Iowa women’s wrestling prepares for historic moments, high expectations

IOWA CITY — Kylie Welker was “blown away” when she stepped foot in Carver-Hawkeye Arena to spectate a Penn State-Iowa men’s wrestling dual.

The women’s recruit at the time was contemplating whether to go to college or “focus on my Olympic dreams and goals.”

“Seeing the atmosphere and all the people that come together to support the Hawks — it was really something that I’ve never experienced before,” said Welker, who then became the first commit in Iowa women’s wrestling history.

Welker is among the wrestlers who will soon “really make history” at Carver-Hawkeye Arena next month as Iowa women’s wrestling — the first Power Five program in the sport — begins its inaugural season.

“Really just a historic moment right now,” head women’s wrestling coach Clarissa Chun said. “It's a moment that thousands and millions of girls across the world have waited for.”

The Hawkeyes have adopted a “for her” mantra in their historic first season of competing as a team.

“When I think of ‘for her,’ I think of all the little girls that are starting their career,” said Felicity Taylor, a fifth-year senior from Spillville. “Being that role model for the next generation.”

“For her” is not just an opportunity to inspire future generations. Chun also mentioned “everyone at the University of Iowa that made this possible for our program.”

“For her meaning it could be for him, too,” Chun said. “For her, for all the people that paved the way, that were the trailblazers in our sport for Title IX, for the opportunities that our women have here today.”

The opportunity to grow the sport of women’s wrestling at the collegiate level is part of Chun’s “why” for coaching at Iowa.

“It's every reason why we as a coaching staff, as a program, institution, university, why we need to do it right,” Chun said.

When the time comes for competition to begin next month, Iowa will have incredibly high outside expectations.

Iowa will compete in the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships this year, as the sport has not reached championship status yet with the NCAA.

Only three other Division I schools sponsor women’s wrestling, so Iowa — with its national wrestling reputation — will be going up against many smaller-division schools this season.

“Diamonds are built under pressure,” Welker said. “Obviously there’s a lot of eyes on us and a lot of pressure on us, but I feel like it’s expected, and it comes with being the first-ever Power Five school.”

The expectations are no surprise when looking at the roster Chun has assembled for the first year of competition.

Welker, who grew up about 20 miles south of Milwaukee in Franksville, Wis., was the No. 1 pound-for-pound high school wrestler in the country and a former U20 world champion.

Taylor was a U23 national team member and a collegiate national runner-up while at McKendree University. Marlynne Deede is a four-time collegiate All-American and 2023 collegiate national champion. Bella Mir was a U20 world team member.

The list of accomplished wrestlers goes on as Chun essentially had her pick of the top collegiate athletes.

“This is why more Division I programs should start a women's wrestling program at their institution,” Chun said. “Because there's a lot out there, and the sport continues to grow at a fast rate.”

Even without the all-star roster, the Iowa wrestling brand already has some notoriety after the men’s team’s 24 NCAA titles.

“The reality is every opposing team is going to want to take down a Hawkeye,” Chun said. “It's no different than the men's wrestling program. … Our women are up for that challenge.”

To some extent, the extra attention is nothing new for the Hawkeyes.

“All of us have pretty much grown up under the spotlight being women in the sport of wrestling,” Ella Schmit said. “When we were little, we were usually the only girls in the room.”

The expectations, while welcomed, are not something Iowa will be dwelling on in the upcoming weeks.

“Coach always says that when we’re out on that mat, there’s a bubble over us,” Schmit said. “Anything outside of the circle doesn’t matter.”

When the Hawkeyes are finally on the mat at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Nov. 12 for their “Trailblazer Duals,” Welker certainly would not mind an environment like she saw for Iowa-Penn State when she was a recruit.

“I’m hoping it’s going to be something like that,” Welker said. “I’m hoping that the community and the fans pull together."

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com