Hawkeyes Continue Strong After Day 1 of Nationals

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The second-ranked University of Iowa women’s wrestling team finished day one of the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships sending 12 wrestlers into day two. All wrestlers still competing will secure an All-American status, with 10 set to compete in the semifinals tomorrow morning.

Top-seeded Emilie Gonzalez and No. 2 Sterling Dias dominated their way through the day at 101 pounds: neither giving up a single point. Dias secured two pins over Emaline Hicks of Simpson (1:42) and No. 7 Odelia Lopez of Schreiner (2:48) to secure her spot in the semifinals. Gonzalez outscored her opponents 30-0, handing out three 10-0 technical falls.

At 109, second-seeded Ava Bayless also declined her opponents points, defeating No. 9 Emily Mendez of Adrian via a 10-0 tech. fall, then pinning No. 7 Isabella Morales of Colorado Mesa in 56 seconds.

116-pounders No. 3 Brianna Gonzalez and No. 4 Felicity Taylor notched a combined four tech. falls and two pins to reach tomorrow’s semifinals. Taylor secured her spot in the semifinals with a pin over King’s No. 5 Melanie Mendoza with just 13-seconds left in the bout. Gonzalez made quick work of her quarterfinal match securing a, 10-0, tech. fall over Wisconsin Stevens Point’s Abby Nelson.

Second-seeded Reese Larramendy secured her semifinal spot at 143 after outscoring her opponents 32-2. In her quarterfinals match, she defeated No. 8 Zoey Lints of Elmira, via a 10-0 tech. fall.

At 155, top-seeded Marlynne Deede and No. 6 Bella Mir hustled through day one, accumulating three tech. falls, two pins, and a decision. Deede defeated No. 8 Alex Hofrichter of Dubuque via an 11-1 tech. fall, being the only match point she gave up. Mir found the upset over No. 3 Nina Makem of Augsburg to stay on the front side winning via decision.

Top-seeded Kylie Welker had a dominant day at 170 with two pins and a tech. fall, wrestling for a total of 2:42 in the three bouts. Welker earned her last win over Schyler Caringi of Gannon, stamping the pin in 1:32.

At 191, No. 5 Jaycee Foeller ended the day after fighting all six against No. 4 Sara Lake, winning via a 5-1 decision and moving forward to the semifinals.

No. 8 Lilly Luft (136), and No. 5 Ella Schmit (143) are still alive on the backside after taking losses. The two wrestlers will head into fourth round consolations tomorrow morning.

NOTABLES
• The Hawkeyes went 43-8 on the day.
• Iowa finished the day in second for total team points (113); trailing North Central in first with 127.5 points.
• Iowa led as the team with the most technical falls (20) and pins (14) in the least amount of time.
• The Hawkeyes also scored the most total match points at 351, leading North Central (345) and King (295).
• Redshirt freshman Emilie Gonzalez holds second place for the most technical falls in the least amount of time, with 3 technical falls in 3:19.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH CLARISSA CHUN
“It feels great to be in this position. We have ten moving forward on the frontside still, even after some tough matches. We have to go out there and continue to be gritty and get even grittier. We have some more strong matches coming up and we need to be prepared. We also have to see that on the backside. Getting better in certain positions and finishing there. The girls have to find ways to trust in themselves and their abilites, and not talk ourselves out of anything. And for the 10 moving forward, we’re solid. Looking good and feeling good.”

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will finish competition tomorrow in the Alliant Energy Powerhouse. The first whistle blow will be at 11 a.m. (CT).

RESULTS

101lbs – Sterling Dias
WIN Emaline Hicks (Simpson), Fall 1:42
WIN Odelia Lopez (Schreiner), Fall 2:48

101lbs – Emilie Gonzalez
WIN Morgan Beathea (UW Stevens Point), TF 10-0
WIN Gina Bolognese (Simon Fraser), TF 10-0
WIN Avery Kibelbek (King), TF 10-0

109lbs – Ava Bayless
WIN Emily Mendez (Adrian), TF 10-0
WIN Isabella Morales (Colorado Mesa), Fall 0:56

116lbs – Brianna Gonzalez
WIN Carleigh Czerneski (Adrian), TF 11-0
WIN Jaia Ashley (Schreiner), Fall 3:14
WIN Abby Nelson (UW Stevens Point), TF 10-0

116lbs – Felicity Taylor
WIN Rose Ann Marshall (UW Stevens Point), TF 10-0
WIN Tatiana Walker (Sacred Heart), TF 10-0
WIN Melanie Mendoza (King), Fall 5:47

123lbs – Ava Rose, DNP
WIN Hannah Suboni-Kaufman (Augustana), TF 10-0
LOSS Virginia Foard (King), TF 10-0
WIN Sandie Pfiel (Augustana), TF 15-4
WIN Jayden Bazemore (Gannon), Dec. 7-4
LOSS Mia Macaluso (East Stroudsburg), Fall 0:52

130lbs – Emily Frost, DNP
LOSS Sara Sterner (North Central), Dec. 6-4
WIN Anna Dicugno (King), Fall 1:26
WIN Marquesis Haintz (Simon Fraser), 2:52
LOSS Kylie Rule (Wartburg), TF 10-0

136lbs – Lilly Luft
WIN Gianna Anaya (Emmanuel), Dec. 5-0
LOSS Yele Aycock (North Central), Dec. 8-0
WIN Angelica Steffy (Mount Olive), Fall 2:10

143lbs – Reese Larramendy
WIN Taylor Cutler (Adrian), TF 10-0
WIN Cloe Charlesworth (Ursinus), TF 12-2
WIN Aine Drury (Elmira), TF 10-0

143lbs – Ella Schmit
WIN Sofia Vergara (Emmanuel), TF 10-0
WIN Alessandra Elliot (D’Youville), Fall 1:58
LOSS Aine Drury (King), Fall 2:07
WIN Khadijah Sanusi (Sacred Heart), TF 12-1

155lbs – Bella Mir
WIN Tiera Jimerson (North Central), TF 11-0
WIN Molly Keller (Emory & Henry), TF 10-0
WIN Nina Makem (Augsburg), Dec. 6-2

155lbs – Marlynne Deede
WIN Emma Matera (Ursinus), Fall 0:47
WIN Nia Miranda (Mount Olive), Fall 4:55
WIN Alex Hofrichter (Dubuque), TF 11-1

170lbs – Kylie Welker
WIN Caylee Collins (Colorado Mesa), Fall 0:28
WIN Sidney Ramos (Tiffin), TF 10-0
WIN Schyler Caringi (Gannon), Fall 1:32

170lbs – Haley Ward, DNP
LOSS Henlee Haynes (Presbyterian), Fall 2:51
LOSS Katie Gakin (Emory & Henry), Fall 1:32

191lbs – Jaycee Foeller
WIN Brittney Reed (Emory & Henry), TF 14-4
WIN Ella Beam (Presbyterian), Fall 2:32
WIN Sara Lake (Lindenwood), Dec. 5-1