbs.

Season completed: State champ

 

Ty Miller – North Olmsted(St. Ed’s HS), Ohio 175 lbs. 

Fri/Sun Mar 7-Mar 9 – at Ohio State Tournament(Columbus)

 

Jarrel Miller – North Olmsted(St. Ed’s HS), Ohio  190 lbs. 

Fri/Sun Mar 7-Mar 9 – at Ohio State Tournament(Columbus)

 

Harvey Ludington – Brick, New Jersey(Brick Memorial HS)  190 lbs. 

Thur/Sat Mar 6-Mar 8 – at New Jersey State Tournament(Atlantic City)

 

Recruiting Class of 2026

Bo Bassett – Johnstown(Bishop McCort HS), Pennsylvania  145 lbs.

Thur/Sat Mar 6-Mar 8 – at PIAA AA State Championships(Hershey)

 

Owen McMullen – Johnstown(Bishop McCort HS), Pennsylvania  

Out with an injury.

 

Women’s Recruiting Class of 2025

Isabella Gonzales – Fresno(Clovis East HS), California  120 lbs. 

Season completed: State champ

 

Samantha Sachs – Glendora, California  130 lbs.  

Season completed: State champ

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The Big Ten Conference has released pre-seeds for the 2025 Big Ten Championships. The Big Tens will be in Evanston, Illinois on Saturday and Sunday March 8-9 . BTN will have full coverage.

The Hawks have Drake Ayala(133) and Stephan Buchanan(197) as the pre-seed #1. 

Kyle Parco(149) and Michael Caliendo(165) are pre-seed #2.

Should pre-seeds follow through, Iowa will have nine wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championships in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 20-22.

The complete tournament brackets and official seeds will be released Friday afternoon following the Big Ten Conference coaches meeting.

 

2025 Big Ten Championships

Northwestern – Evanston, Illinois

Welsh-Ryan Arena

Saturday, March 8

Session I – 10 AM

Session 2  through Semifinals – 5 PM

 

Sunday, March 9

Session 3 Consolations – Noon

Session 4  Finals – 4:30 PM

*Times listed are CST

Full coverage on BTN

Steven Grace and Mark Ironside call the action on AM 800 KXIC and audio streamed online at HawkeySports.com via YouTube.

 

 

Iowa Pre-Seeds for 2025 Big Ten Championships
125 #5 Joey Cruz
133 #1 Drake Ayala
141 #11 Cullan Schriever
149 #2 Kyle Parco
157 #4 Jacori Teemer
165 #2 Michael Caliendo
174 #4 Patrick Kennedy
184 #4 Gabe Arnold
197 #1 Stephen Buchanan
285 #7 Ben Kueter

 

Pre-Seeds and allocations for Nationals

125 lbs – 9
1.    Matt Ramos (PU)
2.    Caleb Smith (NEB)
3.    Dean Peterson (RU)
4.    Luke Lilledahl (PSU)
5.    Joey Cruz (IA)
6.    Jacob Moran (IN)
7.    Brendan McCrone (OSU)
8.    Nicolar Rivera (WIS)
9.    Cooper Flynn (MN)
10.    Dedrick Navarro (NU)
11.    Caleb Weiand (MSU)
12.    Christian Tanefu (MI)
13.    Caelan Riley (IL)
14.    Tyler Garvin (MD)

133 lbs. – 10
1.    Drake Ayala (IA)
2.    Lucas Byrd (IL)
3.    Braxton Brown (MD)
4.    Braeden Davis (PSU)
5.    Dylan Shawver (RU)
6.    Jacob Van Dee (NEB)
7.    Zan Fugitt (WI)
8.    Angelo Rini (IN)
9.    Nic Bouzakis (OSU)
10.    Tyler Wells (MN)
11.    Dustin Norris (PU)
12.    Massey Odiotti (NU)
13.    Andrew Hampton (MSU)
14.    Nolan Wertanen (MI)

