2 Hawkeyes Qualify for Olympic Team Trials

FAIRFAX, Va. – Two University of Iowa women’s wrestlers had top-two finishes in Fairfax, Va. at the Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier on Saturday. Redshirt freshmen Nyla Valencia (50 kg) and Brianna Gonzalez (53 kg) are both now qualified for the 2024 Olympic Trials in State College, Penn. April 19-20.

At 50kg, Valencia went 3-0 in the tournament with two wins via technical falls and one win via fall. She defeated Charlotte Fowler in the championship bout pinning her at 5:27.

At 53kg, Gonzalez also went 3-0 on the day with two tech. falls and one win via decision. She defeated Elena Ivaldi via a, 10-0, tech. fall in the championship bout.

Valencia and Gonzalez join seven other Hawkeyes who will all compete at Olympic Trials on the campus of Penn State University.

50kg – Sterling Dias – DNP
LOSS Charlotte Fowler (Boilermaker RTC), Dec. 9-0
WIN Emma Heslin (South Side Wrestling Club), Fall 2:51
LOSS Mariah Anderson (Air Force RTC), Dec. 7-0

50kg – Nyla Valencia – 1^st Place
WIN Jenna Gerhardt (North Dakota), TF 15-4
WIN Natalie Reyna-Rodriguez (Southern Oregon RTC), TF 14-1
WIN Charlotte Fowler (Boilermaker RTC), Fall 5:27

53kg – Brianna Gonzalez – 1^st Place
WIN Jaslynn Gallegos (Cardinal), TF 10-0
WIN Aleeah Gould (Army (WCAP)), Dec. 9-0
WIN Elena Ivaldi (California), TF, 10-0

57kg – Alexandra Baudhuin – DNP
LOSS Montana DeLawder (Team Tornado Wrestling Club), TF 10-0
LOSS Jackeline Ramos (New Jersey), TF 14-4