Osteen Wins NCC Invitational Title

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — University of Iowa women’s wrestling senior Katja Osteen won the 180-pound title at the North Central College Invitational on Sunday. Six Hawkeyes collected top-five finishes. 
 
Osteen defeated three ranked wrestlers on her way to the finals, including a decision over No. 8 Isabella Phillips (Gannon) and pins over No. 5 Mia Gaetjens (Adrian College) and No. 6 Abbie Miles (Northern Michigan). In the final bout, Osteen added one more ranked win with a 10-1 decision over third-ranked Shenita Lawson (North Central) to claim the title.
 
At 131 pounds, Bella Williams finished third. Her only loss came to No. 4 Virginia Foard (King). On her way to the podium, she collected five wins, all of which came via decision.
 
Three other Hawkeyes also collected ranked wins. Harlee Hiller secured a 10-6 decision over No. 9 Mikayla Garcia (North Central) and a pin over No. 8 Taylin Long (Aurora). Junior Ava Rose secured a ranked win at 123 pounds with a 10-0 technical fall over No. 8 Savannah Tittelback (East Stroudsburg). At 138, redshirt junior Ella Schmit collected a pin over seventh-ranked Jacinda Espinosa. 
 
NOTABLES
- The Hawkeyes collected eight ranked wins. 
- Osteen was responsible for four of Iowa’s eight ranked wins. 
- Osteen’s title is her first since winning the Grand View Open on Feb. 1, 2025. 
- After losing her first match, redshirt sophomore Danni Swihart won four straight bouts to win the 138B consolation bracket. 

RESULTS

117 – Harlee Hiller, 4th Place
WIN Yianna Foufas (East Stroudsburg), TF 12-1
WIN #9 Mikayla Garcia (North Central), Dec. 10-6
LOSS #5 Alexandra Waitsman (William Jewell), Dec. 6-4
WIN #8 Taylin Long (Aurora), Fall 2:21
WIN Sereena Baca (Quincy), Dec. 10-4
LOSS #5 Alexandra Waitsman (William Jewell), Dec. 9-8
 
124 – Isabella Marie Gonzales, 5th Place
WIN Amelia Adams (Wisconsin-Stevens Point), TF 10-0
WIN Kylee Golz (Colorado Mesa), TF 14-4
WIN Daniela Martinez (Tarleton State), TF 10-0
WIN Natasha Markoutsis (Aurora), TF 10-0
LOSS #4 Sara Sterner (North Central), Fall 2:26
LOSS Haley Narahara (Menlo College), Dec. 8-2
WIN Rose Kaplan (Indiana Tech), TF 13-2 
 
124 – Ava Rose, DNP
WIN #8 Savannah Tittelback (East Stroudsburg), TF 10-0
LOSS Emma Engels (Aurora), Fall 5:17
WIN Sarai O’Day (Lindenwood), TF 10-0
LOSS Alyssa Randles (Providence), Dec. 8-4
 
131 – Mia Goodwin, DNP
LOSS Ruby Julien-Newsom (King University), Fall 1:09
WIN Cera Philson (Wisconsin-Stevens Point), TF 10-0
LOSS Piper Cadden (Chadron State), Dec. 8-5
 
131 – Bella Williams, 3rd Place
WIN Aroma Marrufo (Unattached), Dec. 7-0 
WIN Anna DiCugno (Tarleton State), Dec. 3-2
WIN Sierra Chiesa (Gannon), Dec. 9-0
LOSS #4 Virginia Foard (King), Dec. 6-0
WIN Ruby Julien-Newsom (King), Dec. 8-2
WIN Kailey Benson (Oklahoma State), Dec. 8-7
 
138 – Lilly Luft, 4th Place
WIN Kinnley Smith (Indiana Tech), TF 12-0
WIN Lynn Horn (North Central), Dec. 7-0
WIN Jennifer Soto (Tarleton State), Dec. 3-2
LOSS #5 Grace Stem (North Central), Dec. 6-5
WIN Ella Schmit (Iowa), Fall 4:12 
LOSS Jennifer Soto (Tarleton State), Dec. 2-1
 
138 – Ella Schmit, 5th Place
WIN Mason Harsch (Adrian College), Fall 1:25
WIN Sophia Ball (Aurora), TF 11-0
LOSS Claire DiCugno (Unattached), TF 10-0
WIN Carley Ceshker (Unattached), Def. 
LOSS Lilly Luft (Iowa), Fall 4:12
WIN #7Jacinda Espinosa, Fall 2:40
 
138B – Danni Swihart, Consolation 1st
LOSS Faith Burgess (Davenport), Fall 4:31
WIN Alexis Kelley (Indiana Tech), Fall 5:40
WIN Nina Sanfilippo (Wisconsin-Ohskosh), TF 10-0
WIN Angelica Steffy (Adrian College), Dec. 8-4
WIN Viola Pianetto (Elmhurt), Fall 0:41
 
180 – Katja Osteen, 1st Place 
WIN #8 Isabella Phillips (Gannon), Dec. 7-1
WIN #5 Mia Gaetjens (Adrian College), Fall 1:21
WIN #6 Abbie Miles (Northern Michigan), Fall 1:03
WIN #3 Shenita Lawson (North Central), Dec. 10-1
 
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa, for the National Duals on Jan. 9-10. Matches begin at 10 a.m. (CT).