ON THE MAT
The University of Iowa women’s wrestling team is set to host their first ever dual inside of Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday, November 12 at 11 a.m. CT. The Hawkeyes will welcome Presbyterian, Lindenwood and Sacred Heart for the “Trailblazer Duals” presented by Riverside Casino and Golf Resort.
FOLLOW ALONG LIVE
• Sunday’s dual will be streamed by B1G+ with Terry Steiner and AJ Reisetter on the call
• Follow Iowa women’s wrestling on social media via X (@IowaW_Wrestling), Facebook/iowawomenswrestling and Instagram (@iowawomenswrestling).
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Iowa women’s wrestling team on X (IowaW_Wrestling), Instagram (Iowawomenswrestling), and Facebook (Iowa Women’s Wrestling).
MAKING HISTORY
Last weekend was the official start of the inaugural University of Iowa women’s wrestling season. On Saturday, the Hawkeyes dominated ESU, winning their dual 43-1. On Sunday at the Princeton Open, the Hawkeyes secured six gold medals, and a total of 10 top three finishes. Two placement matches consisted of two Hawkeyes wrestling against each other. Sterling Dias and Emilie Gonzalez wrestled for first at 101, while Anakya Besco and Cali Leng wrestled for fifth at 130.
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.
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.
WELKER IN SANTIAGO, CHILE
Sophomore Kylie Welker traveled to Santiago, Chile last week to compete at the 2023 Pan-American Championships. Welker finished 7th overall for Team USA at 76kg, after falling to Genesis Reasco Valdez of Ecuador via 9-7 decision.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will travel to Marshall, Missouri next weekend to compete at the Missouri Valley Open on Friday and Saturday. The tournament can be followed live on FloWrestling.