Notes: CK Mike Duroe Invite, Home Dual

THIS WEEK
The top-ranked University of Iowa women’s wrestling team returns to the mat this weekend, traveling to Mt. Vernon, Iowa, for the CK Mike Duroe Invitational on Saturday at 9 a.m. (CT). On Sunday, the Hawkeyes return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena, hosting No. 10 Lehigh and Otterbein at 12 p.m.

FOLLOW ALONG
- The CK Mike Duroe Invitational will be streamed on FloWrestling. Links to the stream can be found on the Iowa women’s wrestling schedule page on hawkeyesports.com.
- Iowa’s home duals will be streamed live on B1G+, while live stats will be available on FloWrestling. The home duals will also be broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network with Steven Grace on the call.

SENIOR DAY
Five student-athletes and one student manager will be honored post-match on Sunday. They include: Ava Bayless, Sam Calkins, Katja Osteen, Skye Realin, and Ella Schmit. Senior manager Abby Forbes will also be honored.

CK MIKE DUROE INVITATIONAL
Twenty-two Hawkeyes will make the trip to Mt. Vernon on Saturday. They include: Sterling Dias, Rianne, Murphy, Valarie Solorio, Ava Bayless, Emilie Gonzalez, Nyla Valencia, Harlee Hiller, Isabella Marie Gonzales, Cali Leng, Ava Rose, Karlee Brooks, Emily Frost, Mia Goodwin, Bella Williams, Lilly Luft, Ella Schmit, Danni Swihart, Cadence Diduch, Reese Larramendy, Libby Dix, Jaycee Foeller, and Katja Osteen.

NATIONAL DUALS RECAP
Iowa finished third at the NWCA National Duals on Jan. 10. The Hawkeyes secured an opening round win over 20th-ranked William Jewell (40-5), before advancing to the semifinals with a 39-3 victory over Sacred Heart.

In the semifinals, the Hawkeyes lost a heartbreaker to third-ranked North Central College (21-23). Iowa bounced back in the third-place match, downing No. 4 Grand Valley State 26-15 to clinch third place.

IN THE RANKINGS
- Iowa is ranked No. 1 nationally in the latest (Dec. 19) 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. Valarie Solorio is the No. 1 wrestler at 103 pounds. Karlee Brooks is ranked No. 1 at 131 pounds, and Kennedy Blades is the top-ranked wrestler at 160.
- No. 2 Nyla Valencia, No. 4 Brianna Gonzalez, No. 5 Cali Leng, No. 3 Skye Realin, No. 2 Reese Larramendy, No. 3 Katja Osteen, and No. 2 Jaycee Foeller round out the rankings for the Hawkeyes.

SKYE’S THE LIMIT
Skye Realin is the No. 3 wrestler at 138 pounds. The senior is a perfect 18-0 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. She was also a perfect 2-0 at the NWCA National Duals, pinning Sacred Heart’s Elleahna Anderson (2:21), and defeating North Central’s Claire Dicugno (Dec. 6-6).

SHE’S BACK!
Kylie Welker returned to the lineup for the first time this season at the NWCA National Duals on Jan. 9-10. The junior went 3-for-3 on the weekend, collecting wins against Sacred Heart’s Madeline Hodges (TF, 10-0), North Central’s Jael Miller (Dec. 8-2), and Grand Valley State’s Maddison Ward (TF, 10-0).

BONUS POINTS FOR BLADES
Kennedy Blades is a perfect 8-0 on the season, winning all eight of her bouts by technical fall or pin. The senior is outscoring her opponents 63-1. Blades has registered 34 dual points for the Hawkeyes so far this season.

A FORCE AT 145
Second-ranked Reese Larramendy registered the upset victory over No. 1 Bella Mir in the National Duals semifinal on Jan. 10. This season, Larramendy is a perfect 16-0. Eleven of her 16 victories have come via technical fall. The junior is outscoring her opponents 146-8.

OSTEEN’S BIG DAY
Katja Osteen tore through the 180-pound bracket at the North Central College Invitational on Dec. 14. The senior defeated four ranked opponents on her way to the title, including No. 8 Isabella Phillips (Gannon), No. 5 Mia Gaetjens (Adrian College), No. 6 Abbie Miles (Northern Michigan), and No. 3 Shenita Lawson (North Central). Following her dominating performance, Osteen is ranked No. 3 nationally at 180 pounds.

OPEN CHAMPIONS
Twelve different Hawkeyes have claimed a total of 18 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).

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 boasts 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 next weekend, traveling to Albany, New York, to compete at the Journeyman College Duals. Competition begins at 12:45 p.m. (CT).