CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Iowa women’s wrestling team brought home the 2024 NWCA National Duals title over top-seeded North Central College (NCC) Saturday afternoon in the UNI-Dome.
In the championship dual, second-seeded Iowa battled NCC until the very end, ultimately winning 21-20. Sterling Dias started the dual off with a 11-0 technical fall over third-ranked Maddie Avila at 101. At 109, Ava Bayless defeated third-ranked Jaslynn Gallegos via 5-5 decision. Coming into the 155 bout, the Hawkeyes trailed the Cardinals, 12-16, after five losses in the middle weights. Top-ranked Marlynne Deede put the Hawkeyes back in fron, earning a pin over fourth-ranked London Houston in 1:38. Kylie Welker followed, racking up a 11-3 decision over Yelena Makoyed at 170. Jaycee Foeller secured a passivity point in her 6-1 decision loss against Traeh Haynes, giving the team a point to secure the win over NCC.
In the semifinals, the Hawkeyes defeated three-seeded King University, 31-8, notching six ranked wins. Dias started the morning at 101 with a pin over sixth-ranked Mia Zuniga in 4:04. Bayless followed at 109 with a hard fought 2-0 decision over third-ranked Danielle Garcia. At 116, Gonzalez broke through with a decision win over fifth-ranked Melanie Mendoza, 8-0. Taylor secured the team’s third decision over third-ranked Montana Delawder, 5-0, at 123. At 143, Larramendy battled for six minutes and came out on top against Yasmine Oliveira, via a 7-0 decision. Welker and Foeller finished the dual in style at 170 and 191. Welker notched a 10-0 tech. fall over second-ranked Tiffani Baublitz, and Foeller finished with a pin over sixth-ranked Alexa Garcia in 5:49.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH CLARISSA CHUN
“This is what we want for women’s wrestling. It was a very competitive match and to have two have two top programs battling is what is good for the sport. Without Marlynne’s pin or Jaycee’s passivity point who knows what could have happened. Any team can win on any given day and today was our day.”
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes are set to host their second dual in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday, January 21st. The dual will be streamed on B1G+ (subscription required).
RESULTS
#2 Iowa 31, #3 King 8
101 – #2 Sterling Dias fall (I) #6 Mia Zuniga (K), 4:04
109 – #2 Ava Bayless (I) dec. #3 Danielle Garcia (K), 2-0
116 – #3 Brianna Gonzalez dec. (I) #5 Melanie Mendoza (K), 8-0
123 – #2 Felicity Taylor (I) dec. #3 Montana Delawder (K), 5-0
130 –#3 Victoria Baez-Dilone (K) tech. fall #10 Emily Frost (I), 10-0
136 –#4 Claire DiCugno (K) tech. fall Lilly Luft (I), 10-0
143 – #1 Reese Larramendy (I) dec. Yasmine Oliveira (K), 7-0
155 – #1 Marlynne Deede (I) forfeit Unknown (K)
170 – #1 Kylie Welker (I) tech. fall #2 Tiffani Baublitz (K), 10-0
191 – Jaycee Foeller (I) fall #6 Alexa Garcia (K), 5:49
#2 Iowa 21, #1 North Central 20
101 – #2 Sterling Dias (I) tech. fall #3 Maddie Avila (N), 11-0
109 – #2 Ava Bayless dec. (I) Jaslynn Gallegos (N), 5-5
116 – #2 Sydney Petzinger (N) dec. #3 Brianna Gonzalez (I), 8-4
123 – #1 Amani Jones (N) dec. #2 Felicity Taylor (I), 12-3
130 – #6 Salome Walker (N) dec. #10 Emily Frost (I), 8-2
136 – #1 Yele Aycock (N) dec. Lilly Luft (I), 6-2
143 – #1 Reese Larramendy (I) Alara Boyd (N)
155 – #1 Marlynne Deede (I) fall #4 London Houston (N), 1:38
170 – #1 Kylie Welker (I) dec. Yelena Makoyed (N), 11-3
191 – Traeh Haynes (N) dec. Jaycee Foeller (I), 6-1