A STORYBOOK ENDING
The second-ranked University of Iowa women’s wrestling team finished the 2024 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Tournament with six champions and 12 All-Americans. The Hawkeyes brought home the team title with 204 total points.
With Iowa leading by just .5 points as a team heading into the final match, Kylie Welkertook it into her own hands to finish the job at 170. Welker shut the door with an, 11-0, tech. fall over No. 2 Yelena Makoyed of North Central to clinch the national title for both herself and the team. The Hawkeyes earned a total of 497 match points. Grossing 25 tech. falls and 18 pins. Along with that, Iowa captured 8 upsets and 28 ranked victories this tournament. Welker earned the most team points in the tournament, grossing 28.5 points.
THE UNSTOPPABLE DEEDE
Senior Marlynne Deede finished her fifth and final collegiate season with an undefeated
record of 13-0. Deede went 29-12 against ranked opponents in her career, earning two national titles and becoming a five-time All-American. The Springville, Utah, native picked up five technical falls, five pins, and 3 wins via decision this year as a Hawkeye.
A BRIGHT FUTURE
Only two of Iowa’s 12 All-American’s this season are seniors, meaning the Hawkeyes will have returning All-Americans at each weight except 123 and 130. The other 10 AA’s are made up of eight redshirt freshman, one true freshman, and one junior.
USA TODAY’S WOMEN OF THE YEAR
Head coach Clarissa Chun has been named USA Today’s Women of the Year Honoree for the state of Iowa
announced by the organization last Thursday. The Hawaii native is a National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished member, two-time Olympian, and was inducted into the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.
IOWA DOMINATES THE DUALS
• The Hawkeyes sit at No. 1 in dual rankings for the second set this year; finishing the season undefeated (16-0).
• Iowa held this place after defeating top-seeded North Central College in the NWCA National Duals finals, becoming the 2024 National Duals Champions.
NEWCOMERS
• The Hawkeyes brought 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.
NATIONAL DUAL CHAMPIONS
On January 6th, 2024, the University of Iowa women’s wrestling team claimed the NWCA National Duals title at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Hawkeyes opened the tournament with a win over Adrian College, 49-1.
They continued into the round of two defeating seventh-seeded Presbyterian, 39-4. In the semifinals, Iowa downed third-seeded King, 31-8, making it’s way to the finals. There, the Hawkeyes faced reigning national champions and first-seeded North Central College. Iowa fought until the very end, winning the dual by one point, 21-20, and officially taking the title.
UNDEFEATED DUAL SEASON
The Hawkeyes finished their inaugural season going 16-0 in dual competition. They had nine wins over NCAA ranked teams and outscored their opponents 593-108 in dual competition. They had two shutout wins over No. 11 Lindenwood and Missouri Valley College. In their final dual in Carver-Hawkeye Arena this season, they defeated NAIA National Dual Champions Life University, 35-6.
UP NEXT: HAWKEYES GO NATIONWIDE
The six national champions and Rose Cassioppi will head to State College, Pennsylvania, on April 19th to compete at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Competition will begin at 9 a.m. (CT) on the 19th and will be held in the Bryce Jordan Center on the campus of Penn State University.