9 Hawkeyes Claim All-America Honors at NCAA National Championships

CORALVILLE, Iowa – The second-ranked University of Iowa women’s wrestling team advanced seven wrestlers to the semifinals with two left on the backside at the NCAA National Championships on Friday. All nine Hawkeyes left in the competition have secured All-America honors. 

The Hawkeyes are currently in second place with 91.5 team points. McKendree leads the standings (94 points), while North Central (IL) is in third (73). 

At 103 pounds, No. 2 Valarie Solorio opened the tournament with an 11-0 technical fall over No. 15 Rebekah Jean-Baptiste of Emmanuel before advancing to the semifinals with a 7-1 decision over No. 7 Genesis Ramirez of Aurora.

No. 5 Nyla Valencia followed at 110 pounds. The redshirt junior earned a 10-0 technical fall against No. 14 Kellie Kennedy of Otterbein, and then edged past No. 4 Gabriele Tedesco of McKendree with a 4-4 decision on criteria to move into the semifinals.

At 117 pounds, No. 5 Brianna Gonzalez secured a 12-0 technical fall over No. 12 Josey Wehr (Eastern) before punching her ticket to the semifinals with a fall at 5:03 against No. 13 Icart Galumette (Delaware State).

No. 13 Cali Leng had a close match at 124 pounds, falling to No. 4 Shelby Moore of McKendree by 1-1 decision on criteria. She rebounded in the consolation bracket with a fall at 5:48 over No. 10 Sophie Bowers of Wartburg before dropping a 9-1 decision to No. 6 Savannah Witt of Eastern.

At 131 pounds, No. 4 Karlee Brooks began with a 12-2 technical fall over No. 13 Makayla Paclib (Pitt–Johnstown). In the quarterfinals, Brooks fell to No. 5 Abigal Mozden (Mount Union) by fall at 1:48. She responded with a 14-7 decision over No. 14 Jazmene Molina (Western New England) in the consolation bracket.

No. 4 Lilly Luft continued her run at 138 pounds with a fall at 2:45 over No. 13 Kalyse Hill of Mount Olive. She followed that with  a 4-1 decision against No. 5 Jacinda Espinosa of Lindenwood to advance to the semifinals.

Top-ranked Reese Larramendy earned a 12-1 technical fall over No. 16 Nichole Moore (Fort Hays State) and then secured a 12-2 technical fall against No. 8 Madeline Kubicki (Presbyterian) to move into the semifinals at 145 pounds.

At 160 pounds, No. 1 Kennedy Blades secured a fall at 2:03 against No. 16 Vida Beckel (Emmanuel) before adding a 10-0 technical fall over No. 8 Keeley Kehrli (Simpson) to advance to the semifinals.

No. 1 Kylie Welker needed just 0:35 to pin No. 16 Genevieve An of Lehigh. The redshirt junior followed it up with an 11-0 technical fall over Azariah Moore of Lock Haven to reach the semifinals at 180 pounds.

At 207 pounds, No. 5 Katja Osteen opened with a fall at 1:13 over No. 12 Talisha Lewis of Felician before dropping a 2-1 decision to No. 4 Rewa Chababo of Wartburg. She bounced back in the consolation bracket with a fall in 0:51 over Elizabeth Stricklin of D’Youville.

NOTABLES
- Seven Hawkeyes advanced to the semifinals.
- Kylie Welker recorded the fastest pin for Iowa, needing just 0:35. 
- The Hawkeyes collected four wins by fall.
 
RESULTS
103 – #2 Valarie Solorio
WIN #15 Rebekah Jean-Baptiste (Emmanuel),  TF 11-0
WIN #7 Genesis Ramirez (Aurora), Dec 7-1

110 – #5 Nyla Valencia
WIN #14 Kellie Kennedy (Otterbein), TF 10-0
WIN #4 Gabriele Tedesco (McKendree), Dec 4-4

117 – #5 Brianna Gonzalez 
WIN #12 Josey Wehr (Eastern), TF 12-0 
WIN #13 Icart Galumette (Delaware St.), Fall 5:03

124 – #13 Cali Leng
LOSS #4 Shelby Moore (McKendree), Dec 1-1
WIN #10 Sophie Bowers (Wartburg), Fall 5:48
LOSS #6 Savannah Witt (Eastern), Dec 9-1
 
131 – #4 Karlee Brooks
WIN #13 Makayla Paclib (Pitt.-Johnstown), TF 12-2
LOSS #5 Abigal Mozden (Mount Union), Fall 1:48
WIN #14 Jazmene Molina (Western New Eng), Dec 14-7

138 – #4 Lilly Luft 
WIN #13 Kalyse Hill (Mount Olive), Fall 2:45
WIN #5 Jacinda Espinosa (Lindenwood), Dec 4-1

145 – #1 Reese Larramendy
WIN  #16 Nichole Moore (Fort Hays St.), TF 12-1 
WIN #8 Madeline Kubicki (Presbyterian), TF 12-2

160 - #1 Kennedy Blades
WIN #16 Vida Beckel (Emmanuel), Fall 2:03
WIN #8 Keeley Kehrli (Simpson), TF 10-0 
 
180 – #1 Kylie Welker
WIN #16 Genevieve An (Lehigh), 0:35
WIN Azariah Moore (Lock Haven), TF 11-0 
 
207 – #5 Katja Osteen
WIN #12 Talisha Lewis (Felician), Fall 1:13
LOSS #4 Rewa Chababo (Wartburg), Dec 2-1
WIN Elizabeth Stricklin (D`Youville), Fall 0:51

UP NEXT
The University of Iowa women's wrestling team returns Saturday, March 7, for day two of the NCAA National Championships. Bouts begin at 10 a.m. (CT).