The Iowa Women’s Wrestling team has put together another top recruiting class for the program. The National Letter of Intent Signing Day was last Wednesday, November 8. 

So far Iowa has signed four new incoming recruits for the Class of 2024. The Hawks have signed Val Solorio (100) of Pennsylvania, Karlee Brooks (120) of Arizona, Cadence Diduch (135) of Illinois, and Naomi Simon (170) of Decorah, Iowa.

A fifth recruit, Kiara Djoumessi of Waverly-Shell Rock, Iowa committed to the Hawks on November 1 but I have not seen where she has signed at this time. Djoumessi is ranked #7 in the country at 140 lbs.

This group of recruits has had success in International competition representing Team USA recently. Diduch was dominating in winning the 61 kg/134 lbs. Gold at the 2023 U17 Pan American Championships in Mexico City, Mexico. Brooks was a 53 KG/117 lbs. U17 National champion and placed fifth at the 2023 U17 World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.

The support for Iowa Women’s Wrestling is unmatched. In the first appearance in the history of the program in legendary Carver-Hawkeye Arena last Sunday Iowa broke a record for the most fans at a women’s college wrestling event with 8,207.

Iowa keeps adding to a loaded program that looks to have a great present and future.

I will keep you up to date with any new recruiting news from the program.

 

 

Iowa Women’s Wrestling Signed Recruiting Class of 2024

Val Solorio – #6 at 100 lbs., Canon-McMillan HS, Pennsylvania 

Karlee Brook – #2 at 120 lbs., Valiant College Prep, Phoenix, AZ

Cadence Diduch – #3 at 135 lbs., Freeport, Illinois

Naomi Simon – #2 at 170 lbs., Decorah, Iowa 

***National Girls High School Rankings

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Iowa Wrestling released a post that Angelo Ferrari has signed a National Letter of Intent to be an Iowa Hawkeye. It is official. This is a huge get for the Hawks.

Ferrari was the #1 overall ranked recruit in the Class of 2024 by Flo last season. He committed to the University of Iowa on May 31. Last season Ferrari won a state title at 175 for Melissa High School in Texas. 

Ferrari is currently ranked #1 at 175 and #3 P4P (pound for pound) by MatScouts.

As I have mentioned in earlier blogs, the 1-2 combination in the Iowa Wrestling lineup at 174/184 of Gabe Arnold-Angelo Ferrari is exactly what Iowa needs to get back to the top of the college wrestling world.

Iowa has received other verbal commitments for the Class of 2024 but Ferrari is the first and only recruit that I have seen an official announcement from Iowa Wrestling for a signed Letter of Intent. National Letter of Intent Signing Day was last Wednesday, November 8.

I will keep you posted as more Iowa Wrestling recruits from the Class of 2024 sign their National Letter of Intent.

 

 

 

Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024

Angelo Ferrari  #1 – 175 and #4 P4P

Miguel Estrada  #3 – 150

Keyan Hernandez – 126 lbs.

Dru Ayala – 120 lbs.

***Rankings by MatScouts

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The anticipated home debut of Iowa Women’s Wrestling was a huge success. In front of a record-breaking crowd the Hawks rolled through nationally ranked teams in dominating fashion in the first competition for the Women’s program in legendary Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

In the first dual Iowa defeated #13 Presbyterian 44-1. Iowa won by six tech falls, three pins, and a forfeit.

In the second dual Iowa defeated #11 Lindenwood 43-0 behind five tech falls, four pins, and a decision.

Iowa then defeated #5 Sacred Heart 40-4 with five tech falls, three pins, and a forfeit.

The total attendance was announced at 8,207 fans as the largest crowd to ever attend a college women’s wrestling event. That is impressive.

Iowa will be back on the mats this Friday and Saturday (November 17-18) at the Missouri Valley College Open in Marshall Missouri.

