It has been a phenomenal wrestling season for our Iowa women with many great accomplishments to be proud of. We saw a record number of female participants at the high school level. There were history making performances in the regular season and sectionals, and several of our collegiate athletes earned and held top 10 national rankings for the entire year. Our wrestlers had a great year and we can be proud of what our state is able to generate in talent, work ethic, and success.

College Women:

WCWA Nationals, Oklahoma City University, February 12th-13th

There were five wrestlers in collegiate programs from Iowa, as well as Iowa’s own Waldorf College (Forest City) who traveled to Oklahoma City to compete in the WCWA Nationals Friday and Saturday. The WCWA Nationals determines National Champions and All-Americans at the collegiate level and a top 3 finish in each weight class qualifies the wrestlers to participate in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, April 8-10 in Iowa City.

Megan Black of Batavia, ranked #5 at 123 pounds in the WCWA rankings (February 8th), went 4-1 wrestling for McKendree University (Lebanon, IL). Black opened the tournament with a 1:36 pin over Lacey Henderson of Ottawa University (Ottawa, KS), followed by a pair of 10-0 tech falls over Joselyn Pacheco of Jamestown University (Jamestown, ND), and De ‘Anna Prince of Wayland Baptist (Plainview, TX). In the semifinals, Black picked up a 12-2 tech fall over #8 ranked Cassidy Jasperson of Oklahoma City University (OCU), but lost a 2-10 decision in the finals to #1 ranked Becka Leathers of OCU. Black ended the weekend as a runner-up National Champion, an All-American, and a qualifier for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in April. Black is now a 2-time All-American with two remaining years of eligibility. Black ends the 2015-2016 regular season with a 17-5 record.

Screen Shot 2016-02-26 at 9.33.07 AMMegan Black, Runner up National Champion at the 2016 WCWA College Nationals

Photo courtesy of Mike Walden

Anna Poyner of New Hartford, went 0-2 for the weekend at 123 pounds wrestling for Missouri Valley College (Marshall, MO). Poyner started with a 0-10 tech fall loss to Marizza Birruetta of OCU followed by a loss by fall to Caitlyn Kaz of Jamestown University. Poyner ends the 2015-2016 regular season with a 21-18 record and has two years of eligibility remaining.

Jasmine Bailey of Iowa City, ranked #6 at 136 pounds in the WCWA rankings (February 8th), went 2-2 for the weekend wrestling for McKendree University. Bailey opened the tournament with a 10-0 tech fall over Rebecca Johnson of Midland University (Fremont, NE), followed by a 7-5 win over #10 ranked Alyssa Batiste of Lyon College (Batesville, AR). Bailey faced #1 ranked Hannah Jewell of King University (Bristol, TN) in the quarterfinals where she lost by 2-12 tech fall followed by a 5-8 loss to #8 ranked Sarah Bollinger of Missouri Baptist University (St. Louis, MO). Bailey was a 2015 All-American and ends the 2015-2016 regular season with an 18-7 record and two years of remaining eligibility.

Cassy Herkelman of Cedar Falls, ranked #7 at 136 pounds in the WCWA rankings (February 8th), went 4-2 for the weekend. Herkelman picked up a forfeit over Melanie Cordero of Menlo College (Atherton, CA) followed by a 12-2 tech fall over Katie Bridge of Life University (Marietta, GA). Herkelman faced #1 ranked 130-pounder, Kayla Miracle of Campbellsville University (Campbellsville, KY) in the quarterfinals and lost by 0-10 tech fall. On the consolation side, Herkelman picked up a 17-6 tech fall over Addie Lanning of Ottawa University followed by a loss by pin to #3 ranked Jessi Kee of King University. In her final match of the day, Herkelman won by 15-4 tech fall over Rachel Young of OCU to place 7th overall and pick up her second consecutive All-American honor. Herkelman ends the 2015-2016 regular season with a 23-9 record and has two years of eligibility remaining.

 

Screen Shot 2016-02-26 at 9.33.56 AMCassy Herkelman at the 2016 WCWA College Nationals

Photo courtesy of Mike Walden

Justice Losee of St. Ansgar at 143 pounds went 2-2 for the weekend. Losee faced Ilania Keju of OCU in the opening round and lost 5-12 followed by an 11-0 win by tech fall over Samantha Edwinson of Ottawa University. Lossee then pinned teammate Cherydan James, but lost by 0-10 tech fall to Carla Garcia of Missouri Valley. Losee ends the 2015-2016 regular season with an 8-12 record and as a Junior, has one year of eligibility remaining.

The college women still have the USA Wrestling University Nationals, March 25-26 in Oklahoma City. The top two finishers at each Olympic weight class will qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials. In addition, there is a last chance qualifier in Cedar Falls, April 2-3 where the top two finishers in each weight class will also qualify for the trials.

High School Girls:

As we focus on the growth in the number of females wrestling at the high school level it is important to note that not only was there record participation this year, but participation included varsity competition in the regular season, sectionals, districts, and regional team duals.

There were 8 female wrestlers who competed at the varsity level in either the regional team duals or districts.

Class 1A, 2A & 3A REGIONAL DUAL TEAM PARTICIPANTS

Emily Reis (106) a senior from Regina-Class 1A.

Kylie Siebrecht (106) a sophomore from Alta-Aurelia-Class 1A.

Shelby Blake (113) a freshman from Osage-Class 2A.

Morgan Lawson (113) a sophomore from Ottumwa-Class 3A.

McKinna Faulkenberry (132) a sophomore from OA-BCIG-Class 1A.

