Notes: Grand View, NCC Invitational

THIS WEEK
The top-ranked University of Iowa women’s wrestling team returns to the mat for a pair of competitions this week. On Thursday, the Hawkeyes travel to Waukee Northwest High School for a matchup with Grand View. The dual will begin at 8:15 p.m. (CT). On Sunday, Iowa travels to Naperville, Illinois, for the North Central College Invitational. Bouts begin at 9 a.m. (CT).

FOLLOW ALONG
- Thursday’s dual will air live on Iowa PBS.
- Sunday’s North Central College Invitational will be streamed live on FloWrestling.
- Links to the live stream and live stats for both events can be found on the Iowa women’s wrestling schedule page on hawkeyesports.com.

SCOUTING GRAND VIEW
Grand View is 2-1 on the season with dual wins over William Woods University (Mo.), 45-5, and Central Methodist University (Mo.), 31-13. The Vikings only loss of the season came to William Penn in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on Dec. 3 (29-14). Currently, Grand View is ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Women’s Wrestling Top 20 Coaches’ Rating.

LAST TIME OUT
Iowa registered wins over No. 5 Colorado Mesa and Oklahoma State (club team) in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Dec. 7. In total, the Hawkeyes tallied seven pins and nine technical falls.

The Hawkeyes opened the day with a 36-8 victory over Colorado Mesa. Four Iowa wrestlers notched wins over ranked foes. Rianne Murphy (103) defeated eighth-ranked Mia Zuniga by decision (6-2), before No. 2 Nyla Valencia (110) registered the fall (0:59) over ninth-ranked Adriana Gomez.  At 145, No. 2 Reese Larramendy registered the technical fall (12-1) over No. 6 Gretchen Donally. Jaycee Foeller closed the dual, defeating No. 4 Jayleen Sekona in an 8-0 decision at 207 pounds.

Iowa continued to dominate in the second dual of the day, defeating Oklahoma State in an exhibition contest. The Hawkeyes won nine of 10 bouts in the 39-4 victory.

OPEN CHAMPIONS
Eleven different Hawkeyes have claimed a total of 17 open titles this season. Senior Skye Realin leads the team with three titles (Waldorf, Blue Hose, Missouri Valley Open).

Four Hawkeyes have two titles on the season. They include: Valarie Solorio (Luther Hill, Blue Hose), Cali Leng (Luther Hill, Waldorf), Karlee Brooks (Luther Hill, Missouri Valley), and Reese Larramendy (Blue Hose, Missouri Valley).

SKYE’S THE LIMIT
Skye Realin entered the national rankings on Dec. 5. She is the No. 3 wrestler at 138 pounds. The senior is a perfect 16-0 on the season, including a win over then third-ranked Carina Giangeruso of Presbyterian. Realin has captured three open championships this season, including the Waldorf University Open, the Blue Hose Challenge, and the Missouri Valley Open.

A FORCE AT 145
Reese Larramendy is the No. 2 ranked wrestler at 145 pounds. This season, Larramendy is a perfect 14-0. Ten of her 14 victories have come via technical falls. The junior is outscoring her opponents 126-4.

VALENCIA RETURNS
Nyla Valencia entered the 110-pound rankings on Dec. 5. The junior is the No. 2 wrestler at 110 pounds. This season, she is 10-1 with ranked wins over No. 3 Chloe Dearwester (Presbyterian), No. 1 Ava Bayless (Iowa), No. 7 Trinity Pendergrass (Quincy), and No. 9 Adriana Gomez (Colorado Mesa). Valencia’s only loss of the season came to Gabriele Tedesco (Dec. 4-3) who is now the No. 1 ranked wrestler at 110. Valencia is outscoring her opponents 71-4.

UNDEFEATED ON THE MAT
The Hawkeyes are undefeated in dual competition. In the program’s three seasons, the Hawkeyes are 39-0 in duals. In their first season, the Hawkeyes were a perfect 16-0. Last year, Iowa finished the year 19-0. This season, Iowa is 4-0 in dual competition.

IN THE RANKINGS
- Iowa is ranked No. 1 nationally in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) poll.
- The Hawkeyes have a ranked wrestler in nine weight classes.
- Two Hawkeyes are ranked No. 1 in their weight class. Karlee Brooks is the No. 1 ranked wrestler at 131 pounds, and Kennedy Blades is the top-ranked wrestler at 160.
- No. 2 Valarie Solorio (103), No. 2 Nyla Valencia (110), No. 4 Brianna Gonzalez (117), No. 6 Cali Leng (124), No. 3 Skye Realin (138), No. 2 Reese Larramendy (145), and No. 2 Jaycee Foeller (207) round out the Hawkeye rankings.

RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS
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).

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.

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to the mat in January, traveling to Cedar Falls, Iowa, for the National Duals on Jan. 9-10. Competition begins at 10 a.m. (CT) on Friday.