 

 

#8 Iowa 44, #13 Presbyterian 1

101 — Emilie Gonzalez (I) pinned Chiara Barbieri (P), 1:36
109 — Ava Bayless (I) tech. fall Grace York (P), 10-0
116 — Brianna Gonzalez (I) tech. fall Charlize Shuler (P), 10-0
123 — Felicity Taylor (I) tech. fall Alyssa Mahan (P), 10-0
130 — Emily Frost (I) pinned Olivia Waller (P), 4:53
136 — Nanea Estrella (I) tech. fall Paige Wehrmeister (P), 12-2
143 — Reese Larramendy (I) tech. fall Madeline Kubicki (P), 11-0
155 — Marlynne Deede (I) forfeit over Unknown (P)
170 — Kylie Welker (I) tech. fall Henlee Haynes (P), 10-0
191 — Alivia White (I) pinned Ella Beam, 3:24

 

#8 Iowa 43, #11 Lindenwood 0

101 — Emilie Gonzalez (I) tech. fall Megan Valdez (L), 10-0
109 — Ava Bayless (I) tech. fall Kate Cooper (L), 10-0
116 — Brianna Gonzalez (I) tech. fall Sienna Caruso (L), 10-0
123 — Felicity Taylor (I) pinned Amanda McAleavey (L), 1:44
130 — Emily Frost (I) pinned Cayden Condit (L), 0:41
136 — Nanea Estrella (I) tech. fall Marissa Sanabria (L), 10-0
143 — Ella Schmit (I) dec. Alana Duggan (L), 8-0
155 — Marlynne Deede (I) pinned Rebecca Strong (L), 1:16
170 — Haley Ward (I) tech. fall Emma Thomas (L), 10-0
191 –Kylie Welker (I) pinned Kennedy Eggering (L), 0:28

 

#8 Iowa 40, #5 Sacred Heart 4

101 — Sterling Dias (I) pinned Aaliyah Payne-Parris (S), 0:22
109 — Ava Bayless (I) tech. fall Ahsia Torres (S), 10-0
116 — Brianna Gonzalez (I) pinned Nohea Moniz (S), 1:52
123 — Felicity Taylor (I) def. Unknown (forfeit)
130 — Lilly Luft (I) tech. fall Bayley Trang (S), 10-0
136 — Nanea Estrella (I) tech. fall Aliza Leander (S), 10-0
143 — Reese Larramendy (I) tech. fall Khaijah Sanusi (S), 11-0
155 — Marlynne Deede (I) pinned Madison Sandquist (S), 1:32
170 — Kylie Welker (I) tech. fall Love Daley (S), 12-1
191 — Madeline Hodges (S) dec. Alivia White (I), 7-0

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Iowa won seven titles at the Luther Open in the Elite Division and another title in the Silver Division in Decorah, Iowa today.

Winning Elite titles for Iowa was Drake Ayala (125), Jace Rhodes (133), Jared Franek (157) Michael Caliendo (165), Gabe Arnold (174), Brennan Swafford (184), and Zach Glazier (197).

Isaiah Fenton won the 157 lbs. title in the Silver Division.

Ayala defeated first year Hawk transfer Joey Cruz in the 125 lbs. finals by a 19-3 tech fall. Gabe Arnold was dominant in winning the 174 lbs. title as a true freshman with three tech falls and a major decision.

All American transfers Franek and Caliendo sure look the part of their high national rankings.

Ayala, Franek, Caliendo, Swafford, and Glazier won all of their matches by bonus.

Real Woods did not compete today and Brody Teske won two matches and forfeited the remaining two matches at 133.

Overall a good day for the Hawks with a lot of bonus point wins with pins, tech falls, and major decisions.

Iowa will compete next in their season opener in legendary Carver-Hawkeye Arena with a dual meet against Oregon State on Sunday, November 19 at Noon CST.

 

 

 

Elite Division

125 Drake Ayala  1st

Champ. Round 1 – Drake Ayala (Iowa) won by fall over Julian Long (Nebraska Wesleyan) (Fall 1:20)

Champ. Round 2 – Drake Ayala (Iowa) won by tech fall over Dalton Whitehall Gikes (Wartburg) (TF 17-2)

Quarterfinal – Drake Ayala (Iowa) won by tech fall over Cade Hornback (Coe) (TF 19-4)

Semifinal – Drake Ayala (Iowa) won by tech fall over Akhil Vega (Stevens Tech) (TF 21-6)

1st Place Match – Drake Ayala (Iowa) won by tech fall over Joey Cruz (Iowa) (TF 19-3)

 

125 Joey Cruz  2nd

Champ. Round 1 – Joey Cruz (Iowa) won by tech fall over Cristian Chavez (Luther) (TF 20-4)

Champ. Round 2 – Joey Cruz (Iowa) won by decision over Keno Vanier (Augsburg) (Dec 16-9)

Quarterfinal – Joey Cruz (Iowa) won by major decision over Zein Bazzi (Wartburg) (Maj 11-1)

