Gary Mayabb

Gary Mayabb was named associate head coach of the University of Iowa women’s wrestling team on May. 13, 2022.

2024-25

The Hawkeyes claimed back-to-back NWCA National Duals titles and NCWWC national titles In the 2024-25 season. The Hawkeyes had three individual national champions, and all 15 national qualifiers earned all-American honors. For the second straight season, the Hawkeyes went undefeated in dual competition going 19-0 during the 2024-25. Iowa outscored its opponents 718-114 in those duals and had 11 wins over ranked opponents. In the program’s two seasons they are 35-0 in duals. The program had 11 NWCA Scholar All-Americans.

Kennedy Blades, Macey Kilty and Kylie Welker were named finalists for the USA Wrestling’s Women’s College Wrestler of the Year after all going undefeated. Blades took the honor home. Going a combined 80-0, Blades, Kilty and Welker outscored their opponents 693-18 and only eight matches went into the second period. Kilty went 28-0 at 145 pounds with 20 victories via tech. fall. At 160, Blades was 25-0 with 23 tech. falls. and two pins. Welker was 28-0 at 180 pounds and did not surrender a point all season. She had 21 victories by tech. fall and six pins.

The Hawkeyes had all 15 regional participants qualify for the nationals. Iowa claimed the Region VII title, racking up 192 team points. Iowa had 15 student-athletes reach the finals, finishing with champions at all 10 weight classes. On the mat, the Hawkeyes went 43-5, with the five losses being head-to-head matchups in the championship round. Iowa didn’t surrender a single match point through the quarterfinal round.

2023-24

In the Hawkeyes’ inaugural season they went 16-0 in dual competition, captured the 2024 NWCA National Duals title, the NCWWC National Championship, had six individual national champions and 12 All-Americans. Senior Marylnne Deede and sophomore Kylie Welker were named finalists for USA Wrestling’s Woman Wrestler of the Year. Welker was named The Open Mat’s Female Wrestler of the Year.

Iowa hosted the first ever women’s wrestling dual inside of Carver-Hawkeye arena on November 12, 2023 where the world record for attendance at women’s wrestling event was set with 8, 207 fans.

In duals, the Hawkeyes had nine wins over NCAA ranked teams and outscored their opponents 593-108. They had two shutout wins over No. 11 Lindenwood and Missouri Valley College. In their final dual in Carver-Hawkeye Arena this season, they defeated NAIA National Dual Champions Life University, 35-6.

The Hawkeyes had eight NWCA scholastic All-Americans and three Big Ten Distinguished Scholars in 2024. The women’s wrestling program was well represented at the 2024 USA Olympic Team Trials with eight student-athletes competing.

Mayabb served as manager of Greco-Roman programs for USA Wrestling from 2017-22, where he had direct oversight of the daily operations for the Greco-Roman program as well as the development in the U20-U17-U15 age groups. He was also a five-time member of the U.S. Olympic Team Training Camp staff.

As a USA Wrestling NCEP Gold Level Certified Coach, Mayabb has also been named the USA Wrestling Regional Developmental Coach of the Year, USA Wrestling Junior National Greco-Roman Coach of the Year and USA Wrestling Cadet National Greco-Roman Coach of the Year. He also served as the Missouri Cadet and Junior National Team Greco-Roman head coach from 1987-2016, where he worked with 17 champions and 71 All-Americans.

At the high school level, Mayabb served as head coach at Oak Park and Staley High Schools. He is a two-time NWCA Region Coach of the Year and State Coach of the Year, a five-time MWA State Coach of the Year and two-time NSHSAA Coach of the Year.

He led Oak Park High School to six MSHSAA team state titles, including five straight. His team was nationally ranked eight times in his tenure and his athletes won 38 individual state titles, had 96 state medalist and 145 state qualifiers.

Mayabb moved to Staley High School, becoming the first head coach in the program’s history. He led the team to a team championship in 2017, as well as four top-four finishes, six individual state titles, 34 state place finishers and 59 state qualifiers. In his career, more than 100 former student-athletes have gone on to coach at all levels.