141 lbs. – 7
1.    Beau Bartlett (PSU)
2.    Jesse Mendez (OSU)
3.    Brock Hardy (NE)
4.    Vance Vombaur (MN)
5.    Sergio Lemley (MI)
6.    Joseph Olivieri (RU)
7.    Danny Pucino (IL)
8.    Henry Porter (IN)
9.    Greyson Clark (PU)
10.    Christopher Cannon (NU)
11.    Cullan Schriever (IA)
12.    Dario Lemus (MD)
13.    Brock Bobzien (WI)
14.    Jaden Crumpler (MSU)

149 lbs. – 8
1.    Shayne Van Ness (PSU)
2.    Kyle Parco (IA)
3.    Ridge Lovett (NE)
4.    Dylan D’Emilio (OSU)
5.    Kannon Webster (IL)
6.    Andrew Clark (RU)
7.    Sam Cartella (NU)
8.    Kal Miller (MD)
9.    Dylan Gilcher (MI)
10.    Drew Roberts (MN)
11.    Isaac Ruble (PU)
12.    Clayton Jones (MSU)
13.    Joey Butler (IN)
14.    Royce Nilo (WI)

157 lbs. – 8
1.    Ethen Miller (MD)
2.    Tyler Kasak (PSU)
3.    Antrell Taylor (NE)
4.    Jacori Teemer (IA)
5.    Tommy Askey (MN)
6.    Joey Blaze (PU)
7.    Trevor Chumbley (NU)
8.   Chase Saldate (MI)
9.   Brandon Cannon (OSU)
10.  Conner Harer (RU)
11.  Jason Kraisser (IL)
12.  Ryan Garvick (IN)
13.  Luke Mechler (WI)
14.  Braden Stauffenberg (MSU)

 

 

165 lbs. – 9

1.   Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU)
2.   Mike Caliendo (IA)
3.   Christopher Minto (NE)
4.   Beau Mantanona (MI)
5.   Andrew Sparks (MN)
6.   Braeden Scoles (IL)
7.   Tyler Lillard (IN)
8.   Maxx Mayfield (NU)
9.   Paddy Gallagher (OSU)
10.   Anthony White (RU)
11.   Stoney Buell (PU)
12.   Alex Uryniak (MD)
13.   Cody Goebel (WI)
14.   Jay Nivison (MSU)

 

174 lbs. – 8

1.   Levi Haines (PSU)
2.   Carson Kharcla (OSU)
3.   Lenny Pinto (NE)
4.   Patrick Kennedy (IA)
5.   Clayton Whiting (MN)
6.   Jackson Turley (RU)
7.   Danny Braunagel (IL)
8.   Brody Baumann (PU)
9.   Lucas Condon (WI)
10.   Derek Gilcher (IN)
11.   Joseph Walker (MI)
12.   Branson John (MD)
13.   Ceasar Garza (MSU)
14.   Aiden Vandenbush (NU)

 

184 lbs. – 8

1.   Carter Starocci (PSU)
2.   Max McEnelly (MN)
3.   Silas Allred (NEB)
4.   Gabe Arnold (IA)
5.   Jaxon Smith (MD)
6.   Edmond Ruth (ILL)
7.   Shane Cartagena-Walsh (RU)
8.   Ryder Rogotzke (OSU)
9.   DJ Washington (IN)
10.   Jaden Bullock (MI)
11.   Jon Halvorsen (NU)
12.   Lucas Daly (MSU)
13.   Orlando Cruz (PU)
14.   Dylan Russo (WI)

 

197 lbs. – 10

1.   Stephen Buchanan (IA)
2.   Josh Barr (PSU)
3.   Jacob Cardenas (MI)
4.   Isaiah Salazar (MN)
5.   Zac Braunagel (IL)
6.   Camden McDanel (NE)
7.   Evan Bates (NU)
8.   Gabe Sollars (IN)
9.   Seth Shumate (OSU)
10.   Remy Cotton (MSU)
11.   Ben Vanadia (PU)
12.   Chase Mielnik (MD)
13.   PJ Casale (RU)
14.   Niccolo Colluci (WI) 