Semifinal – Joey Cruz (Iowa) won by fall over Alexis Tellez Perez (Wartburg) (Fall 3:59)

1st Place Match – Drake Ayala (Iowa) won by tech fall over Joey Cruz (Iowa) (TF 19-3)

 

133 Jace Rhodes  1st

Champ. Round 1 – Jace Rhodes (Iowa) received a bye () (Bye)

Champ. Round 2 – Jace Rhodes (Iowa) won by tech fall over Hunter Goodwin (Luther) (TF 20-3)

Quarterfinal – Jace Rhodes (Iowa) won by decision over Jesse Ybarra (Iowa) (Dec 4-3)

Semifinal – Jace Rhodes (Iowa) won by major decision over Luke Hoerle (Stevens Tech) (Maj 13-3)

1st Place Match – Jace Rhodes (Iowa) won by major decision over Bryce Parke (Coe) (Maj 14-5)

 

133  Brody Teske  DNP

Champ. Round 1 – Brody Teske (Iowa) won by tech fall over Ashton Clark (St. Cloud State) (TF 23-7)

Champ. Round 2 – Brody Teske (Iowa) won by decision over Dominik Mallinder (Wisconsin-Whitewater) (Dec 18-11)

Quarterfinal – Trevor Hedges (Eureka) won by medical forfeit over Brody Teske (Iowa) (MFF)

Cons. Round 4 – Isaac Ayers (Luther) won by medical forfeit over Brody Teske (Iowa) (MFF)

 

133 Jesse Ybarra  5th

Champ. Round 1 – Jesse Ybarra (Iowa) won by tech fall over Thomas Oswald (Augsburg) (TF 22-5)

Champ. Round 2 – Jesse Ybarra (Iowa) won by fall over Quinton Chavez (Nebraska Wesleyan) (Fall 1:32)

Quarterfinal – Jace Rhodes (Iowa) won by decision over Jesse Ybarra (Iowa) (Dec 4-3)

Cons. Round 4 – Jesse Ybarra (Iowa) won by tech fall over John Fortugno (Wisconsin-Whitewater) (TF 18-2)

Cons. Semi – Jesse Ybarra (Iowa) won by major decision over Wyatt Kaczrowski (Augsburg) (Maj 21-8)

5th Place Match – Jesse Ybarra (Iowa) won by major decision over Dominik Mallinder (Wisconsin-Whitewater) (Maj 12-3)

 

149 Victor Voinovich  2nd

Champ. Round 1 – Victor Voinovich (Iowa) received a bye () (Bye)

Champ. Round 2 – Victor Voinovich (Iowa) won by fall over Lucas Clement (Quincy) (Fall 1:24)

Champ. Round 3 – Victor Voinovich (Iowa) won by tech fall over Kyler Neuberger (Wisconsin-Platteville) (TF 17-0)

Quarterfinal – Victor Voinovich (Iowa) won by major decision over Lucas Jagodzinske (Augsburg) (Maj 16-4)

Semifinal – Victor Voinovich (Iowa) won in tie breaker – 1 over Joel Jesuroga (Iowa) (TB-1 2-1)

1st Place Match – Anthony Ferrari (Unattached) won by decision over Victor Voinovich (Iowa) (Dec 2-1)

 

149 Cade Siebrecht  3rd

Champ. Round 1 – Cade Siebrecht (Iowa) received a bye () (Bye)

Champ. Round 2 – Cade Siebrecht (Iowa) won by major decision over Jared Gallub (Nebraska Wesleyan) (Maj 10-1)

Champ. Round 3 – Cade Siebrecht (Iowa) won by major decision over Peter Hollingshead (Luther) (Maj 12-3)

Quarterfinal – Cade Siebrecht (Iowa) won by decision over Cole Becker (Augsburg) (Dec 4-1)

Semifinal – Anthony Ferrari (Unattached) won by fall over Cade Siebrecht (Iowa) (Fall 3:40)

Cons. Semi – Cade Siebrecht (Iowa) won by decision over Charlie Stuhl (Augsburg) (Dec 7-2)

3rd Place Match – Cade Siebrecht (Iowa) won by no contest over Joel Jesuroga (Iowa) (NC)

 

149 Joel Jesuroga  4th

Champ. Round 1 – Joel Jesuroga (Iowa) won by tech fall over Ethan Maldonado (Luther) (TF 19-4)

