Simon says: Decorah’s Naomi Simon caps an undefeated high school wrestling career with 4th state championship

CORALVILLE – Decorah’s Naomi Simon raised her hands. Four fingers displayed on each high above her head.

The gesture represented the end of a quest that separates her from any other female high school wrestler in Iowa. As she circled the mat to an appropriate ovation from the crowd, Simon realized the significance of the moment and emotions followed.

“It kind of set in when I was bawling on the mat,” Simon said. “That’s OK.”

Simon made history as the first Iowa high school female wrestler to win four state titles, defeating South Tama’s Autumn Elsbury for the 170-pound crown at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state championships Friday night at Xtream Arena. Decorah also captured the team title with 141 points.

“I’m so thankful to our fanbase for supporting all these young women, pursuing this sport,” Simon said. “It’s made a huge difference in my life and I know it’s making a huge difference in pretty much everyone who has ever wrestled.”

Simon started her career with two Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association state titles, adding the 170-pound IGHSAU championship after the sport was sanctioned. The University of Iowa signee Improved to 48-0 and ended with a 130-0 career record.

The statistics are astounding, Simon had pinned 46 straight opponents, dating back to her 2023 state title match. She closed her career with 47 consecutive bonus-point victories with her 15-2 major decision, stockpiling two takedowns, a reversal and seven nearfall points.

Simon hasn’t dissected her accomplishments.

“It will probably set in (Friday night) when I’m with my team,” Simon said.

Simon reflected on how far girls’ wrestling has come from the first IWCOA state tournament at Waverly-Shell Rock in 2019 to the current two-day event in a snazzy venue. It has also changed where more girls are wrestling with her now than cheering her on during her first gold medal showing. Now, Decorah is a powerhouse with a good-sized roster.

“It has grown so much in the last five years,” Simon said. “There were 82 or 87 girls wrestling when I was a seventh grader and barely filled up the Waverly High School gym. Now, we’re filling Xtream Arena for four sessions in a row. It’s incredible.”

Decorah is the first team besides the Go-Hawks to win an IGHSAU or IWCOA team state championship. The Vikings finished with five medalists, including 100-pound finalist Chloe Sheffield. Sixth-seeded Sheffield (37-6) dropped a 5-1 decision to Raccoon River-Northwest’s Katie Biscoglia for the championship.

All nine Decorah qualifiers won at least two matches and seven won at least three. They blew away last year’s third-place finish, locking up the team race by Friday afternoon. East Buchanan and RRNW tied for a distant second with 96 points.

“I’m not the first girls’ state champion (and) I’m not the first girls’ national champion, but I was the first four-time Iowa state champion and we’re going to be the first team to beat Waverly,” Simon said. “So, it’s pretty exciting.”

  Buy Photo

Like Simon, Sigourney-Keota’s Reanah Utterback continued her dominance. The junior capped an undefeated season, pinning West Liberty’s Silvia Garcia-Vasquez in 5:05 of the 115 championship. She built a 12-0 lead and had three nearfall in the bank before finishing the match with a fall.

“It’s great being out here and being able to compete,” said Utterback, who capped a 49-0 season. “I miss being out here and I’m so glad I’m out here competing. I’m glad I came out on top.”

Utterback looked menacing as she slowly walked across the arena floor during her introduction. She chose not to jog to conserve energy. It helped record her 44th pin this season to go along with five technical falls. She pinned her way through the bracket. Garcia-Vasquez lasted longer than Utterback’s first four foes combined.

“I felt like I was in control most of the match,” Utterback said. “I was just glad I was out there doing what I wanted to do, controlling the match, getting to my stuff. It was great to come out on top of it.”

Utterback is in solo territory with her accomplishments. She is the only Iowa female wrestler to win an Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association state title (2022), place at the Iowa High School Athletic Association state meet (eighth at 106 in Class 1A last year) and an IGHSAU sanctioned state title.

“It’s a bittersweet moment because I know I’m one of the only girls that placed (at IHSAA state) and was able to be there,” Utterback said. “Coming back to the girls and being able to win a state title is amazing. I’m so glad that I was able to do it.”

Mount Vernon’s Libby Dix reached the finals for the second straight year. She earned runner-up honors to Simon a year ago. Dix completed the climb to the top pf the state podium this time.

Dix pinned West Lyon’s two-time state finalist Jana Terwee in 5:59 of the 190-pound final.

Anamosa’s No. 8 Adison Musser reached the 130-pound final against Saydel’s No. 10 Colbie Tenborg. Musser started strong with an opening takedown, but Tenborg answered with a reversal to tie it, 2-2, in the first. Tenborg pulled away with 11 straight points for a 13-2 major decision.

Iowa Valley’s Breanna Peach also placed second. Spencer’s Olivia Huckfelt repeated as the 235-pound state champion, pinning Peach in 1:30. Peach closed the season at 35-1.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com