Notes: Luther Hill, All-Iowa Duals

THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa women’s wrestling team kicks off its 2025-26 season with a pair of competitions. Thirteen Hawkeyes will make the trip to Indianola, Iowa, for the Luther Hill Open on Nov. 1. Bouts will begin at 9 a.m. (CT). The Hawkeyes return to the mat on Sunday, Nov. 1, hosting Central and Cornell in the All-Iowa Dual at 2 p.m. in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

NWCA ALL-STAR CLASSIC
Redshirt junior Reese Larramendy is set to compete in the NWCA All-Star Classic in Piscataway, New Jersey, on Saturday, Nov. 1. Larramendy, the nation’s second-ranked 145-pounder, is slated to take on first-ranked Esther Kolawole (William Penn). Bouts begin at 6 p.m. (CT). The event will be streamed live on FloWrestling.

FOLLOW ALONG

• The Luther Hill Open will be streamed live through IAWrestling on Rokfin. The All-Iowa Dual will be streamed live on B1G+ ($). Links to both streams can be found on the Iowa women’s wrestling schedule page on hawkeyesports.com.

• The All-Iowa Dual will be broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network with Steven Grace on the call.
• Live stats for Saturday and Sunday are available via FloWrestling. Links are listed on the Iowa women’s wrestling schedule page on hawkeyesports.com.

ROSTER BREAKDOWN

• The Iowa roster is comprised of 24 returners and six newcomers.
• Seven freshmen, six sophomores, 13 juniors, three seniors, and one fifth year make up the Iowa women’s wrestling roster. Each class includes redshirt designations.
• The Iowa reach is nationwide as 16 states are represented on the roster. California is the most represented state (7). Five Hawkeyes are from Iowa.

NCAA SPORT
The 2025-26 season marks the first year of women’s wrestling as an NCAA championship sport. The first NCAA women’s wrestling championship is set for March 6-7 at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa. It will include teams from Division I, Division II and Division III.

LUTHER HILL OPEN
Thirteen Hawkeyes will make the trip to Indianola, Iowa, for the Luther Hill Open. They include: Sterling Dias (103), Rianne Murphy (103), Valarie Solorio (103), Harlee Hiller (117), Isabella Marie Gonzales (124), Cali Leng (124), Ava Rose (124), Karlee Brooks (131), Mia Goodwin (131), Bella Williams (131), Danni Swihart (138), Cadence Diduch (145), and Libby Dix (207).

IN THE RANKINGS

• Iowa is ranked No. 1 nationally in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) poll.

• The Hawkeyes have a ranked wrestler in all 10 weight classes.

• Three Hawkeyes are ranked No. 1 in their weight class. Ava Bayless is the No. 1 wrestler at 110. Kennedy Blades is the top-ranked wrestler at 160, and Kylie Welker leads the nation at 180.

• No. 2 Rianne Murphy (103), No. 4 Brianna Gonzalez (117), No. 5 Cali Leng (124), No. 9 Skye Realin (131), No. 5 Lilly Luft (138), No. 2 Reese Larramendy (145), and No. 2 Jaycee Foeller (207) round out the ranked Hawkeyes.

• Iowa returns 11 All-Americans from the 2024-25 season, including Ava Bayless, Kennedy Blades, Sterling Dias, Jaycee Foeller, Brianna Gonzalez, Emilie Gonzalez, Reese Larramendy, Cali Leng, Rianna Murphy, Naomi Simon, and Kylie Welker.

• The roster boosts one three-time All-American (Jaycee Foeller; ‘22, ‘24-25) and seven two-time All-Americans: Bayless (‘24-25), Dias (‘24-25), Brianna Gonzalez (‘24-25), Emilie Gonzalez (‘24-25), Larramendy (‘24-25), Katja Osteen (‘22-23), and Welker (‘24-25). Six Hawkeyes have earned the distinction once: Blades (‘25), Leng (‘25), Lilly Luft (‘24), Murphy (‘25), Ella Schmit (‘24), and Simon (‘25).

HOME SWEET HOME
The Hawkeyes will compete in front of their home crowd at Carver-Hakweye Arena three times. Iowa opens its home slate this Sunday, hosting Central and Cornell in the All-Iowa Dual. Iowa returns home on Dec. 7, hosting Oklahoma State and Colorado Mesa. The Hawkeyes round out the home schedule on Jan. 18, hosting Lehigh and Otterbein.

Iowa is a perfect 9-0 inside of Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the start of the program in 2023.
UNDEFEATED ON THE MAT
The Hawkeyes are undefeated in dual competition. In the program’s two seasons, the Hawkeyes a 35-0 in duals. In its first season, the Hawkeyes were a perfect 16-0. Last year, Iowa finished the year 19-0.

RECAPPING 2025 NCWWC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSPS
The University of Iowa women’s wrestling team finished the 2025 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Tournament with three champions and 15 All-Americans. The Hawkeyes brought home their second straight team title with 201.5 total points, finishing 20.5 points ahead of North Central College. Top-ranked Macey Kilty (145), Kennedy Blades (160) and Kylie Welker (180) brought home individual national championships at their respective weight classes. Blades was named the tournament’s most outstanding wrestler.

DYNAMIC DUO BLADES AND WELKER
Kennedy Blades and Kylie Welker return to the mat for the Hawkeyes after they each went undefeated last season.

At 160, Blades was 25-0 with 23 tech. falls and two pins. Blades was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the 2025 Soldier Salute and the NCWWC National Championships. She brought home women’s wrestling top honor by being named the 2025 USA Wrestling Women’s College Wrestler of the Year award.

Welker was 28-0 at 180 pounds and did not surrender a point all season. She had 21 victories by tech. fall and six pins. Welker was a finalist for USA Wrestling’s Women’s College Wrestler of the Year.

SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest on the Iowa women’s wrestling team, follow the team on Instagram (@iowawomenswrestling), Facebook (IowaWomensWrestling), and X (@IowaW_Wrestling).

UP NEXT
Iowa travels to the Waldorf University Open on Nov. 8. Action will begin at 9 a.m. (CT) in Forest City, Iowa.