CEDAR FALLS, IA — The top-ranked University of Iowa women’s wrestling team captured third place Saturday at the NWCA national duals, defeating No. 4 Grand Valley State, 26-15, in the medal round. In total, the Hawkeyes have recorded five wins against ranked opponents.
#1 IOWA AGAINST. #4 GRAND VALLEY STATE
To begin the third-place duel, Sterling Dias earned the surprise win over No. 4 Rayana Sahagun with a 7-0 decision at 103. Next at 110, Ava Bayless secured victory over Kiely Tabaldo with a 6-0 decision.
Fourth-ranked Brianna Gonzalez earned a 10-0 technical victory over Libby Roberts at 117 pounds. At 124 pounds, Isabella Marie Gonzales fell to Sage Mortimer – the second-ranked wrestler at 117 pounds – in the fall.
Top-ranked Karlee Brooks took an 8-3 decision at 131 pounds over Aspen Blasko, who is the second-ranked wrestler at 124 pounds. At 138 pounds, Lilly Luft fell to top-ranked Katerina Lange, who picked up the technical fall 10-0.
At 145 pounds, Cadence Diduch earned a 10-0 technical victory over Margaret Buurma. She was followed by the top-ranked Kennedy Blades who showed up, taking the fall victory over Noelle Gaffney.
Kylie Welker got things going for the Hawkeyes, she recorded a 10-0 technical fall against Maddison Ward at 180 pounds. At 207 pounds, Jaycee Foeller fell to fifth-ranked wrestler at 180 pounds, Sabrina Nauss, who secured the fall in the second period.
#1 IOWA AGAINST. #3 NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE
In the semifinals earlier Saturday morning, number one Valarie Solorio secured an 11-0 technical victory over Brianne Graves at 103 pounds. At 110 pounds, No. 2 Nyla Valencia fell to No. 4 Kaelani Shufeldt by fall.
No. 4 Brianna Gonzalez fell to No. 5 Riley Rayome at 117 in a 3-3 decision that met criteria, giving North Central an 8-5 lead. That was followed by 124 pounds, where No. 5 Cali Leng fell to No. 3 Sara Sterner by pin.
No. 1 Karlee Brooks got the Hawkeyes back on track at 131 with the 8-4 decision over No. 9 Yele Aycock. She was followed at 138 pounds by No. 3-ranked Skye Realin, who won the close match in the final seconds with a 6-6 criteria decision over Claire Dicugno.
No. 2 Reese Larramendy earned the upset victory over No. 1 Bella Mir at 145 with a last-second score to secure the 8-4 decision. After seven weights, North Central led 16-14. No. 1 Kennedy Blades followed at 160 pounds. Blades secured the lead for the Hawkeyes with an 11-1 technical fall over No. 8 Taylor Graveman.
The Hawkeyes extended their lead when Kylie Welker earned an 8-2 decision over Jael Miller at 180 pounds. At 207, No. 2 Jaycee Foeller fell to Daisa Yearby in the fall, giving North Central the 25-23 victory.
HEARING HEAD COACH CLARISSA CHUN
“We fought, they fought, and we’ve all been through this, we just have to move on to next weekend. We can’t dwell on what happened, it doesn’t help us. We have to pick ourselves up and get back up.”
“You can’t duplicate those times and moments, but in certain times and in certain positions we have to be better to finish. We have to keep fighting, we have to be able to fight through this to finish strong.”
NOTABLES
– Reese Larramendy, upset the #1 ranked wrestler at 145 pounds.
– Iowa has five wins against ranked opponents.
RESULTS
#1 Iowa 21, #3 North Central College 23
Weight Match
103 #1 Valarie Solorio (I) vs. Brianne Graves (NC), TF 11-0
110 #4 Kaelani Shufeldt (NC) over #2 Nyla Valencia (I), fall 5:38
117 #5 Riley Rayome (NC) vs. #4 Brianna Gonzalez (I), December 3-3
124 #3 Sara Sterner (NC) over #5 Cali Leng (I), fall 1:45
131 #1 Karlee Brooks (I) vs. #9 Yele Aycock (NC), December 8-4
138 #3 Skye Realin (I) vs. Claire Dicugno (NC), December 6-6
145 #2 Reese Larramendy (I) vs. #1 Bella Mir (NC), December 8-4
160 #1 Kennedy Blades (I) over #8 Taylor Graveman (NC),
180 Kylie Welker (I) vs. Jael Miller (NC), December 8-2
207 Dasia Yearby (NC) vs. #2 Jaycee Foeller (I), fall 1:38
#1 Iowa 26, #4 Grand Valley State 15
Weight Match
103 Sterling Dias (I) vs. No. 4 Rayana Sahagun (GV), December 7-0
110 Ava Bayless (I) vs. Kiely Tabaldo (GVS), December 6-0
117 #4 Brianna Gonzalez (I) vs. Libby Roberts (GVS), TF 10-0
124 Sage Mortimer (GVS), vs. Isabella Gonzales (I), fall 0:37
131 #1 Karlee Brooks (I) vs. Aspen Blasko (GVS), December 8-3
138 #1 Katerina Lange (GVS) vs. Lily Luft (I), TF 10-0
145 Cadence Diduch (I) vs. Margaret Buurma (GVS), TF 10-0
160 #1 Kennedy Blades (I) vs. Noelle Gaffney (GVS), fall
180 Kylie Welker (I) vs. Maddison Ward (GVS), TF 10-0
207 Sabrina Nauss (GVS) on #2 Jaycee Foeller (I), fall 4:47
FOLLOWING
The Hawkeye women’s wrestling team will travel to the CK Mike Duroe Invitational on Saturday, January 17 at 9 a.m. CT. Iowa returns home on Sunday, January 18, hosting Otterbein University and Lehigh. Fights begin at 12 p.m. (CT) at Caver-Hawkeye Arena.
