Notes: Iowa Womens Wrestling 2026 Final Notes

RECAPPING 2026 NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
The University of Iowa women’s wrestling team finished the 2026 NCAA Women’s Wrestling Tournament with three champions and 9 All-Americans. The Hawkeyes placed second overall, finishing behind top-ranked McKendree who took the team title with 171 points followed by Iowa with 166. North Central finished third with 123.5 points.

ALL AMERICAN HAWKEYES
The Hawkeyes finished the NCAA Championships with 9 wrestlers earning all-American honors.

103 - Valarie Solorio (1st) 138 - Lilly Luft (4th) 110 - Nyla Valencia (4th) 145 - Reese Larramendy (145) 117 - Brianna Gonzalez (3rd) 160 - Kennedy Blades (160) 180 - Kylie Welker (180) 131 - Karlee Brooks (7th) 207 - Katja Osteen (207)

NCAA REGION V CHAMPIONS 
Iowa advanced all 10 wrestlers to the NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships, winning eight individual regional titles in Indianola, Iowa, on Feb. 21. In total, the Hawkeyes secured 11 pins and 19 technical falls. Valarie Solorio, Nyla Valencia, Brianna Gonzalez, Karlee Brooks, Lilly Luft, Reese Larramendy, Kennedy Blades, and Kylie Welker all claimed NCAA Region V Championship titles. Cali Leng and Katja Osteen earned second-place finishes. 

DOMINANCE DEFINED BY BLADES, LARRAMENDY AND WELKER
The Hawkeyes had three wrestlers with a combined record of 76-1 in the 2025-26 season. Redshirt-junior Reese Larramendy was 36-1 at 145 pounds with 28 victories via tech. fall. At 160, Senior Kennedy Blades was 19-0 with 13 tech. falls and five pins, allowing only two points all season. Redshirt-junior Kylie Welker was 21-0 at 180 pounds and only surrendered two points all season. She had 15 victories by tech. fall and four pins.

Going a combined 76-1, Blades, Larramendy and Welker outscored their opponents 693-18 

Both Blades and Welker were named finalists for the USA Wrestling’s Women’s College Wrestler of the Year. 

STAR SHINES BRIGHT
Kylie Welker made her presence at the top known by claiming her third national title. She registered a perfect 21-0 record on the season, winning 19 matches by technical fall or fall. Welker finished the season with an outstanding bonus rate of 95%. 

Welker was named NCAA Region V Wrestler of the Year following her performance at the Inaugural NCAA Region V championships. 

The redshirt-junior was one of five women’s wrestlers finalists in the running for the top honor of being named the 2026 USA Wrestling Women’s College Wrestler of the Year award.

HOME SWEET HOME
The Hawkeyes hosted the All-Iowa Duals in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Nov. 2. They defeated Cornell College, 43-0, and Central College, 44-0. Iowa later hosted Oklahoma State and No. 5 Colorado Mesa on Dec. 7. The Hawkeyes picked up two wins defeating the Cowgirls, 39-4, and the Mavericks, 36-8. The Hawkeyes remained undefeated at home after taking down #9 Lehigh and Otterbein with a combined score of 79-8 between the duals

Iowa is a perfect 9-0 inside of Carver-Hawkeye Arena since the start of the program in 2023. 

HEAD TO HEAD
The Hawkeyes were solid in dual competition going 14-1 during the 2025-26 season. Iowa had 11 wins over ranked opponents. In the program’s two seasons they are 49-1 in duals. 

FRESHMEN MAKING AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT
The Hawkeyes had a few standout freshman this year that made an immediate impact, combining for 79 wins on the season. Harlee Hiller (26-7) led the way at 117, while Isabella Marie Gonzales (25-13) found her stride and added key tournament placements at 124. At 131 pounds, Bella Williams (28-7) delivered a breakout year, highlighted by a win over teammate and No. 1 ranked Karlee Brooks.

MOVING UP
Senior Katja Osteen made waves while wrestling up at 207 pounds. After moving up she went on an impressive 22-0 win streak. She finished the season 26-3 only losing to the No. 4 ranked wrestler. She placed fourth at the Inaugural NCAA National Championship, claiming All-America honors to cap off her amazing season. 

ROSTER BREAKDOWN
• The Iowa roster was comprised of 29 student-athletes with 24 of them being returners and had five newcomers.
• The breakdown of the roster is seven freshmen, six sophomores, 11 juniors, four seniors, and one fifth year. Each class does include redshirt designations
• The Iowa reach was nationwide as 17 states were represented on the roster. The most represented state being California with six. Four Hawkeyes hailed from Iowa. 
• Iowa graduates Skye Realin, Katja Osteen, Ella Schmit, Jaycee Foeller, Samantha Calkins, and Ava Bayless from the 2025-26 roster. 

THE SUMMER OF THE HAWKEYES 
Iowa will continue to be represented on the national and international stage this summer.