Han Becomes 13th Hawkeye Signee in Inaugural Class

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Esther Han has signed a National Letter of Intent with the University of Iowa women’s wrestling program, it was announced Friday by head coach Clarissa Chun. Han is the 12th ranked wrestler nationally at 132 pounds.

“Ester is hard-working and always asks questions to improve her development because she strives to always be better,” said Chun. “Ester and I share a common bond with our judo backgrounds, so I am excited to work with her.  She has challenged herself against senior age group athletes throughout high school and she is driven both academically and athletically.”

The Carbondale, Illinois, native won two state championships in Missouri before winning a third in Utah for Mountain View High School. Han won the 2021 World Team Trials Last Chance Qualifier, and finished third at both the 2022 Fargo Junior Nationals and Folkstyle Nationals.

Han is a two-time Senior World Team Trial qualifier, and she is also a five-time Judo National and International Champion.

Han will compete unattached in 2022-23. Iowa announced in September 2021 it would become the first Division I Power Five school to add women’s wrestling. The Hawkeyes begin competing in 2023-24.

2022 Signing Class
Ava Bayless (Greenville, Penn.)
Sam Calkins (Brentwood, Calif.)
Sterling Dias (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Nanea Estrella (Makawao, Hawaii)
Brianna Gonzalez (San Lorenza, Calif.)
Emilie Gonzalez (San Lorenza, Calif.)
Esther Han (Carbondale, Ill.)
Reese Larramendy (Reno, Nev.)
Bella Mir (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Ella Schmidt (Bettendorf, Iowa)
Felicity Taylor (Spillville, Iowa)
Nyla Valencia (Morgan Hill, Calif.)
Kylie Welker (Franksville, Wis.)