Champ. Round 2 – Joel Jesuroga (Iowa) won by decision over Justin Ciliotta (Stevens Tech) (Dec 8-1)

Champ. Round 3 – Joel Jesuroga (Iowa) won by tech fall over Kain Sanders (Minnesota State Mankato) (TF 19-4)

Quarterfinal – Joel Jesuroga (Iowa) won by decision over Charlie Stuhl (Augsburg) (Dec 4-1)

Semifinal – Victor Voinovich (Iowa) won in tie breaker – 1 over Joel Jesuroga (Iowa) (TB-1 2-1)

Cons. Semi – Joel Jesuroga (Iowa) won by decision over Charlie Dojan (Wartburg) (Dec 12-9)

3rd Place Match – Cade Siebrecht (Iowa) won by no contest over Joel Jesuroga (Iowa) (NC)

 

157 Jared Franek  1st

Champ. Round 1 – Jared Franek (Iowa) received a bye () (Bye)

Champ. Round 2 – Jared Franek (Iowa) won by tech fall over John Ebaugh (Upper Iowa) (TF 16-1)

Champ. Round 3 – Jared Franek (Iowa) won by tech fall over Blain Christie (Wartburg) (TF 18-1)

Quarterfinal – Jared Franek (Iowa) won by tech fall over Daniel Meeker (Wartburg) (TF 19-2)

Semifinal – Jared Franek (Iowa) won by tech fall over Blake Jagodzinske (Augsburg) (TF 17-2)

1st Place Match – Jared Franek (Iowa) won by major decision over Caleb Meunier (Minnesota State Mankato) (Maj 21-7)

 

165 Michael Caliendo  1st

Champ. Round 1 – Michael Caliendo (Iowa) won by major decision over Robert Flege (Wisconsin-La Crosse) (Maj 11-2)

Champ. Round 2 – Michael Caliendo (Iowa) won by tech fall over Allen Catour (Loras) (TF 17-1)

Quarterfinal – Michael Caliendo (Iowa) won by fall over Bryce McDonough (Luther) (Fall 1:17)

Semifinal – Michael Caliendo (Iowa) won by major decision over Cooper Willis (Augsburg) (Maj 13-3)

1st Place Match – Michael Caliendo (Iowa) won by tech fall over Drake Rhodes (Iowa) (TF 20-4)

 

165 Drake Rhodes  2nd

Champ. Round 1 – Drake Rhodes (Iowa) won by tech fall over Bowen Rothbauer (Augsburg) (TF 15-0)

Champ. Round 2 – Drake Rhodes (Iowa) won by fall over Kurtis Holmes (Loras) (Fall 2:45)

Quarterfinal – Drake Rhodes (Iowa) won by major decision over Kole Marko (Minnesota State Mankato) (Maj 14-2)

Semifinal – Drake Rhodes (Iowa) won by decision over Chase Luensman (Upper Iowa) (Dec 0-0)

1st Place Match – Michael Caliendo (Iowa) won by tech fall over Drake Rhodes (Iowa) (TF 20-4)

 

165 Carson Martinson  6th

Champ. Round 1 – Carson Martinson (Iowa) received a bye () (Bye)

Champ. Round 2 – Will Esmoil (Coe) won in sudden victory – 1 over Carson Martinson (Iowa) (SV-1 7-4)

Cons. Round 2 – Carson Martinson (Iowa) won by major decision over Bowen Rothbauer (Augsburg) (Maj 16-2)

Cons. Round 3 – Carson Martinson (Iowa) won by fall over Buddy Evangelista (Wisconsin-Whitewater) (Fall 2:06)

Cons. Round 4 – Carson Martinson (Iowa) won by decision over Bryce McDonough (Luther) (Dec 7-2)

Cons. Semi – Carson Martinson (Iowa) won by decision over Harrison Hinojosa (Stevens Tech) (Dec 12-5)

5th Place Match – Kole Marko (Minnesota State Mankato) won by decision over Carson Martinson (Iowa) (Dec 7-2)

 

174 Gabe Arnold  1st

Champ. Round 1 – Gabe Arnold (Iowa) won by tech fall over Tyler Haydon (Wisconsin-Whitewater) (TF 19-3)

Champ. Round 2 – Gabe Arnold (Iowa) won by tech fall over Luis Cruces (Luther) (TF 21-5)

Quarterfinal – Gabe Arnold (Iowa) won by decision over Will Carano (Iowa) (Dec 14-7)

