Hawkeyes Send 10 Wrestlers to National Semifinals

CORALVILLE, Iowa – The top-ranked University of Iowa women’s wrestling team had a strong showing on day one of the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships, sending all 15 athletes into day two. Ten Hawkeyes advanced to tomorrow morning's semifinals, guaranteeing them each All-American status.

Iowa finished the day with 107.5 team points anad sit in second place, closely behind North Central College who has 111 points.  

Top-seeded Rianne Murphy and third-seeded Sterling Dias dominated their way through the 103 pound-bracket to reach the semifinals. Dias beat each of her three opponents by fall, with her quartfinals win coming against No. 6 Jennesis Martinez of Colorado Mesa in 1:54. Murphy earned two tech. falls and a pin, including a 10-0 win over No. 8 Avery Kibelbek from King University in the quarters. 

At 110, second-seeded Ava Bayless didn't give up a single point on her way to the semifinals, securing a pin and two tech. falls. She defeated No. 7 Austria Holland of Adams State, 10-0, in the quarterfinals. 

Top-seeded Brianna Gonzalez notched a spot in the semis at 117 pounds with a pin and two tech. falls, including a 10-0 victory against No. 8 Alex Waitsman from William Jewell in the quarterfinal round. 

First-seeded Macey Kilty and second-seeded Reese Larramendy secured their semifinal spots at 145 pounds, each earning three tech. falls on the day. Kilty defeated No. 8 Sydney Perry of North Central, 10-0, in the quarterfinals, while Larramendy earned an 11-0 tech. fall over No. 7 Zoey Lints from Elmira College to advance.

At 160, top-seeded Kennedy Blades wrestled for a total of 4:29 en route to the semifinals, topping all three of her opponents by tech. fall. Blades beat No. 8 Gretchen Donally from Colorado Mesa, 10-0, in the quarters. 

Top-seeded Kylie Welker and fourth-seeded Naomi Simon both earned their way into the semifinals. Welker beat No. 9 Lydia Krauss of McKendree, 10-0, in the quarterfinals. Simon secured a hard-fought, 9-6, victory over No. 5 Brittyn Corbishley from North Central to advance. Welker and Simon will meet in the semis tomorrow. 

At 207, first-seeded Jaycee Foeller secured a pin, a tech. fall and a decision to earn a spot in the semifinals. She prevailed over No. 8 Julia Richey of Simon Fraser, 3-0, in the quarterfinal round. 

Fifth-seeded Emilie Gonzalez (110), fourth-seeded Cali Leng (124), fifth-seeded Emmily Patneaud (131), fifth-seeded Nanea Estrella (138), and seventh-seeded Alivia White (207) are still alive on the backside after losing in the quarterfinals. They will wrestle in the fourth round of consolations tomorrow morning and can still place as high as third in the tournament. 

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH CLARISSA CHUN

"I'm so proud of the efforts our women put in in the morning to this evening," Chun said. "We put points on the board, a lot of bonus points. This evening we had great effort up and down. We had some hard losses, but it didn't come from a lack of trying by any means. They gave it their all, and they just have to keep their head up and move forward."

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will conclude their season on day two of the NCWWC National Championships tomorrow inside Xtream Arena. Session three will begin at 10 a.m. CT followed with championships in session four beginning at 6 p.m.