FORT WORTH, Texas – Incoming University of Iowa women’s wrestlers Reese Larramendy and Nanea Estrella will both represent USA Wrestling following their performances at the U.S. Women’s National Championships.
Larramendy rolled to the finals where she defeated Elleni Johnson, 10-0, in back-to-back matches in the best of three series to win the 65kg weight class. The title earned Larramendy a spot on the U20 World Team, where she will represent the United States this summer in Sofia, Bulgaria, from Aug. 14-21.
Estrella, meanwhile, advanced to the championship match at 59 kg where she fell dropped a pair of decisions to SaVannah Cosme to finish as the runner-up. Estrella’s second-place finish gives her a spot on the Pan American Team, which will compete in Mexico from July 7-10.
The Hawkeyes also were represented well with two third, a fifth and sixth place finish.
After losing in the Round of 16, Nyla Valencia won six consecutive matches, including a 10-0 victory over Samara Chavez, to finish third.
After falling to Cosme, the eventual champion, in her first match, Iowa native Ella Schmit won her next seven matches to fight her way back to finish third.
Brianna Gonzalez finished fifth at 50 kg, while Bella Mir was sixth at 65kg. Mir lost in a battle of future Hawkeyes in the Round of 16.
In U23 action, Valencia advanced to the finals at 50kg. In the semifinals, Valencia defeated Emily Shilson, a Junior World Champion, who attends Augsburg. Valencia won, 8-5, to advance to the finals, where she will face Nina Pham on Sunday.
