5 things to watch as Iowa women’s wrestling competes in 2025 NCWWC Regionals

IOWA CITY — Iowa women’s wrestling approaches postseason competition as the unequivocal leader in the sport after claiming last year’s National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships (NCWWC) team title and six of the 10 individual titles.

Iowa Coach Clarissa Chun does not seem to be dwelling on that past success, though.

“Any time we step on a mat, we can’t wrestle what has happened in the past,” Chun said ahead of this weekend’s NCWWC Regionals. “Because it’s a new day. We got a new team, different 15 that’s going out there this weekend.”

This year’s group of 15 Hawkeyes competing in NCWWC Regionals (and then presumably the national championship two weeks later) includes four reigning national champions and three 2024 runners-up.

Iowa’s regional will be on Saturday at Simpson College in Indianola. The Hawkeyes’ full lineup is below:

Will Iowa qualify all 15 wrestlers again this year?

The top four wrestlers in each weight class will qualify for NCWWC Nationals, which will take place at Coralville’s Xtream Arena on March 7-8.

All 15 Iowa wrestlers qualified last year, and the Hawkeyes have an excellent chance of repeating the feat again in 2025. (Only one wrestler per weight class will contribute to the Iowa’s national championship point total, but qualifying all 15 would give the Hawkeyes a greater margin for error as they seek back-to-back team titles.)

The Hawkeyes have the top-ranked wrestlers in the region in every weight class except 131 pounds. (Iowa’s Emmily Patneaud is ranked second at 131.) It helps that McKendree University no longer is in the same region as the Hawkeyes.

“There’s no doubt we can qualify all 15 again,” 117-pound wrestler Brianna Gonzalez said.

Another step in growth of women’s wrestling

This will be the final postseason for women’s wrestling before it becomes an NCAA-sanctioned championship sport in 2026. It’s a milestone that will pave the way for better recognition and future growth.

That makes for “exciting times” for the 44-year-old Chun, who has seen women’s wrestling grow during her athletic and coaching careers.

“WCWA was all NAIA, NCAAs all together,” Chun said. “And then that split off — NAIA split off, had their own championships. And now it’s all the NCAA divisions with the NCWWC. So it’s really such a cool evolution as far as the growth and where we’re heading as a sport.”

Sterling Dias overcomes early adversity

Sterling Dias had a stellar 2023-24 season, posting a 31-4 overall record and 10-0 record in duals. She finished second at NCWWC Nationals, losing via decision to teammate Emilie Gonzalez in the championship.

Dias has faced some adversity in 2024-25, though. She missed much of the first half of the season after reaggravating a shoulder injury. She then returned for Soldier Salute in December, winning three of her first four bouts before taking injury forfeits in the last three rounds.

Dias has gone 6-2 since Soldier Salute, with both losses coming via decision against ranked opponents. She now has the benefit of a four-week break since her last match as she seeks more NCWWC hardware in 2025.

“For her, throughout this season, it’s about finding herself again,” Chun said.

Who wins in a potential Larramendy-Kilty final?

Iowa’s Macey Kilty and Reese Larramendy are the two highest-ranked wrestlers at 145 both regionally and nationally.

Kilty — a 2024 senior world bronze medalist and U23 silver medalist — has gone 19-0 this season, with 15 of those wins coming by pin or tech fall.

Larramendy — the reigning NCWWC national champion in her weight class — is 18-1, with her one loss coming against Kilty via decision in the Soldier Salute finals. All but three of her wins have been via pin or tech fall.

“They bring out the best in each other,” Chun said.

Especially in a regional with only one other nationally-ranked wrestler at 145, Saturday’s meet in Indianola could potentially feature a Larramendy-Kilty rematch in the final round.

“It’s fun to watch two teammates go at it,” Chun said. “You learn a lot about how they bring out themselves. You saw that at Grand View with Sterling and Rianne. We’ve seen it last with Emilie and Sterling and Felicity (Taylor) and Bri and so on and so forth. So that would be ideal, but there’s so many great people out there, great competitors.”

Another rising star at 180?

Kylie Welker — the first recruit to pick the Hawkeyes in early 2022 — has been a dominant force in Iowa’s first two seasons of competition. The Franksville, Wis., native went 23-1 as a redshirt freshman in 2023-24 and has yet to even surrender a point this season.

Welker is not the only wrestler to watch at 180 this weekend, though.

Decorah native Naomi Simon has been outstanding as a freshman this season, posting a 28-2 record ahead of NCWWC Regionals. One of her two losses was to the indomitable Welker.

Simply earning one of Iowa’s coveted 15 spots for NCWWC competition is a notable feat for Simon. The only other Hawkeye freshman to make the cut was Rianne Murphy at 103.

“She’s continuing to grow in her development of wrestling and learning how to move people in different ways,” Chun said of Simon. “She’s a strong young woman.”

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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