 

285 lbs. – 10 

1.   Gable Steveson (MN)
2.   Greg Kerkvliet (PSU)
3.   Joshua Heindselman (MI)
4.   Nick Feldman (OSU)
5.   Luke Luffman (IL)
6.   Yaraslau Slavikouski (RU)
7.   Ben Kueter (IA)
8.   Jacob Bullock (IN)
9.   Seth Nevills (MD)
10.   Hayden Filipovich (PU)
11.   Harley Andrews (NEB)
12.   Max Vanadia (MSU)
13.   Dirk Morley (NU)
14.   Gannon Rosenfeld (WI)

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The Iowa Women’s Wrestling team will be looking to defend their title at the NCWWC National Championships in Coralville, Iowa on Friday and Saturday, March 7-8.

Iowa should be considered a strong favorite to win the team title again this year. In the final NWCA NCAA Women’s Coaches Poll of the season Iowa was ranked #1 with 130 points followed by North Central at 88 and McKendree with 74.

Iowa has six wrestlers as the #1 seed: Rianne Murphy(103), Brianna Gonzalez(117), Macey Kilty(145), Kennedy Blades(160), Kylie Welker(180), and Jaycee Foeller(207).

All fifteen of the Hawk wrestlers that qualified for NCWWC Nationals are seeded in the top seven.

Only ten wrestlers can score points for each team and only one wrestler is allowed to score in each weight class.

FloWrestling will have full coverage on their premium service and TrackWrestling will have updated results and brackets.

Tickets for the NCWWC National Championships are still available at https://www.ncwwc.com/

 

 

Seeds for the 2025 NCWWC National Championships 

103 – Rianne Murphy #1

103 – Sterling Dias #3

110 – Ava Bayless #2

110 – Emilie Gonzalez #5

117 – Brianna Gonzalez #1

124 – Cali Leng #4

131 – Emmily Patneuad #6

138 – Nanea Estrella #5

145 – Macey Kilty #1

145 – Reese Larramendy #2

160 – Kennedy Blades #1

180 – Kylie Welker #1

180 – Naomi Simon #4

207 – Jaycee Foeller #1

207 – Alivia White #7

 

 

NCWWC National Championships

Xtreme Arena

Coralville, Iowa

Friday, March 7

Session 1: Championship 1st round – 10 AM

Session 2: Quarterfinals – 5 PM

 

Saturday, March 8

Session 3 – Consolation semifinals and finals – 10 AM

Session 4: Finals – 6 PM

*Times listed are CST

Full coverage on FloWrestling

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

InterMat released updated rankings this morning. Iowa remained #2 in the Tournament Rankings and #2 in the Dual Rankings.

For Dual Rankings it remained Penn State-Iowa-Oklahoma State-Northern Iowa. The Tournament Rankins remained the same with Penn State-Iowa-Oklahoma State-Nebraska.

Penn State went up to 159.5 and Iowa went up four points to 94. Oklahoma State went down 1 to 84.5. 

This is the final rankings of the regular season with conference tournaments for NCAA National Tournament qualifiers being this weekend.

Iowa has nine wrestlers ranked in the top 33 which would be an NCAA Qualifier. There are six Hawks ranked in the top eight that would be an All American this year including five wrestlers ranked in the top three.

 

 

In the individual rankings the big news is that Drake Ayala went up one spot and is now ranked #1 at 133. Ryan Crookham of Lehigh had been ranked #1 all season but has not competed due to an injury since December 20.

Patrick Kennedy went from #11 to #10 at 174.

The remaining weights stayed the same in the rankings.

The Hawks are back in action on March 8-9 at the 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championships.

Pre-seeds are expected to be released tomorrow.

