WWR: Bill Farrell Memorial International, Throwdown on the Yorktown Notes

THIS WEEKEND

Eighteen student-athletes with the University of Iowa women’s wrestling program will compete this season as the program continues its 2026-27 season on the East Coast:

Bill Farrell Memorial International Open

53kg – Taylor Whiting
55kg – Karlee Brooks
57kg – Bella Williams

Throwdown on the Yorktown III

103 – Madison Nieuwenhuis, Sterling Dias
110 – Emilie Gonzalez, Bella Gonzales
117 – Bri Gonzalez
124 – Harlee Hiller
131 – Emily Frost
138 – Lilly Luft
145 – Reese Larramendy, Nora Akpan
160 – Brooklyn Hays, Cadence Diduch
180 – Kylie Welker, Naomi Simon
207 – Libby Dix

TUNE IN: BILL FARRELL MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL OPEN

Three University of Iowa women’s wrestling student-athletes travel to New York City, N.Y. on Friday to compete at the Bill Farrell Memorial International Open. The event will be hosted at the New York Athletic Club, with FloWrestling providing live bracket updates and streaming for the event. A link to FloWrestling’s competition page can be found on the Iowa Women’s Wrestling schedule page on hawkeyesports.com.

TUNE IN: THROWDOWN ON THE YORKTOWN III

Fifteen University of Iowa women’s wrestling student-athletes travel to Charleston, S.C. to compete at the third iteration of Throwdown on the Yorktown, a unique dual tournament hosted on the deck of the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, S.C. The Hawkeyes will compete in three duals throughout the weekend (weather permitting), with live brackets and streaming available 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 traveled to South Carolina in 2025 to battle at the second iteration of Throwdown on the Yorktown and defeated then-No. 6 ranked Presbyterian, 35-9. Eight of 10 student-athletes who competed at the event in 2025 return to the program this season: Valarie Solorio, Nyla Valencia, Bri Gonzalez, Cali Leng, Karlee Brooks, Skye Realin, Reese Larramendy and Cadence Diduch. They won  eight of 10 matches, with seven of those coming with bonus points (four technical falls, three pins).

ABOUT LAST SUNDAY

The University of Iowa women’s wrestling program began it’s season last Sunday at the Luther Hill Open in Indianola, Iowa, with six student-athletes winning their weight class and 11 finishing in the top three. Champions included Maddie Nieuwenhuis (103), Bella Gonzales (110), Harlee Hiller (124), Emily Frost (131), Lilly Luft (138) and Naomi Simon (180).

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.

NO. 2

Iowa women’s wrestling opens up the 2026-27 season ranked as the No. 2 team in the nation, behind the 2026 NCAA Champion, McKendree. In the preseason NWCA Coaches Poll, eight Hawkeye student-athletes were ranked in the top-10 of their respective weight classes, including No. 1-ranked Valarie Solorio (103), Reese Larramendy (145) and Kylie Welker (180), all three of whom made it to the finals in their weight classes at the inaugural NCAA Championships.

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 travels to the Missouri Valley Open in Marshall, Mo. from Friday, Nov. 13 through Saturday, Nov. 14. At the same event last year, the program emerged with three champions (Karlee Brooks, 131; Skye Realin, 138; Reese Larramendy, 145) and nine Hawkeyes with top-three finishes.