College wrestling is here, marking the inaugural sanctioned women’s freestyle NCAA Championship season. Here are the storylines you need to follow. 

Can Iowa Women’s Wrestling Juggle?

Get ready for a season-long game of cloak and dagger. The Hawkeyes have a line-up deeper than the deepest part of the ocean. And it’s probably deeper than that. 

Iowa has so many options, it’s absurd. Don’t expect them to reveal all their secrets early — especially at 103, 110, 180, and 207 (and possibly 138 and 145). The staff will find creative ways to get the best wrestlers' mat time for the meets that matter now that only one wrestler qualifies for the NCAA Championships.

The Hawkeyes have six quality options at 103 and 110 with only two available spots:

Sterling Dias (2nd, 4th at nationals)
Rianne Murphy (3rd at nationals)
Emilie Gonzalez (1st, 5th at nationals)
Ava Bayless (1st, 4th nationals)
Val Solorio
Nyla Valencia

Solorio and Murphy competed as true freshmen and could redshirt. Solorio will likely move down to 103 to challenge for that spot. And someone could always move up to 117, but 2025 US Open champion Brianna Gonzalez is there. Nyla Valencia has been injured for two seasons and might be the best 110-pound option on the team, although she’ll have to beat out returning national champions Emilie Gonzalez and Ava Bayless to make it happen. 

Keep Away From Kennedy and Kylie

Many programs will do their best to avoid Senior World/Olympic medalists Kennedy Blades (160) and Kylie Welker (180). The Iowa staff knows it, and can play with its line-up throughout the season. 

Jaycee Foeller is back for a fifth season, after finishing 2nd (at McKendree, NCWWC), 2nd (at Central Methodist, NAIA), 2nd, and 2nd (at Iowa, NCWWC) at heavyweight. She will attempt to win a national title during her senior season, but she might get competition if Naomi Simon moves up from 180.

Or, maybe, Simon will stay at 180 and Welker will bump up to 207 late in the season. Simon finished third at the 2025 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships as a true freshman and is a title contender as long as Blades and Welker aren’t there. 

Blades and Welker will win at whatever weight they choose, and the entire country knows it.

Click here for a breakdown of Iowa’s line-up. 

Who Gives Up The First Point Of The College Season? Audrey Jimenez, Cristelle Rodriguez, Kennedy Blades, or Kylie Welker

Four 2025 Senior World Team members will compete during the 2025-26 college season: Audrey Jimenez (Lehigh, NCAA, 110), Cristelle Rodriguez (Doane, NAIA, 124), Blades, and Welker. All four are the heavy favorites to win national titles. The pressing question is who will give up the first point of the season?

Can The Bearcats Claw Their Way To A Title?

Like Iowa, McKendree will play its game of cloak and dagger. 

Like Iowa, McKendree has a championship-caliber team. The Bearcats have depth, but not unprecedented depth like the Hawkeyes. They will need to stay healthy and fresh to take on Iowa at the National Duals and NCAA Championships. 

Head coach Alexio Garcia typically only shows his best hand for the moments that matter. That means we likely won’t see Jasmine Robinson (160) and Tristan Kelly (180/207 depending on where Welker goes) much this season. Both are world-class wrestlers who train with the Army’s World Class Athlete Program in Colorado Springs.

We could also see a shake-up at different weights — especially at 103, 110, and 117. And we are still waiting to hear if four-time national champion Cam Guerin will use her COVID year. She is listed on the 2025-26 McKendree roster, so it looks promising. 

Click here for a breakdown of McKendree’s line-up. 

An Unleashed Rivalry: Life vs William Penn

The Running Eagles smashed everyone at the 2025 NAIA Championships, finishing 70 points ahead of runner-up Grand View. Head coach Ashley Flavin had 10 All-Americans, including three champs and three runners-up.

The entire team was expected to return, but Anaya Falcon (2nd at 110) won’t be on the mat this college season, and Savannah Isaac (1st at 207) transferred to Tiffin. 

William Penn has Nigerian Olympians and returning national champions Christy Ogunsanya (117) and Esther Kolawole (138/145) leading the way, and acquired Vicky Baez-Dilone (2024 national finalist for King) from the transfer portal. U17 World champion Piper Fowler is an incoming freshman. 

Is that enough to run down the Running Eagles by season’s end? We can’t wait to find out. 

Click here for a breakdown of Life’s line-up. 

Will Lehigh Be A Game Changer?

Lehigh will compete in its first sanctioned women’s college wrestling season after years of speculation that the Mountain Hawks would add a program. Head coach Brazel Marquez has a solid core, highlighted by 2025 U20 World Teamers Jimenez (110), Abbi Cooper (117), and Aubre Krazer (131/138). We’ll find out soon enough if Lehigh is a championship contender.

Who Wins The Everest Leydecker Sweepstakes?