 

 

InterMat Rankings – March 4, 2025

Dual Rankings 

1. Penn State
2. Iowa
3. Oklahoma State
4. Northern Iowa

 

Tournament Rankings

1. Penn State  159.5
2. Iowa  94
3. Oklahoma State  84.5
4. Nebraska  61.5

 

125 – Joey Cruz #15

133 – Drake Ayala #1

141 – Not ranked

149 – Kyle Parco #3

157 – Jacori Teemer #3

165 – Michael Caliendo #2

174 – Patrick Kennedy  #11

184 – Gabe Arnold #8

197 – Stephen Buchanan #1

Hwt – Ben Kueter #11

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Kennedy Blades of the University of Iowa has been named as the UWW Wrestler of the Month for February.

Blades won gold at 68kg at the Zagreb Open Ranking Event in Zagreb, Croatia on February 7 where she was 4-0 with two pins and two tech falls.

Blades competed at 68 kg/150 lbs. after winning silver at the Paris Olympics at 76 kg/167 lbs. in August.

The Zagreb Open was the first UWW Senior Ranking Tournament of the year and Olympic cycle. Results will factor into seedings at the World Championships and Olympics.

UWW(United World Wrestling) is the international governing body for wrestling based out of Switzerland.

Congratulations to Kennedy Blades for this prestigious international award.

Zagreb Open in Zagreb, Croatia

68 kg – Kennedy Blades (USA)

WIN Kendra Dacher (France), fall 0:35

WIN Adela Hanzlickova (Czech Republic), fall 2:51

WIN Noémi Szabados (Hungary), tech fall 10-0

WIN Karolina Pok (Hungary) tech fall 12-0

 

 

Blades, originally from Chicago, Illinois, was a 2021 U20 world champion and 2023 U20 bronze medalist. She was also a 2023 U23 silver medalist.

As the #1 ranked and #1 seed at 160 lbs., Blades will lead Iowa into the NCWWC National Championships this weekend. This is the first year of competition for Blades in the college ranks.

 

 

The Iowa Women’s Wrestling team will be defending their title at the NCWWC National Championships in Coralville, Iowa on March 7-8.

Tickets are still available at https://www.ncwwc.com/

FloWrestling will have full coverage on their premium service.

 

NCWWC National Championships

Xtreme Arena

Coralville, Iowa

Friday, March 7

Session 1: Championship 1st round – 10 AM

Session 2: Quarterfinals – 5 PM

 

Saturday, March 8

Session 3 – Consolation semifinals and finals – 10 AM

Session 4: Finals – 6 PM

*Times listed are CST

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

You could make the argument that overall this is the biggest weekend of the year for Iowa Wrestling fans.

From Thursday through Sunday Iowa Wrestling fans will be entertained with great wrestling.

As a fan you can follow all of the wrestling on the internet , TV or radio.

I wanted to provide a schedule for fans to follow for all of the great wrestling.

Iowa Wrestling will be at the 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championships in Evanston, Illinois on Saturday and Sunday. BTN will have full coverage.

The Big Ten is by far the best wrestling conference in the country and the competition will be fierce.

The Iowa Women’s Wrestling team will be defending their title at the NCWWC National Championships in Coralville, Iowa.

Tickets are still available at https://www.ncwwc.com/

FloWrestling will have full coverage on their premium service.

The Hawks have six #1 ranked wrestler and have to be considered a strong favorite to win the team title.

Our incoming recruits are finishing the regular season. 

Bo Bassett will be at the PIAA AA State Tournament on Thursday-Saturday. FloWrestling will have full coverage.

Harvey Ludington will be competing at the New Jersey State Tournament on Thursday-Saturday.  FloWrestling will have full coverage.

Ty and Jarell Miller will be at the Ohio State Tournament on Friday-Sunday. NFHS Network will have a live stream and FloWrestling will have all matches on archive.

