Lead
On Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Cedar Falls, No. 1 University of Iowa women’s wrestling secured third place at the NWCA National Duals by defeating No. 4 Grand Valley State, 26-15, in the medal round. The Hawkeyes recorded five wins over nationally ranked opponents across the event. Iowa fell in a tight semifinal with No. 3 North Central College, 23-21, before rebounding to close the tournament on the podium. The team now turns its attention to the CK Mike Duroe Invitational on Jan. 17 and duals at home on Jan. 18.
Key Takeaways
- Iowa beat No. 4 Grand Valley State 26-15 in the medal round, claiming third place at the NWCA National Duals.
- The Hawkeyes notched five wins over ranked opponents across the weekend, underscoring roster depth.
- Semifinal: Iowa lost a close match to No. 3 North Central College, 23-21; the result was decided at 207 pounds when Dasia Yearby recorded a fall.
- Standout performances included Karlee Brooks (131) with an 8-3 decision over Aspen Blasko and Kennedy Blades (160) winning by fall in the medal match.
- Multiple technical falls highlighted Iowa’s offense: Brianna Gonzalez (117) TF 10-0 and Kylie Welker (180) TF 10-0 in the third-place dual.
- Reese Larramendy (145) produced a notable upset in the semifinal, defeating the No. 1-ranked Bella Mir.
- Iowa’s roster showed both finishing ability (several falls and TFs) and tight-match vulnerability that cost them the semifinal by two points.
Background
The NWCA National Duals assemble high-ranking programs for head-to-head dual competition and serve as an early-season measuring stick ahead of conference and national seeding. Iowa entered the weekend as the nation’s top-ranked women’s program, carrying expectations for podium performance and roster-tested matchups across multiple weight classes. Women’s collegiate wrestling has expanded rapidly in recent seasons, and dual tournaments like the NWCA event provide critical experience at match speed against varied styles and ranked opponents. For Iowa, head coach Clarissa Chun and a mix of upperclassmen and emerging talents have emphasized depth — testing lineup combinations and finishing under pressure ahead of January invitationals and the regular-season slate.
Key stakeholders include student-athletes such as Karlee Brooks and Kennedy Blades, who carry national top rankings at their weights, and underclassmen contributing bonus-point wins. Opponents like North Central College and Grand Valley State arrived with strong shows of their own, reflecting a deeper competitive field this season. The timing — mid-January — places the NWCA Duals immediately before several invitationals, making recovery, lineup decisions, and scouting priorities crucial for the weeks that follow.
Main Event
Third-place dual: Iowa vs. Grand Valley State (Iowa 26, GVS 15). Sterling Dias opened the dual with a 7-0 decision over No. 4 Rayana Sahagun at 103 pounds, giving Iowa an early edge. At 110 pounds Ava Bayless followed with a 6-0 decision, extending momentum before Brianna Gonzalez recorded a 10-0 technical fall at 117. Grand Valley State answered at 124 when Sage Mortimer earned a fall over Isabella Gonzales.
At 131, top-ranked Karlee Brooks secured an 8-3 decision over Aspen Blasko, and Iowa ceded the 138 weight to Katerina Lange, who finished with a 10-0 technical fall. Cadence Diduch restored bonus points at 145 with a 10-0 technical fall, and Kennedy Blades closed the middle weights with a fall at 160 to strengthen Iowa’s cushion. The Hawkeyes finished the dual when Kylie Welker delivered a 10-0 technical fall at 180; Grand Valley State scored a late fall at 207 to set the final margin.
Semifinal: Iowa vs. North Central College (North Central 23, Iowa 21). Valarie Solorio opened with an 11-0 technical fall at 103, while Iowa’s Nyla Valencia was pinned at 110. North Central took an early advantage after a criteria decision at 117 and a pin at 124. Iowa fought back with Karlee Brooks’ 8-4 win at 131 and a late 6-6 criteria decision at 138 for North Central, keeping the dual close.
A pivotal moment came at 145 when Reese Larramendy upset the No. 1-ranked Bella Mir with an 8-4 decision to swing momentum. Kennedy Blades’ 11-1 technical fall at 160 and Kylie Welker’s 8-2 decision at 180 put Iowa within striking distance, but Dasia Yearby’s fall at 207 sealed a 23-21 North Central victory, ending Iowa’s bid for the final.
