Tonya Verbeek

Tonya Verbeek was named assistant coach on July 15, 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 redshirt freshman 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.

Verbeek served as the Senior Manager of Sport for the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games. She also worked as a wrestling assistant with the Brock Wrestling Club in 2022. Verbeek also served in the same role at Brock University from 2006-13.

Verbeek has nearly two decades of experience competing for and coaching the Canadian National Team.

Verbeek served as the head men’s and women’s National Team coach from 2019-21. She was the international coach from 2017-19 and served as a Talent Identification Coach from 2013-17. She was awarded the Petro Canada Coaching Excellence Award in 2019.

As a competitor, Verbeek attended three Olympics at 55 kg and finished on the podium in all three. In 2004 she became the first woman to win a wrestling medal for Canada, taking silver in Athens. In 2008 she left Beijing with a bronze medal, and in London in 2012, she earned her second silver medal.

She earned bronze at the 2005 and 2009 and silver in 2011 at the World Wrestling Championships. She finished second in 2003 and 2011 at the Pan-American Games and third in 2007. At the 2010 Commonwealth Games, she finished second at 59 kg.

Verbeek was named Ontario Athlete of the Year in 2005 and was enshrined in the St. Catharines Sports Hall of Fame in 2019. She was also inducted into the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame in July of 2024. In March of 2025 she was inducted in the Brock University athletics Hall of Fame. 

Verbeek holds degrees in recreation and leisure studies and education from Brock University. She earned her masters of education from Brock University in 2006.