Iowa women’s wrestling, with pin and passivity point, remains on top with NWCA National Duals title

CEDAR FALLS — As wrestling matches happened on mats across the UNI-Dome on Saturday, the University of Iowa’s Marlynne Deede stood out.

Literally, she had bright pink highlights in her hair that one could see easily from the top row of the 16,324-seat football stadium.

“My friend convinced me to put some pink in my hair,” said Deede, who noted how many volleyball or soccer athletes wear pink hair accessories. “It’s my way of expressing that this is a girly thing too.”

Not only Deede’s hair, also her actions on the wrestling mat stood out, as she delivered a crucial pin that lifted the top-ranked Hawkeyes to a 21-20 win over No. 2 North Central College and the NWCA National Duals title.

“Marlynne is a great competitor,” Iowa Coach Clarissa Chun said. “She wanted this.”

Before Deede’s pin, North Central had a 16-12 lead and won via decision in four consecutive weight classes. After Deede’s pin, Iowa had a 17-16 lead and did not relinquish it.

"To kind of finish with a little cherry on top, I was like, ‘Heck yeah, I got the job done,’“ Deede said.

Even after Deede’s match-changing point, the win was no lock.

Iowa’s lead expanded to 20-17 after Kylie Welker’s win via decision. Jaycee Foeller then needed to earn at least one point against North Central’s Traeh Haynes — the No. 2 wrestler nationally in her weight class — without allowing a pin or technical fall.

Foeller did exactly that, losing by decision 6-1 instead of 6-0.

“I was questioning if I got it at first,” Foeller said. “I looked at the scoreboard, and I knew I did my job. And I just needed to hold on a little bit longer.”

Foeller’s one point — a passivity point, to be specific — was the difference between an NWCA National Duals title and Iowa’s first dual loss in the team’s inaugural season.

“We needed that point,” Chun said.

The close nature of Saturday’s final dual was unusual for Iowa — the only Power Five women’s wrestling program.

At Iowa’s Trailblazer Duals, the Hawkeyes outscored their opponents, 127-5. In the previous three duals in Cedar Falls, the Hawkeyes had a 119-13 scoring advantage.

Even at last month’s Las Vegas Desert Duals, which had a limited crew while many of Iowa’s best wrestlers competed at U.S. Senior Nationals, the Hawkeyes won all three matches.

Saturday’s nail-biter was set up by Iowa’s 31-8 win over King University in the semifinals. The Hawkeyes overcame two individual losses via technical fall before winning in the last four weight classes.

As the Hawkeyes remain undefeated, a figurative target remains on their back.

Chun said before the season that “every opposing team is going to want to take down a Hawkeye.” On Saturday, many wrestlers from other schools cheered against the Hawkeyes after their own matches were over.

“They are banded together, even stronger because of it,” Chun said of her wrestlers after Saturday’s win.

Looking ahead, Iowa will host another four-team set of duals on Jan. 21 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Deede’s pink hair might make an appearance there, too.

“I think it’s going to stay,” Deede said.

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