Analysis & Implications
Iowa demonstrated both depth and the ability to score bonus points across weights, evidenced by multiple technical falls and falls in the third-place dual. Those bonus results are encouraging for team dual scoring and potential seeding implications, as bonus-point capacity can swing meets in postseason selection scenarios. At the same time, the semifinal loss exposed vulnerabilities in the lower-to-middle weights where pins and criteria decisions turned the dual against Iowa.
Individually, top-ranked wrestlers like Karlee Brooks and Kennedy Blades reinforced their standing with quality wins, which should help national seeding and confidence heading into January invitationals. Younger or lower-seeded athletes who produced upsets or bonus wins — Sterling Dias, Cadence Diduch, Kylie Welker — provide coach Clarissa Chun with lineup flexibility and scoring options for future duals. Conversely, the team will need to refine late-match finishing and defense in vulnerable positions to avoid narrow dual losses.
From a programmatic perspective, finishing third at a high-profile, early-season dual event keeps Iowa in national title conversations but also signals that other programs (North Central, Grand Valley State and others) are closing the gap. The result may influence scouting priorities and training emphasis before the CK Mike Duroe Invitational on Jan. 17 and home duals on Jan. 18. Nationally, tight team scores at this event reflect a deeper top 10 and could affect how selection committees evaluate head-to-head and bonus-point metrics later in the season.
Comparison & Data
| Dual | Final Score | Ranked Wins (Iowa) |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa vs. North Central (semifinal) | North Central 23, Iowa 21 | 2 |
| Iowa vs. Grand Valley State (third place) | Iowa 26, Grand Valley State 15 | 3 |
The table shows Iowa’s rebound in the medal match after a two-point semifinal loss. Across the two decisive duals, Iowa recorded five wins over ranked opponents—three in the medal match and two in the semifinal—highlighting the team’s capacity to beat nationally ranked competition even when the overall result is mixed. The mix of technical falls and pins contributed to the higher team score against Grand Valley State, while Iowa’s losses by fall and close criteria decisions were costly against North Central.
Reactions & Quotes
Head coach Clarissa Chun framed the weekend as a learning opportunity and stressed forward focus after the semifinal defeat.
“We fought, they fought, and we all went through this; we just have to move on to next weekend.”
Clarissa Chun, Head Coach, University of Iowa
Chun also highlighted the need for improved finishing in key moments, a point she linked to the narrow nature of the semifinal loss.
“In certain moments and positions we have to be better at finishing. We have to continue to wrestle through that to make a strong finish.”
Clarissa Chun, Head Coach, University of Iowa
Terms and scoring
Technical fall (TF) occurs when a wrestler gains a 10-point advantage, ending the match and awarding bonus team points. A fall (pin) ends the match immediately and yields maximum team points. Decisions that tie on the scoreboard are resolved by criteria (tie-breaking rules such as cautions, last point scored, etc.). Dual scores are cumulative across weights; bonus-point wins (TFs and pins) increase the team margin more than simple decisions. Weights listed (e.g., 103, 110, 117) correspond to NCAA standard women’s collegiate weight classes used in the dual format.
Unconfirmed
- Any minor injuries or nagging conditions to Iowa wrestlers that may influence the Jan. 17–18 lineup have not been publicly disclosed.
- Specific lineup changes or weight adjustments for the CK Mike Duroe Invitational remain unannounced as of this report.
Bottom Line
Iowa’s third-place finish at the NWCA National Duals underscores both the program’s depth and the razor-thin margins at the top of women’s collegiate wrestling. The Hawkeyes demonstrated the capacity for bonus-point victories and upsets, but also showed that late-match defense and finishing will determine outcomes in tight duals.
As the team prepares for the CK Mike Duroe Invitational (Jan. 17) and home duals on Jan. 18, the coaching staff will likely prioritize shoring up vulnerable positions and preserving the momentum provided by standout performances from ranked wrestlers. Results from the coming invitationals will clarify whether this weekend represents a momentum-building step or a warning signal for adjustments ahead of conference and national seeding.