It was big news on April 17 when Marlynne Deede announced that she was transferring to the University of Iowa Women’s Wrestling program as a graduate transfer. Deede was a four-time All American and national champion for Augsburg. She will have one year of eligibility remaining.

Deede, originally from Springville, Utah, has competed at 155 lbs. for her college career. She placed sixth in 2020 and third in both 2021 and 2022. This past season Deede won the NCWWC 155 lbs. national title with a 31-2 record with 8 pins and 18 tech falls.

For her career Deede was 77-20 with 20 pins and 42 tech falls. Deede has the Augsburg school record for career wins and tech falls. 

Deede was a 2022 U23 National Team member and a U20 National Team member from 2018-2020. In high school she was a three-time Utah Folkstyle and Freestyle state champion.

Deede has made it known that she will continue to compete after her college career for the Hawkeye Womens Wrestling Club.

The new roster has Deede listed at 155 lbs.

Welcome aboard Marlynne Deede.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

There will be a screening of The Dual at the Hilton Garden Inn in Iowa City on Wednesday, November 15 at 8 PM.  The Hilton Garden Inn is at 328 S Clinton St in downtown Iowa City. Admission is free but you must register for complimentary tickets to attend.

The Dual is a multi-episode documentary about the Iowa-Iowa State wrestling dual meet on February 23, 1986. There will be interviews and clips of the matches in what looks to be a great production. 

There will be a social and reception beginning at 6: 30 PM and the screening will be at 8 PM. At 9 PM there will be a meet and greet with coaches and wrestlers. 

This looks to be a great night for wrestling.

For more information on tickets and additional screenings: The Dual Docuseries

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The University of Iowa Women’s Wrestling team will host the Trailblazer Duals on Sunday, November 12 at 11 CST in legendary Carver-Hawkeye Arena. This will be the first home dual meet in the history of the program.

The Hawks will host Presbyterian, Lindenwood, and Sacred Heart. The four schools competing are the first Division I programs in women’s wrestling history.

Iowa is the first Power 5 Conference member to have women’s wrestling.

Ticket information will be released at a later date.

The 2023-’24 season schedule for the Iowa Women’s Wrestling team will be released next week.

I will keep you up to date on both the ticket information and the season schedule.

I am looking forward to the upcoming season.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Bella Ngo of Dixon, California (Dixon HS) is a member of the Recruiting Class of 2023. Ngo was a state champion as a junior at 118 lbs. She was also the first girl to place at the state wrestling tournament in school history.

Ngo placed fourth at Folkstyle Nationals in 2021 and third at California State Freestyle in 2022.

Ngo has competed at the national level in freestyle as well as at the World Team Trials.

The new roster has Ngo listed at 130 lbs.

Welcome aboard Bella Ngo.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Cali Leng committed to become an Iowa Hawkeye in June to join the Recruiting Class of 2023. Leng was a two-time state champion for Marysville Early College High School in Marysville, Ohio.

Leng was a four-time State Qualifier. She won a state title at 116 lbs. as a sophomore to become the first girl’s state champion in school history. After placing second as a junior Leng was 38-1 in winning the title at 120 lbs. for her second state title this past season. Leng competed in the first ever girl’s state tournament in the Ohio history.

Leng finished her high school career by placing seventh at 122 lbs. at Junior Nationals in Fargo in July.

In the final National Girls High School Rankings Leng was ranked #21 at 122 lbs.

The new roster has Leng listed at 123 lbs.

Welcome aboard Cali Leng.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Ava Rose of Princeton, New Jersey committed to the Hawks last January. Rose had a successful high school career and is a member of the Recruiting Class of 2023.

At Princeton High School Rose was a two-time New Jersey girl’s state champion and three-time finalist. She was also a four-time champion at girl’s regionals, won two New Jersey state freestyle titles and a second place finish.

Rose was a three year varsity starter for the boys team at Princeton with a 70-15 career record. That is especially impressive considering the quality of competition in New Jersey.

As a senior Rose was named as Team Captain and as the Outstanding Wrestler.

Rose was named for the 2023 Princeton High School Gold Key Award, Princeton High School Bob James Athletic Award, and the 2023 Colonial Conference Sportsmanship Award.