I will have a preview and follow up blog on all the wrestling right here on my Iowa Wrestling Fan Blog.

Enjoy the long weekend of great wrestling.

Let’s get ‘em in the middle.

 

 

2025 Big Ten Championships

Northwestern – Evanston, Illinois

Welsh-Ryan Arena

Saturday, March 8

Session I – 10 AM

Session 2  through Semifinals – 5 PM

 

Sunday, March 9

Session 3 Consolations – Noon

Session 4  Finals – 4:30 PM

*Times listed are CST

Full coverage on BTN

Steven Grace and Mark Ironside call the action on AM 800 KXIC and audio streamed online at HawkeySports.com via YouTube.

 

NCWWC National Championships

Xtreme Arena

Coralville, Iowa

Friday, March 7

Session 1: Championship 1st round – 10 AM

Session 2: Quarterfinals – 5 PM

 

Saturday, March 8

Session 3 – Consolation semifinals and finals – 10 AM

Session 4: Finals – 6 PM

*Times listed are CST

Full coverage on FloWrestling

 

 

Recruiting Class of 2026

Bo Bassett – Johnstown(Bishop McCort HS), Pennsylvania  145 lbs.

PIAA State Championships

Thurs-Sat Mar 6-8

Full coverage on FloWrestling

 

Recruiting Class of 2025

Harvey Ludington – Brick, New Jersey(Brick Memorial HS)  190 lbs. 

NJSIAA State Championships

Thurs-Sat Mar 6-8

Full coverage on FloWrestling

 

Ty Miller – North Olmsted(St. Ed’s HS), Ohio 175 lbs. 

Jarrel Miller – North Olmsted(St. Ed’s HS), Ohio  190 lbs. 

OHSAA State Championships

Fri-Sun Mar 7-9

NFHS Network live stream

FloWrestling (archive only)

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Incoming Iowa Wrestling recruits had a great weekend.

Isabella Gonzales and Samantha Sachs won California state titles in dominating fashion. Gonzales won the 120 lbs. title by going 5-0 with five pins. Sachs won the title at 130 with a 5-0 record with four pins and a tech fall.

Bo Bassett won the Southwest AA Regional in Altoona with three tech falls and a pin all in the first period. The Pennsylvania State Tournament is next weekend.

Harvey Ludington won the NJSIAA Region 6 in Jackson Township with two pins under a minute and a decision. The New Jersey State Tournament is next weekend.

 

 

Paolo Ciatto placed second at the CHSAA State Championship at 170 lbs.

Ty and Jarell Miller won titles at OHSAA Districts in Perrysburg.

Ty had three pins and a forfeit and Jarell was 4-0 with three pins and a major decision.

The Ohio State Tournament is next weekend.

As I have done for years I will post a blog on Friday for upcoming weekend competitions and a follow up blog with results on my “Recruits in action” series.

 

 

Recruiting Class of 2025

Leo DeLuca – Blair Academy(Morristown, New Jersey) 120 lbs. 

Season Completed – National Prep champion

 

Paolo Ciatto – Iona Preparatory(New Rochelle, New York)  170 lbs.

CHSAA State Championships

Paolo Ciatto(Iona Prep) fall Michael Goodzell(Kellenberg) 1:13

Paolo Ciatto(Iona Prep) fall Jovanni Torres(Mons F) 2:58

Jonathon Hoffman(Kellenberg) dec Paolo Ciatto(Iona Prep) 8-2

 

Leister Bowling – Longmont(Mead HS), Colorado  175 lbs.

Season completed: State champ

 

Ty Miller – North Olmsted(St. Ed’s HS), Ohio 175 lbs. 