Semifinal – Gabe Arnold (Iowa) won by tech fall over Stefan Major (Stevens Tech) (TF 19-4)

1st Place Match – Gabe Arnold (Iowa) won by major decision over Seth Goetzinger (Augsburg) (Maj 11-3)

 

174 Aiden Riggins  5th

Champ. Round 1 – Aiden Riggins (Iowa) won by decision over Eddie Simes (Wisconsin-La Crosse) (Dec 4-1)

Champ. Round 2 – Aiden Riggins (Iowa) won by decision over Lawson Losee (Upper Iowa) (Dec 4-2)

Quarterfinal – James Burks (St. Cloud State) won by fall over Aiden Riggins (Iowa) (Fall 0:48)

Cons. Round 4 – Aiden Riggins (Iowa) won by tech fall over Colton Berg (Wartburg) (TF 18-2)

Cons. Semi – Aiden Riggins (Iowa) won by medical forfeit over Cael Meyer (Upper Iowa) (MFF)

5th Place Match – Aiden Riggins (Iowa) won by tech fall over Will Carano (Iowa) (TF 21-5)

 

174 Will Carano  6th

Champ. Round 1 – Will Carano (Iowa) won by fall over Max Sokolski (Augsburg) (Fall 1:13)

Champ. Round 2 – Will Carano (Iowa) won by tech fall over Connor Morin (Fontbonne ) (TF 18-1)

Quarterfinal – Gabe Arnold (Iowa) won by decision over Will Carano (Iowa) (Dec 14-7)

Cons. Round 4 – Will Carano (Iowa) won by tech fall over Carter Sorenson (Augsburg) (TF 15-0)

Cons. Semi – Will Carano (Iowa) won by decision over Eddie Simes (Wisconsin-La Crosse) (Dec 4-2)

5th Place Match – Aiden Riggins (Iowa) won by tech fall over Will Carano (Iowa) (TF 21-5)

 

184 Brennan Swafford  1st

Champ. Round 1 – Brennan Swafford (Iowa) won by tech fall over Drew Venteicher (Loras) (TF 17-2)

Champ. Round 2 – Brennan Swafford (Iowa) won by fall over Ryan Riser (Wisconsin-Whitewater) (Fall 5:40)

Quarterfinal – Brennan Swafford (Iowa) won by fall over Shane Gibson (Minnesota State Mankato) (Fall 2:21)

Semifinal – Brennan Swafford (Iowa) won by tech fall over Kasey Ross (Wartburg) (TF 20-4)

1st Place Match – Brennan Swafford (Iowa) won by major decision over Bentley Schwanebeck-Ostermann (Augsburg) (Maj 14-5)

 

184 Aidan McCain  DNP

Champ. Round 1 – Aidan McCain (Iowa) won by decision over Abe Michel (Loras) (Dec 16-12)

Champ. Round 2 – Joel Martsinovsky (Stevens Tech) won by medical forfeit over Aidan McCain (Iowa) (MFF)

Cons. Round 2 – Sam Schwabe (Wisconsin-La Crosse) won by medical forfeit over Aidan McCain (Iowa) (MFF)

 

197 Zach Glazier  1st

Champ. Round 1 – Zach Glazier (Iowa) received a bye () (Bye)

Champ. Round 2 – Zach Glazier (Iowa) won by fall over Seth Butler (Wartburg) (Fall 2:21)

Quarterfinal – Zach Glazier (Iowa) won by fall over Maxim Ryner (Quincy) (Fall 2:09)

Semifinal – Zach Glazier (Iowa) won by tech fall over Jacob Steenhoek (Luther) (TF 21-6)

1st Place Match – Zach Glazier (Iowa) won by tech fall over Parker Venz (Augsburg) (TF 19-4)

 

285 Bradley Hill  2nd

Champ. Round 1 – Bradley Hill (Iowa) won by fall over Maximo Ruiz (Stevens Tech) (Fall 1:20)\

Champ. Round 2 – Bradley Hill (Iowa) won by fall over Garner Simmons (Wisconsin-Whitewater) (Fall 0:48)

Quarterfinal – Bradley Hill (Iowa) won by tech fall over Tanner Gaffey (Minnesota State Mankato) (TF 22-5)

Semifinal – Bradley Hill (Iowa) won by major decision over Walter West (Luther) (Maj 16-5)

1st Place Match – Tyler Kim (Augsburg) won by decision over Bradley Hill (Iowa) (Dec 2-1)

