ON THE MAT
Eighth-ranked University of Iowa will head northeast this weekend to dual seventh-ranked East Stroudsburg on Saturday, then to New Jersey on Sunday for the Princeton Open. Competition will start at 3:30 p.m. (CT) on Saturday at the Koehler Fieldhouse, and 8 a.m. (CT) on Sunday at the Jadwin Gymnasium.
FOLLOW ALONG
- Saturday’s dual will be streamed through East Stroudsburg University and Sunday’s open will be streamed on ESPN+. You can follow along both days on Trackwrestling.com as well as FloWrestling.org.
- Follow Iowa women’s wrestling team on X (IowaW_Wrestling), Instagram (Iowawomenswrestling), and Facebook (Iowa Women’s Wrestling).
- Live results and information can be found on the X page (IowaW_Wrestling).
MAKING HISTORY
This weekend marks the official start of the inaugural University of Iowa women’s wrestling team. The sport was first announced to be added as the 13th women’s sport at Iowa in September of 2021. Iowa is the first NCAA Division 1, Power Five conference institution to add the sport. 2 more states have sanctioned girls wrestling and added official state championships, including the state of Iowa.
NO. 8 IN PRESEASON
The Hawkeyes are ranked eighth in the preseason coaches polls by NWCA. The Hawkeyes are tied for eighth with Lock Haven both sitting with 22 points.
INCOMING ALL-AMERICAN
• Felicity Taylor, a native of Spillville, Iowa, spent the past four years at McKendree University in Illinois, where she helped the Bearcats win three national team titles. She was the NCWWC National Champion in 2021, while finishing as the 116-pound national runner-up in 2019, 2020 and 2022.
• Taylor has also excelled on the national scene, winning both the U.S. Open and U23 National Tournaments and qualifying for Final X. It is the final leg of USA Wrestling’s Senior World Team Trials process.
• Before joining the Bearcats, Taylor won 109 matches at South Winneshiek High School, becoming the first Iowa girl to reach the 100-win milestone. She was a four-time women’s freestyle All-American and she became the fourth Iowa native to ever to win a Junior National title in women’s freestyle.
DEEDE TAKES ON NWCA ALL-STAR CLASSIC
• University of Iowa women’s wrestler, Marlynne Deede will compete in the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic presented by Cliff Keen on November 21 at Rec Hall on the campus of Penn State.
• Iowa is one of six schools that will be represented in the women’s freestyle matches.
• Deede will face Life University’s Latifah McBryde. The Utah native is a fifth-year transfer in her first season as a Hawkeye. She is a four-time All-American and 2023 NCWWC National Champion.
NEWCOMERS
• The Hawkeyes are bringing in 13 new signees to start the 2023-24 season; 4 transfers and 9 freshman.
•Introducing one transfer from Jamestown, Augsburg, and two from McKendree.
• Only one of the Hawkeye newcomers is an Iowa native, Freshman Lilly Luft. Luft comes from Charles City, ranking first nationally in her weight class.
• The other 9 freshman come from a wide range of hometowns, reaching from California all the way to New Jersey.
ESTRELLA’S FIGHT FOR LAHAINA
On August 8th, 2023, the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than 100 years burned through Lahaina, killing at least 115 people and leveling homes and businesses. University of Iowa wrestler Nanea Estrella attended Lahainaluna High School for four years, boarding in her adopted community about an hour west of her hometown of Makawao, in upcountry Maui. Estrella reached out to the Iowa Student-Athlete Advisory Committee; Macy Anderson, community engagement and communications associate in Student Athlete Academic Services; and Kara Park, assistant athletics director for student development. Together, they decided to hold a drive to replace the toys and athletic supplies that so many kids lost in the fire. Donations poured into Carver-Hawkeye Arena and Iowa Book, as well as Xtream Arena before the Hawkeye volleyball team’s home opener during FRYfest.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will stay home to host the Trailblazer Duals in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday. The Hawkeyes will host Sacred Heart, Lindenwood, and Presbyterian in a quad-style dual. These teams join the University of Iowa in being the only Division 1 women’s wrestling teams, trailblazing the way for other Division 1 schools. The dual is presented by Riverside Casino and Golf Resort, and will start at 11 a.m. (CT).