Fri/Sat Feb 28-Mar 1 – at OHSAA Districts(Perrysburg)

Champ. Round 1 – Tyrel Miller (St. Edward) won by fall over Kyle Wymer (Anthony Wayne) (Fall 1:31)

Quarterfinal – Tyrel Miller (St. Edward) won by fall over Gavin Range (Olmsted Falls) (Fall 2:42)

Semifinal – Tyrel Miller (St. Edward) won by fall over Logan Morehouse (Tol. St. John`s Jesuit) (Fall 1:57)

1st Place Match – Tyrel Miller (St. Edward) won by medical forfeit over Giovanni Cursio (Uniont. Lake) (M. For.)

 

Jarrel Miller – North Olmsted(St. Ed’s HS), Ohio  190 lbs. 

Fri/Sat Feb 28-Mar 1 – at OHSAA Districts(Perrysburg)

Champ. Round 1 – Jarrel Miller (St. Edward) won by fall over Don Johnson (Olmsted Falls) (Fall 2:46)

Quarterfinal – Jarrel Miller (St. Edward) won by fall over Carter Whaley (Oregon Clay) (Fall 1:18)

Semifinal – Jarrel Miller (St. Edward) won by fall over Liam Lloyd (Mentor) (Fall 3:26)

1st Place Match – Jarrel Miller (St. Edward) won by major decision over Josh Takats (Perrysburg) (MD 10-1)

 

Harvey Ludington – Brick, New Jersey(Brick Memorial HS)  190 lbs. 

Fri/Sat Feb 28-Mar 1 – at NJSIAA Region 6(Jackson Township)

Champ. Round 1 – Harvey Ludington (Brick Memorial) received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal – Harvey Ludington (Brick Memorial) won by fall over Anthony Giglio (Hamilton East-Steinert) (Fall 0:49)

Semifinal – Harvey Ludington (Brick Memorial) won by fall over Jarred ONeill (Christian Brothers Academy) (Fall 0:19)

1st Place Match – Harvey Ludington (Brick Memorial) won by decision over Tanner Hodgins (Howell) (Dec 7-3)

 

Recruiting Class of 2026

Bo Bassett – Johnstown(Bishop McCort HS), Pennsylvania  145 lbs.

Fri/Sat Feb 28-Mar 1 – at Southwest AA Regional(Altoona)

Bo Bassett won by tech. fall over Sam Sheeler (Somerset), 25-6 1:42

Bo Bassett pinned Tristan Wtorkiewicz (Mount Pleasant), 0:36

Bo Bassett won by tech. fall over Aaron Ickes (Chestnut Ridge), 19-4 1:14

Bo Bassett won by tech. fall over Lucas Boyer (Elizabeth Forward), 21-6 1:25

 

Owen McMullen – Johnstown(Bishop McCort HS), Pennsylvania  

Out with an injury.

 

Women’s Recruiting Class of 2025

Isabella Gonzales – Fresno(Clovis East HS), California  120 lbs. 

Thur/Fri/Sat Feb 27 – March 1 – at CIF State Tournament(Bakersfield)

Isabella Gonzales(Clovis East) fall Mackenzie Mendenhall(Corona) 1:08

Isabella Gonzales(Clovis East) fall Kaelena Ahrens(Vacaville) 2:31

Isabella Gonzales(Clovis East) fall Svea Gonzalez(Binicia) 1:18

Isabella Gonzales(Clovis East) fall Till Kakuk(Chino 1:03

Isabella Gonzales(Clovis East) fall SJ Martin(Granada) 1:47

 

Samantha Sachs – Glendora, California  130 lbs.  

Thur/Fri/Sat Feb 27 – March 1 – at CIF State Tournament(Bakersfield)

Samantha Sachs(Glendora) fall Juliana Alvarez(Selma) 1:02

Samantha Sachs(Glendora) fall Giana Breshears(Central Valley 1:31

Samantha Sachs(Glendora) fall Piper Pike(St. Helena) 1:13

Samantha Sachs(Glendora) tech fall Savannah Talmage(Clayton Valley) 18-3

Samantha Sachs(Glendora) fall Ruby Julian-Newson(Torrey Pines) 1:04

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!