- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Coralville Today
By the People, for the People
Three Hawkeyes Claim NCAA Wrestling Titles
Iowa finishes second at inaugural women's national championships
Published on Mar. 8, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The University of Iowa women's wrestling team finished second at the inaugural NCAA Women's Wrestling National Championships in Coralville, Iowa, on Saturday. Three Hawkeyes - Valarie Solorio, Kennedy Blades, and Kylie Welker - earned individual titles, while nine Iowa wrestlers earned All-America honors.
Why it matters
This was the first-ever NCAA Women's Wrestling National Championships, marking a significant milestone for the growth and recognition of women's wrestling at the collegiate level. Iowa's strong performance, including three individual champions, solidifies the program's status as a national powerhouse and highlights the depth of talent in women's wrestling across the country.
The details
Top-ranked McKendree took the team title with 171 points, followed by Iowa with 166 and North Central with 123.5. Valarie Solorio (103 lbs), Kennedy Blades (160 lbs), and Kylie Welker (180 lbs) each won their weight class championships for the Hawkeyes. Reese Larramendy (145 lbs) finished as the national runner-up, while Brianna Gonzalez (117 lbs), Nyla Valencia (110 lbs), Lilly Luft (138 lbs), Katja Osteen (207 lbs), and Karlee Brooks (131 lbs) all earned All-America honors.
- The inaugural NCAA Women's Wrestling National Championships took place on Saturday, March 8, 2026 in Coralville, Iowa.
The players
Valarie Solorio
A sophomore wrestler for the University of Iowa who won the 103-pound national championship.
Kennedy Blades
A senior wrestler for the University of Iowa who won the 160-pound national championship for the second straight year.
Kylie Welker
A wrestler for the University of Iowa who won the 180-pound national championship for the third straight year.
Reese Larramendy
A junior wrestler for the University of Iowa who finished as the national runner-up at 145 pounds. She is a three-time All-American, having won the national title in 2024 and placed third in 2025.
Clarissa Chun
The head coach of the University of Iowa women's wrestling team.
What they’re saying
“It's about their effort together as a team and their individual effort for the team. I'm so proud of our women for fighting every match. It was a battle out there. We can't hang our heads on how we competed and performed, because we absolutely battled. It just speaks to the depth of women's wrestling in this country.”
— Clarissa Chun, Head Coach, University of Iowa Women's Wrestling (1630kcjj.com)
The takeaway
The University of Iowa's strong performance at the inaugural NCAA Women's Wrestling National Championships, including three individual champions and nine All-Americans, solidifies the program's status as a national powerhouse and highlights the growing depth and talent in women's collegiate wrestling across the country.