 

285 Gage Marty  3rd

Champ. Round 1 – Gage Marty (Iowa) won by major decision over Jagger Schack (Augsburg) (Maj 11-3)

Champ. Round 2 – Gage Marty (Iowa) won by tech fall over Darius Mynar (Wartburg) (TF 16-1)

Quarterfinal – Gage Marty (Iowa) won by decision over Jordan Baumler (Upper Iowa) (Dec 8-4)

Semifinal – Tyler Kim (Augsburg) won by major decision over Gage Marty (Iowa) (Maj 9-1)

3rd Place Match – Gage Marty (Iowa) won by decision over Walter West (Luther) (Dec 6-3)

 

285 Easton Fleshman  5th

Champ. Round 1 – Easton Fleshman (Iowa) received a bye () (Bye)

Champ. Round 2 – Easton Fleshman (Iowa) won by decision over Colton Grindle (Wisconsin-Platteville) (Dec 5-2)

Quarterfinal – Walter West (Luther) won by decision over Easton Fleshman (Iowa) (Dec 2-0)

Cons. Round 4 – Easton Fleshman (Iowa) won by decision over Robert Beese (Augsburg) (Dec 5-0)

Cons. Semi – Easton Fleshman (Iowa) won by decision over Tanner Gaffey (Minnesota State Mankato) (Dec 4-1)

5th Place Match – Easton Fleshman (Iowa) won by major decision over Darius Mynar (Wartburg) (Maj 15-1)

 

Silver Division

149 Koye Grebel  2nd

Champ. Round 1 – Koye Grebel (Iowa) won by tech fall over Kale Hansen (Upper Iowa) (TF 15-0)

Champ. Round 2 – Koye Grebel (Iowa) won by tech fall over Emmanuel Celstin (North Iowa Area Community College) (TF 19-0)

Quarterfinal – Koye Grebel (Iowa) won by tech fall over Hunter Gartmann (Rochester Community & Tech. College) (TF 17-0)

Semifinal – Koye Grebel (Iowa) won by major decision over Cohen Wiste (Rochester Community & Tech. College) (Maj 19-9)

1st Place Match – Scott Busse (Wisconsin-Whitewater) won by decision over Koye Grebel (Iowa) (Dec 7-5)

 

157 Isaiah Fenton  1st

Champ. Round 1 – Isaiah Fenton (Iowa) received a bye () (Bye)

Champ. Round 2 – Isaiah Fenton (Iowa) won by tech fall over Collin Altensey (Upper Iowa) (TF 18-1)

Quarterfinal – Isaiah Fenton (Iowa) won by fall over Ethan Ballweber (Augsburg) (Fall 4:56)

Semifinal – Isaiah Fenton (Iowa) won by tech fall over Luke Swan (Wisconsin-Whitewater) (TF 18-2)

1st Place Match – Isaiah Fenton (Iowa) won by decision over Jermaine Butler (Wisconsin-Whitewater) (Dec 7-2)

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The #3 ranked University of Iowa Women’s Wrestling team will make their first appearance in the history of the program in legendary Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday, November 12. Iowa will host the Trailblazer Duals with #13 Presbyterian, #12 Lindenwood, and #6 Sacred Heart starting at 11 AM.

As with last week the University of Iowa Athletic Department did not release a probable lineup for Iowa or the opposing teams so we will have to wait and see who competes for the Hawks.

Elite recruit Kylie Welker was competing for Team USA last weekend at the 2023 Pan American Championships in Santiago, Chile. I am hoping she is in the lineup for the Trailblazer Duals.

Last Saturday #8 Iowa started the season off right with a 43-1 dual meet win over #7 East Stroudsburg. On Sunday at the Princeton Open Iowa had six champs and ten wrestlers placed in the top three.

The Trailblazer Duals will be streamed live on BIGt with Terry Steiner and AJ Reisetter for announcers. Steiner was an NCAA National Champion and O.W. of the 1993 NCAA Championships for Iowa. Steiner has been the head coach for the USA Women’s Team since 2002.

 

 

 

The Open Mat released rankings this week and Iowa is well represented.