Everest Leydecker is the undisputed best high school wrestler in the country, making her the top recruit in the country. She reached Final X as a junior in high school, and was two wins away from making our Senior World Team (she fell to Rodriguez in straight matches). 

Leydecker is the first woman to win four times at FloWrestling's Who’s Number One, and she's a 2025 U20 World champion. She is a game-changer for the program that lands her. 

Watch her first three Who's Number One victories here.
Watch her 2025 Who's Number One victory here.
Watch her complete run at the 2025 U20 World Championships here. 

Everest Leydecker is the first woman to notch four Who's Number One wins

Do We Still Fear The Bird?

North Central had an unprecedented three-year run, finishing 1st, 2nd, and 2nd at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships as a Division III program. The Cardinals lost most of their best wrestlers to graduation, but reloaded with a monster recruiting class. Head coach Joe Norton loves a challenge, and he’ll get one this season. 

Click here for a full breakdown of North Central’s line-up.

Anchor Up! Are The Lakers Ready To Swim With The Nation’s Elite?

Grand Valley State was the darling of women’s college wrestling last season. Head coach Jake Short led a brand-new program to a fourth-place finish at the 2025 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships. 

The Lakers have plenty of firepower, with national champions Sage Mortimer (117) and Katie Lange (138) returning. 

Click here for a full breakdown of Grand Valley State's line-up. 

Will Tarleton State Add Women’s Wrestling?

Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.

We are not so patiently waiting for Tarleton State to add a Division I women’s wrestling program. Head coach Jason Moorman won four WCWA titles for King University until his surprise departure early last year. Several of his best wrestlers followed him to Stephenville, Texas, hoping to compete at the NCAA Championships.

Tarleton State will be a club program this season, but there is an expectation that it will go Division I for the 2026-27 season. The sooner, the better for Moorman. This is prime recruiting season, and most high schoolers want to know what they are getting into. Tarleton State can enter the conversation once it takes the plunge.

Please, Tarleton State. Could you please help us? Women's wrestling needs you.

Is King’s Crown Intact?

Moorman built King into a championship program, consistently leading the team to top-four finishes. Bret Fry will attempt to create his own legacy after getting hired late in the recruiting season. With the addition of new women’s programs, it will take work to prove that the Tornado belongs in the conversation with the nation’s best. 

Goodbye, Gary!

Gary Abbott said goodbye to USA Wrestling after 37 years as the director of communication. He was a leading voice and leader, providing unprecedented women’s wrestling coverage. His impact is immeasurable.

All-Star Classic

The 2025 NWCA All-Star Classic is on Saturday, November 1. Click below to preview each of the four women’s freestyle matches. 

Latifah McBryde vs Bella Mir
Katie Lange vs Zaynah McBryde
Reese Larramendy vs Esther Kolawole
Salyna Shotwell vs Sage Mortimer

Women’s Wrestling Weekly: The Show (Ep. 52)

Watch the latest edition for a complete breakdown of the 2025 U23 World Championships.

Taina’s Super 32 Four-Peat

Taina Fernandez won her fourth Super 32 title as a junior, with another season to go. Below are all her wins, along with links to matches. 

During her four-year run, Fernandez only gave up two points and was never taken down. She won 21 matches with 19 techs and two falls. No match went the distance.

2025 Super 32 (138 pounds) — 11th grade
Round of 32: Alana Smith, Fall :44
Round of 16: Millie Jensen, 10-0
Quarterfinals: Vivienne Gitke, 10-0
Semifinals: Greta Garbuzovas, 11-1
Finals: Morgan Lucio, 10-0

2024 Super 32 (132 pounds) — 10th grade
Round of 32: Taimane Benemerito, 10-0
Round of 16: Erin Delling, 12-0
Quarterfinals: Mary Manis, 11-1
Semifinals: Taina McGowan, 11-0
Finals: Corynne McNulty, 10-0

2023 Super 32 (132 pounds) — 9th grade
Round of 32: Evelin Ochoa, Fall :39
Round of 16: Christina Borgmann, 10-0
Quarterfinals: Carina Giangeruso, 10-0
Semifinals: Isis France, 10-0
Finals: Bella Williams, Fall 2:34

2022 Super 32 (123 pounds) — 8th grade
Round of 64: Lindsey Rywolt, 10-0
Round of 32: Alexis Stroud, 10-0
Round of 16: Katie Ward, 10-0
Quarterfinals: Zao Estrada, 10-0
Semifinals: Cadence Diduch, 11-0
Finals: Carley Ceshker, 11-0

What You Should Watch

There are several excellent women’s wrestling documentaries available. Click here for five you should watch. 

Stay In The Know

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Women’s Spotlight

They love each other, but Grand View's Campbell twins still get into fistfights. Learn more about how they thrive together in the same wrestling room.

Upcoming Tournaments

Friday, October 31
Women’s Falcon Open

Saturday, November 1
Tiffin Open
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Sunday, November 2
Maverick Open
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Princeton Open
Menlo Women’s Open
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