WWR Notes: Missouri Valley Open

THIS WEEKEND

Sixteen student-athletes with the University of Iowa women’s wrestling program are set to compete at the Missouri Valley Open this weekend. Competition begins at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo. on Friday at 9 a.m. (CT) and continues through Saturday.

103 – Madison Nieuwenhuis, Sterling Dias
110 – Emilie Gonzalez, Bella Gonzales
117 – Bri Gonzalez, Taylor Whiting
124 – Harlee Hiller, Cali Leng, Ava Rose, Mia Goodwin
131 – Emily Frost
145 – Nora Akpan
160 – Brooklyn Hays, Cadence Diduch
180 – Naomi Simon
207 – Libby Dix

TUNE IN

The Missouri Valley Open is hosted by Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo. on Friday, Nov. 13 and Saturday, Nov. 14, with Friday’s action culminating in championship quarterfinals and corresponding consolation matches. Streaming and live brackets can be found throughout the event on FloWrestling. A link to FloWrestling’s competition page can be found on the Iowa Women’s Wrestling schedule page on hawkeyesports.com.

ABOUT LAST YEAR

The Hawkeyes visited the Missouri Valley Open last season, emerging with three champions and nine with top-three finishes. They went a combined 80-20 with a total of 34 technical falls. Karlee Brooks, Skye Realin and Reese Larramendy emerged victorious at their respective weight classes.

ABOUT THROWDOWN ON THE YORKTOWN – SATURDAY

The second-ranked University of Iowa women’s wrestling team earned two wins on Saturday at the first day of the Yorktown Duals, defeating #24 Delaware State and #3 Presbyterian. The Hawkeyes went a combined 17-3 overall with four falls and nine technical falls. Nora Akpan, Emily Frost and Brooklyn Hays each secured wins over higher-ranked opponents.

WELCOME TO IOWA CITY, CLASS OF 2027

The University of Iowa women’s wrestling program has signed Brooke Huffman, Eve Skrocki and Ryleigh Sturgill from the Class of 2027, head coach Clarissa Chun announced on Thursday.

Huffman, a 180-pounder out of Wittenberg, Wisc. is a three-time state champion with an undefeated 100-0 record. She owns the Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School record in most pins, wins and takedowns, and was the first girl to win a state title. She is the top-ranked wrestler in her weight class by FloWrestling as a two-time Fargo champion.

Skrocki, a 145-pound Dubuque, Iowa native, became just one of four USA Wrestling Triple Crown winners in 2025 with titles at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals, U16 Folkstyle Nationals and Girls High School Recruiting Showcase. She won an IHSAA state championship as a sophomore at Dubuque-Wahlert before becoming a U17 women’s national champion and U17 Pan-American champion.

Sturgill, a 110-pounder out of Soddy Daisy, Tenn., joins the Hawkeyes after earning titles at Fargo Nationals and Who’s Number One, and All-American status at the Midlands Championships. As a freshman, she was named the girls’ wrestling Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Baylor School (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and a Best of Preps All-Star Team member. As a junior, she became the first female to qualify for state on the Baylor School boys’ team.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

First-year Iowa women’s wrestler Everest Leydecker finished off a robust international campaign with a gold medal at the Senior World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan last Friday. Leydecker, who turned 19-years-old in September, also earned her second consecutive gold medal at the U20 World Championships and bronze at U23s earlier this year.

WELCOME, COACH JENNA

In the offseason, the Hawkeyes added assistant coach Jenna Burkert to their staff for the upcoming season. Previously, she served as head coach and taught a leadership course at Bixby (Oklahoma) High School since 2024, leading her team to a No. 2 national ranking and six individual state champions. As an athlete, she was a four-time World Team, nine-time Senior National Team and three-time Junior National Team member. At the 2021 Olympic Trials, she finished runner-up at 57 kilograms.

ROSTER BREAKDOWN

The Hawkeyes return 12 All-Americans to their roster in 2026, including two NCAA national champions in Kylie Welker and Valarie Solorio. Of those 12 returning All-Americans, seven earned All-American status at the NCAA National Championships last March: Karlee Brooks, Bri Gonzalez, Reese Larramendy, Lilly Luft, Solorio, Nyla Valencia and Welker. Welker, Larramendy and Bri Gonzalez are all three-time All-Americans.

In addition to strong returning talent, Iowa welcomes five freshmen into the fold in Maddie Nieuwenhuis, Nora Akpan, Everest Leydecker, Carley Ceshker and Taylor Whiting.

MEDALS GALORE

Everest Leydecker, Reese Larramendy and Kylie Welker all competed internationally over the summer, each taking home medals at their respective weight classes at various events. First-year Leydecker followed up her second consecutive U20 championship with a bronze medal at U23 World Championships and a gold medal at the Senior World Championships. Meanwhile, fifth-years Larramendy and Welker competed alongside Leydecker at the U23 World Championships, with Larramendy taking home bronze and Welker taking home gold for the third time.

THREE’S NOT A CROWD

With her gold medal run at the U23 World Championships in October, Kylie Welker became the first American and just the fourth wrestler globally to win three gold medals at the U23 level. The reigning NCAA Champion and three-time All-American for the Hawkeyes ran through her bracket with ease and stood atop the world stage in Las Vegas with her victory.

WRESTLETOWN, USA

After hosting the inaugural NCAA National Championships in 2026, Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa will once again play host to NCAAs in March 2027. Last year, after winning consecutive NWWCA National Titles in 2024 and ‘25, the Hawkeyes finished runner up to McKendree, who is currently ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation.

FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES

For all the latest on Iowa Women’s Wrestling, follow the team on Instagram (@iowawomenswrestling), Facebook (IowaWomensWrestling) and X (@IowaW_Wrestling). 

Updates on Iowa athletics and all programs can be found on Instagram (@theiowahawkeyes), Facebook (IowaHawkeyes) and X (@TheIowaHawkeyes).

UP NEXT

Iowa returns to Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday, Nov. 22 for a dual against King University at 4:30 p.m. (CT). Women’s wrestling action begins following the Iowa men’s dual against Iowa State beginning at 1 p.m. (CT). Anyone with a ticket to the men’s dual will receive free admission to the women’s dual.