The Open Mat Rankings – November 7

101 – #7 Emilie Gonzalez   #9 Sterling Dias

109 – #5 Ava Bayless

116 – #3 Felicity Taylor   #12 Brianna Gonzalez

136 – #2 Nanea Estrella   #9 Emmily Patneaud

143 – #2 Ella Schmit   #3 Resse Larramendy

155 – #6 Bella Mir

170 – #3 Kylie Welker

191 – #4 Jaycee Foeller

 

I will have a follow up blog with results.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The University of Iowa will send 25 wrestlers to compete at the Luther Open in Decorah, Iowa on Saturday. Wrestling will begin at 9 AM CST at the Luther College Regents Center. 

The Hawks have 23 wrestlers in the Elite Division and two wrestlers in the Silver Division registered to compete.

The entire starting lineup that defeated Cal Baptist 40-0 in the season opener last Saturday night will be competing.

TrackWrestling will have results for the tournament.

I will have a follow up blog with results.

 

 

 

Elite Division

Drake Ayala – 125

Joey Cruz – 125

Jace Rhodes – 133

Brody Teske – 133

Jesse Ybarra – 133

Real Woods – 141

Joel Jesuroga – 149

Cade Siebrecht – 149

Victor Voinovich – 149

Jared Franek – 157

Carter Martinson – 157

Michael Caliendo – 165

Carson Martinson – 165

Drake Rhodes – 165

Gabe Arnold – 174

Will Carano – 174

Aiden Riggins – 174

Aidan McCain – 184

Brennan Swafford – 184

Zach Glazier – 197

Easton Fleshman – 285

Bradley Hill – 285

Gage Marty – 285

 

Silver Division

Koye Grebel – 149

Isaiah Fenton – 157

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Naomi Simon from Decorah, Iowa signed a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday to compete at the University of Iowa. Simon is an elite recruit that is a late add on to a very good Iowa Women’s Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024.

In the National Girls High School Preseason Rankings Simon is #2 at 170.

Simon is a three-time state champion at Decorah. She won a state title at 170 last season with a 37-0 record and has an 82-0 career record. 

Simon has had a lot of success nationally. Last summer Simon won a Junior National title at 164 lbs. Recently Simon won the 170 lbs. title at the USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals. In September Simon won by a first period pin at Who’s Number 1.

 

 

While doing research I found a good article that mentioned how former Iowa NCAA champion and four-time All American Lee Fullhart was influential in getting Simon to go out for wrestling at Decorah as a freshman.

Iowa keeps adding to a loaded program that looks to have a great future.

 

Iowa Women’s Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024

Val Solorio – Canon-McMillan HS, Pennsylvania  100 lbs.

Kiara Djoumessi – Waverly-Shell Rock HS, Iowa  140 lbs.

Cadence Diduch – Freeport, Illinois  135 lbs.

Naomi Simon – Decorah, Iowa  170 lbs.

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The Open Mat has released full NCAA Women’s Wrestling Rankings. Iowa is ranked #3 in both the Tournament and Team Dual Rankings.

The Hawks have twelve wrestlers ranked in the top seven in the country. Nanea Estrella (136) and Ella Schmit (143) are ranked #2 and Resse Larramendy (143) and Kylie Welker (170) are ranked #3. Iowa has twelve wrestlers ranked at eight weight classes.

Iowa does not have a wrestler ranked at 123 and 130. 

I still believe that Iowa is underrated individually and as a team.  The Hawks have a young team and will have the opportunities to prove it in competition.

 

 

The Open Mat Rankings

101 – #7 Emilie Gonzalez   #9 Sterling Dias

109 – #5 Ava Bayless

116 – #3 Felicity Taylor   #12 Brianna Gonzalez

136 – #2 Nanea Estrella   #9 Emmily Patneaud

143 – #2 Ella Schmit   #3 Resse Larramendy

155 – #6 Bella Mir

170 – #3 Kylie Welker

191 – #4 Jaycee Foeller

The complete rankings: The Open Mat – College Wrestling News and Rankings

 

Iowa will make their first appearance in the history of the program in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday (Nov 12) at the Trailblazer Duals starting at 11 AM CST.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

The Iowa Women’s Wrestling program picked up another commitment on the recruiting trail today. Kyle Klingman of FloWrestling announced that Cadence Diduch has committed to the Hawkeyes.

Diduch has a great resume that includes winning Fargo three times and being a four-time finalist. She has also been invited to competed at Who’s #1 three times.

Diduch won by tech fall over current true freshman Hawkeye Lilly Luft of Charles City, Iowa in the Junior National finals last summer at 132 lbs.

In June Diduch was dominating in winning the 61 kg/134 lbs. Gold at the 2023 U17 Pan American Championships in Mexico City, Mexico.