At Junior Nationals in Fargo last summer Rose placed seventh at 117 lbs.

In the final National Girls High School Rankings Rose was ranked #15 at 112 lbs.

The new roster has Rose listed at 116 lbs.

Welcome aboard Ava Rose.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Emily Frost of Troy, New York (Tamarac HS) is yet another highly ranked recruit in the Class of 2023. In the final National Girls Rankings Frost was ranked #2 at 132 lbs.

Frost was 31-3 competing against boys and girls heading into the tournament season this past year. She had a 22-3 record against boys with 15 pins and a 9-0 record competing against girls.  

Frost won the 126 lbs. title at the 2023 Eastern States Classic Girls Tournament and was also a New York Women’s Freestyle State Champion. 

Frost placed fourth (59 KG/ 130 lbs.) at U20 Nationals in April. She placed fourth at Junior Nationals at 132 lbs. this past summer and placed fifth at 112 lbs. at Cadet Nationals in 2021. She also placed sixth at the 2022 UWW U17 World Team Trials.

This summer Frost was named as the first ever Capital District Sports Women of the Year. The award was based on athletic performance, academics, and community service. Included in her community service was volunteering for the Curby Youth Wrestling Club where she served as a coach, organizer, and mentor to young wrestlers. Frost was on the Honor Roll every semester of her high school career.

The new roster has Frost listed at 130 lbs.

Welcome aboard Emily Frost.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Danni Swihart of Jackson, Michigan (Hanover-Horton HS) made history when she began her Iowa Hawkeye career as a member of the Recruiting Class of 2023. She is the first girl wrestler from Michigan to compete at a Division I program and the first to compete in the Big Ten. 

At the Michigan state tournament Swihart placed third as a freshman, fourth as a sophomore, won a state title as a junior and placed second as a senior this past season.

Swihart competed at Junior Nationals (144) and U20 Nationals (62 KG/136 lbs.) but did not place. 

Swihart was named Academic All American and named Team Captain and Team MVP.

In the new roster Swihart is listed at 138 lbs.

Welcome aboard Danni Swihart.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The Big Ten released the conference schedule for the 2023-24 wrestling season. Iowa will have four Big Ten dual meets at home and four dual meets on the road.

In legendary Carver-Hawkeye Arena the Iowa Hawkeyes will host Minnesota (Jan 15), Purdue (Jan 19), Penn State (Feb 9) and Wisconsin (Feb 18).

Iowa will be on the road for dual meets at Nebraska (Jan 12), Illinois (Jan 26), Northwestern (Jan 28) and Michigan (Feb 2).

The Big Ten Championships will be at College Park, Maryland on March 9-10. The 2024 NCAA Championships will be in Kansas City, Missouri on March 21-23.

I will keep you up to date with the remaining schedule as well as the TV schedule.

This will be the 11th straight season that I will be covering Iowa Wrestling right here on my blog. I am looking forward to the season.

Big Ten Schedule

Friday, Jan 12 – @ Nebraska

Monday, Jan 15 – Minnesota

Friday, Jan 19 – Purdue

Friday, Jan 26 – @ Illinois

Sunday, Jan 28 – @ Northwestern

Friday, Feb 2 – @ Michigan

Friday, Feb 9 – Penn State

Sunday, Feb 18 – Wisconsin

For the complete Big Ten Wrestling Schedule:

2023-24 Big Ten Wrestling Schedule Announced – Big Ten Conference

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Kyle Klingman released an article for FloWrestling that Val Solorio verbally committed to the University of Iowa. Solorio is the first member of the Recruiting Class of 2024 for the Iowa Women’s Wrestling program.

Solorio moved from Panama City Beach, Florida where she won a state title in 2022 and will compete for Canon-McMillan High School in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania for her senior season. 

Solorio was a 16U National champion in 2021. She competed on the first two women’s cards for Who’s #1 in 2021 and 2022. In the final Girls National High School Rankings for the 2023 season Solorio was ranked 4th at 100 lbs.

Solorio stated in the interview that she was influenced by Spencer Lee from Pennsylvania that went on to become a three-time NCAA National champion for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

FloWrestling article:

High School Star Val Solorio Verbally Commits To Iowa Wrestling – FloWrestling

Welcome aboard Val Solorio.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!