Former Iowa Wrestler Jake Kadel has been named as the 2024 NAIA Women’s Coach of the Year by The Open Mat. Kadel just finished his first year as head coach at William Penn in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Kadel coached at Iowa Wesleyan for the men’s and women’s programs from 2021-23. He was the head coach at Iowa Wesleyan Women’s team in 2023 that had a national champion, five All Americans, and placed seventh in the country in NAIA. Iowa Wesleyan closed last year and Kadel became the new head coach at the William Penn Women’s program.      Kadel took over a William Penn program that place ..read more

Real Woods was named as the 2024 Male Athlete of the Year at the University of Iowa Golden Herkys awards ceremony. The University of Iowa Athletic Department recognizes student-athletes for their athletic and academic accomplishments in a ceremony at Hancher Auditorium. Organized by the Iowa Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (ISAAC) the student-athletes are recognized by their peers.     Woods placed fourth at 141 lbs. at the 2024 NCAA National Wrestling Championships. He finished the season with a 23-5 record with one pin, seven tech falls, and two major decisions. Woods finished ..read more

Kylie Welker of the University of Iowa has been named as the 2024 NCAA Women’s Wrestler of the Year by The Open Mat. Welker led Iowa to the NCWWC and National Duals titles in the first year of competition for the program.  Welker defeated three-time national champion and 2023 USA Wrestling Women’s College Wrestler of the Year Yelena Makoyed of North Central College 11-3 in the last match at National Duals to win the team title.  The team title was also decided in the last match of the NCWWC finals when Welker defeated Makoyed by an 11-0 tech fall at 170 to give the Hawks the national ..read more

Incoming Iowa Wrestling recruit Karlee Brooks won the 120 lbs. title at the Girls National High School Recruiting Showcase on Sunday. Brooks pinned three-time defending Recruiting Showcase champion Zao Estrada in 5:51 in the finals.  Brooks-Estrada was the biggest match of the tournament. With the pin Brooks was named as Outstanding Wrestler. In the semifinals Brooks defeated Milana Borreli of Florida, 7-0. The Recruiting Showcase is a part of the U.S. Open weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada.     Brooks, originally from Phoenix, Arizona, is in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the U.S ..read more

Incoming Iowa Wrestling recruits Keyan Hernandez(Montana) and Angelo Ferrari(Texas) were named as state winners of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award (DSHSEA). The National Wrestling Hall Of Fame announced the state winners who are now eligible for the Regional selection.  Hernandez will be in the West Region with Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Ferrari will be in the Central Region with Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.     From Themat.com of USA Wrestling: The DS ..read more

The Executive Committee of the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championship (NCWWC) made two big announcements. The 2025 NCWWC will take place at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa on March 7-8. This will put the national tournament about a mile from the home of the University Iowa Women’s Wrestling team who won the 2024 title in their first year of competition. Xtream Arena has become a popular host for elite wrestling competition over the last three years and this will certainly add to their reputation.  This tournament will also be a good boost to the local Iowa City economy that s ..read more

The NCAA Board of Governors on Thursday approved funding for women’s wrestling. The board approved $1.7 million in Association funding with $200,000 in 2025 and $1.5 million in 2026 to establish a National Collegiate women’s wrestling championship. The first championship will be in the 2025-26 season.     In February the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics approved to recommend legislation for Division I, II, and II sponsorship. The divisions are expected to vote on the proposals during the 2025 NCAA Convention planned for Jan. 15-18 in Nashville, Tennessee.      T ..read more

Incoming Iowa Wrestling recruits competed at the Greco-Roman U20 Nationals in Las Vegas. Otto Black won the 63kg/138 lbs. title in dominating fashion. Black had three tech falls before defeating Jandon Drury 10-5 in the finals. Black was a Junior Greco-Roman national champion at 126 in 2022 and 132 in 2023.  Black, from Park, Colorado, committed to the Hawks on April 16. He won a 138 lbs. 4A Colorado state title this season with a 52-0 record and will be a member of the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024.     Leister Bowling placed second at 77kg/169 lbs. After two tech f ..read more

Incoming Iowa Wrestling recruits are registered to compete at the 2024 U20 Nationals in Freestyle and Greco-Roman at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Wrestlers will be competing to qualify for U20 Freestyle and Greco-Roman World Team Trials on May 31-June 1 in Geneva, Ohio. Otto Black(63kg) and Leister Bowling(77kg) will compete in Greco-Roman on Wednesday and Thursday.  Kael Voinovich(70kg) will compete in Freestyle on Friday and Saturday.  Black and Voinovich are in the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2024 and Bowling is in the Class of 2025. University of ..read more

The annual Hawkeye Wrestling Club Banquet will be on Saturday, May 4. The banquet will begin at 5 PM at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center at 7725 Kirkwood Blvd SW in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The annual banquet is always a good time and an important fundraiser for the HWC. Spencer Lee won the 2024 Olympic Team Trials at 57kg  last weekend. The buzz and excitement of a Hawk in the Olympics is always great to talk about.     There will be a buffet style dinner and a great crowd of Iowa Wrestling fans. A live and silent auction provides an opportunity to support our HWC. Current members of ..read more