Harasta Earns NWMA Sports Information Award

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Leandra Harasta, assistant director of Strategic Communications at the University of Iowa, has been named Division I Wrestling Sports Information Director of the Year by the National Wrestling Media Association (NWMA).

Harasta joined the UI’s Athletics Strategic Communications staff in 2023 after serving as an intern for one year. 

The 2023-24 season saw Harasta cover the inaugural season of women’s wrestling at Iowa as they Hawkeyes went 16-0 and won both a NWCA National Duals title and the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Tournament, crowning six champions and 12 All-Americans.

In addition to her wrestling duties, Harasta also serves as the communications contact for the Hawkeye women’s gymnastics and softball teams.

Harasta is a Brea, California native and earned her bachelor’s degree in communication from the University at Buffalo where she was also a four-year starter on the softball team. She earned her master’s degree in sport management from the University of Florida.