Diduch is currently ranked #3 in the country at 135 lbs.

Diduch joins Val Solorio and Kiara Djoumessi in the recruiting Class of 2024.

 

 

 

Iowa Women’s Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024

Val Solorio – Canon-McMillan HS, Pennsylvania  100 lbs.

Kiara Djoumessi – Waverly-Shell Rock HS, Iowa  140 lbs.

Cadence Diduch – Freeport, Illinois  135 lbs.

 

The Hawks just keep stacking talented wrestlers in their program that looks to have a great future.

Iowa will make their first appearance in the history of the program in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday (Nov 12) at the Trailblazer Duals starting at 11 AM CST.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!

Steve Banach has been selected to become a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as an Outstanding American. Banach is a retired United States Army Infantry Colonel.

The Class of 2024 for the NWHOF will be inducted during the 47th Honors Weekend on May 31-June 1 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. 

Originally from Port Jervis, New York, Banach started his college wrestling career at Clemson where he was an ACC finalist as a freshman. Steve transferred to Iowa to wrestle with his two brothers Ed and Lou Banach for legendary coach Dan Gable. Steve was a three-time letterwinner at Iowa from 1980-82 and graduated from Iowa. 

Steve joined the United States Army where he had a distinguished career as an Infantry Colonel for the legendary Rangers.

Hall of Fame writer Mike Chapman told me about how tough Steve Banach was. Ed Banach had told Mike that their older brother Steve was tougher than they (Ed and Lou) were. That is saying a lot coming from an Olympic Gold medalist freestyle wrestler.

I briefly spoke to Steve last season at an Iowa Wrestling meet. He liked my Iowa Wrestling hat. Steve would be around 63 years old and looks like he could still walk out on the mat or a battlefield and kick some *ss.

In 2015 the Banach brothers released a book called Uncommon Bonds.

To order Uncommon Bonds:

Uncommon Bonds: A Journey in Optimism: Steve Banach, Lou Banach, Ed Banach: 9780996122504: Amazon.com: Books

 

 

From themat.com:

The Outstanding American award is presented to those individuals who have used the disciplines of wrestling to launch notable careers in other walks of life, such as science and technology, business and industry, government and the military, and the arts and humanities.

Retired United States Army Infantry Colonel Steve Banach began wrestling in the eighth grade and competed alongside his younger twin brothers Ed and Lou Banach for Port Jervis High School in Port Jervis, New York. He continued his career at Clemson University, where he was elected captain of the wrestling team as a freshman and was an Atlantic Coast Conference finalist. 

Banach then decided to transfer to the University of Iowa, where his twin brothers were wrestling for Dan Gable. Steve ended his wrestling career at the 1984 Final Olympic Trials as a member of the US Army Wrestling Team. He served with distinction in the United States Army from 1983 to 2010. This period of service included deployments to six combat zones. Steve demonstrated impeccable leadership during his service in the U.S. Army. He is a Distinguished Member of the 75th Ranger Regiment and served in that special operations organization for nine years, culminating with command of the 3rd Ranger Battalion from 2001-2003. 

He led U.S. Army Rangers during a historic night combat parachute assault into Afghanistan on October 19, 2001, as the “spearhead” for the Global War on Terror for the United States of America. He subsequently led U.S. Army Rangers in a second combat parachute assault into Al Anbar Province in western Iraq in 2003. 

Banach served as the 11th Director of the prestigious School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) and led the development of the U.S. Army’s Design Methodology doctrine. As a Stryker Brigade Commander, he led the development of the Company Intelligence Support Team tactics, techniques, and procedures, for the U.S. Army. He served as the lead Design Officer for the Department of the Army Cyber Information Warfare Design Planning Team. He also served as the Director of the Army Management Staff College and was responsible for the design and implementation of the US Army’s Civilian Education System. 

He earned the Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Bronze Star Medal for Service, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge with two awards, and the Master Parachutist Badge with two Bronze Combat Jump Stars. Banach also holds a certificate in Leadership in Crisis: Preparation and Performance, from the JFK School of Government at Harvard University.

After leaving the U.S. Army, Banach served as the CEO of the Operational Art & Strategic Initiatives Studies Group (OASIS-G) and is now the Vice-President for Strategic Planning at SOFTwarfare, LLC.

Congratulations Colonel Banach for your much deserved induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. You truly are an Outstanding American.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!