Hawkeye women send 10 wrestlers to national semifinals
CORALVILLE — The top-ranked University of Iowa women’s wrestling team had a strong showing on day one of the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships, sending all 15 athletes into Day 2.
Ten Hawkeyes advanced to Saturday’s semifinals, guaranteeing them each All-American status.
“I’m so proud of the efforts our women put in in the morning to this evening,” said Iowa head coach Clarissa Chun. “We put points on the board, a lot of bonus points. This evening we had great effort up and down. We had some hard losses, but it didn’t come from a lack of trying by any means. They gave it their all, and they just have to keep their head up and move forward.”
Top-seeded Rianne Murphy and third-seeded Sterling Dias dominated their way through the 103-pound bracket to reach the semifinals. Dias beat each of her three opponents by fall, with her quartfinals win coming against No. 6 Jennesis Martinez of Colorado Mesa in 1:54. Murphy earned two technical falls and a pin, including a 10-0 win over No. 8 Avery Kibelbek from King University in the quarters.
At 110, second-seeded Ava Bayless didn’t give up a single point on her way to the semifinals, securing a pin and two technical falls. She defeated No. 7 Austria Holland of Adams State, 10-0, in the quarterfinals.
Top-seeded Brianna Gonzalez notched a spot in the semis at 117 with a pin and two technical falls, including a 10-0 victory against No. 8 Alex Waitsman from William Jewell in the quarterfinal round.
First-seeded Macey Kilty and second-seeded Reese Larramendy secured their semifinal spots at 145, each earning three technical falls on the day. Kilty defeated No. 8 Sydney Perry of North Central, 10-0, in the quarterfinals, while Larramendy earned an 11-0 technical fall over No. 7 Zoey Lints from Elmira College to advance.
At 160, top-seeded Kennedy Blades wrestled for a total of 4:29 en route to the semifinals, topping all three of her opponents by technical fall. Blades beat No. 8 Gretchen Donally from Colorado Mesa, 10-0, in the quarters.
Top-seeded Kylie Welker and fourth-seeded Naomi Simon both earned their way into the semifinals. Welker beat No. 9 Lydia Krauss of McKendree, 10-0, in the quarterfinals. Simon secured a hard-fought, 9-6, victory over No. 5 Brittyn Corbishley from North Central to advance. Welker and Simon will meet in the semis tomorrow.
At 207, first-seeded Jaycee Foeller secured a pin, a technical fall and a decision to earn a spot in the semifinals. She prevailed over No. 8 Julia Richey of Simon Fraser, 3-0, in the quarterfinal round.