Ciana Sonberg (145) a sophomore from Charles City-Class 2A.

Melinda Collins (182) a junior from Tipton-1A.

None of the regional dual teams represented above qualified for state.

 

Class 2A DISTRICT QUALIFIER

145 Pounds:

Rachel Watters, a senior from Ballard-Class 2A. Watters lost by fall to #9 ranked (IAwrestle rankings-February 1st) Xavier Miller of PCM followed by at 2-3 loss to Caleb Button of ADM to end her season.

Here are the complete high school results to end the 2015-2016 season:

-Please note that several of our records are slightly different from the record shown at Trackwrestling.com. On occasion, Trackwrestling will inaccurately count byes as wins in an athlete’s record. We only tally wins, losses and forfeits when counting an official record.

 

Wt First Last Gr School Class Weekly Varsity Record Weekly JV Record Weekly Results Overall Varsity Record Overall JV Record
106 Myla Mayo So Sioux City East 3A 2-2 3-9
106 Chloe Krebsbach Fr Osage 2A 6-10 1-12
106 Maiah Williams Fr Glenwood 2A 1-0 1-10
106 Mykenzi Brinkman Jr Westwood 1A 11-0
106 Emily Reis Sr Regina 1A 0-1 6-21 1-5
106 Kylie Siebrecht So Alta-Aurelia 1A 0-1 0-2
106 Felicity Taylor So South Winneshiek 1A 27-19 1-1
106 Corby Webb So Hudson 1A 3-3
106 Rylee Zobac Fr Starmont 1A 6-5 0-3
113 Britany Flockhart Fr Keokuk 3A 2-0 4-7
113 Morgan Lawson So Ottumwa 3A 0-1 0-1 0-10
113 Courtney Six Fr Fort Madison 3A 6-4
113 Shelby Blake Fr Osage 2A 0-1 9-32
113 Emma Cornelison Fr Nodaway Valley 1A 4-5 0-2
113 Kendra Felder So Panorama 1A 3-10 0-3
113 Makayla Patterson Jr South Central Calhoun 1A 3-1
120 Grace Massier So Des Moines Roosevelt 3A 1-10 1-7
120 Alanah Vetterick So Norwalk 3A 5-2 4-3
120 Aubrey McIntryre Fr Glenwood 2A 0-1 0-13
120 Athena Moad Jr West Burlington/Notre Dame/Danville 2A 7-20 1-2
120 Dakota Selby Fr Albia 2A 1-10
120 Cheyenne Sedlacek Sr WACO 1A 0-12
126 Kaia Graham Fr Oskaloosa 3A 6-9 1-6
126 Anne Gadient So Cascade 2A 1-4 0-1
126 Soledad Castaneda Jr Riverside 1A 3-9 0-7
126 Keagan King Fr South Central Calhoun 1A 18-26 1-2
126 Kaitlynn Thoreson Fr Woodbine 1A 3-12
132 Jolynn Harris So Des Moines Lincoln 3A 0-6 2-9
132 Karleigh Shuff Sr Indianola 3A 0-5
132 Samantha Back Fr Lisbon 1A 0-2 0-12
132 McKinna Faulkenberry So OA-BCIG 1A 0-1 10-18
132 Brittany Shumate So Woodbine 1A 6-20 0-3
138 Laura Arroyo-Ganona Fr Muscatine 3A 2-7
138 Alisha Smith So Pleasant Valley 3A 2-17 2-7
138 Dominique Mosier Fr Clear Creek-Amana 2A 1-3 1-6
138 Brooke Silence Sr Shenandoah 2A 0-4
138 Tammy Vaughn Sr Columbus Community 2A 1-5 0-1
138 Nicole Watters So Ballard 2A 0-3 6-13
145 Jesse Lorano So Denison-Schleswig 3A 0-5
145 Kyla Devilbliss Jr Perry 2A 0-3
145 Ariel Hellman Jr Sheldon/South O’Brien 2A 1-0 4-10
145 Ciana Sonberg So Charles City 2A 0-1 1-9 12-6
145 Rachel Watters Sr Ballard 2A 0-2 19-18
145 Julia Eshelman Fr Nodaway Valley 1A 2-0
145 Alley Gray Fr Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 1A 0-4 0-12
145 Larissa Moore Jr North Cedar 1A 1-19
152 Gabriela Castillo Jr Perry 2A 0-4
152 Tate Hughes Fr Clarinda 2A 1-8
182 Haley Snyder So Northeast Community 2A 0-6
182 Melinda Collins Jr Tipton 1A 0-1 3-1 1-20
182 Erica Halferty Jr Wayne 1A 0-2
220 Sadie Durnan Fr Oelwein 2A 0-3
220 Kali Zufall Jr Estherville Lincoln Central 2A 0-1 0-19

 

It has been a record-setting season and we are proud of what our wrestlers have accomplished. We will provide updates throughout the spring and summer on the upcoming tournaments:

 

FEW Iowa State Folkstyle Championships (March 6-Norwalk, IA)

USA Wrestling Junior Girls Folkstyle Nationals & Team Duals (March 24-27-Oklahoma City, OK)

USA Wrestling University Nationals (March 25-26-Oklahoma City, OK)

Last Chance Trials Qualifier (April 2-3-Cedar Falls, IA)

U.S. Olympic Team Trails (April 8-10-Iowa City, IA)

USA Wrestling Lady Lincoln Women’s National Freestyle Duals (April 15-Tinley Park, IL)

UWW Body Bar Freestyle Nationals (May 20-22-Irving, TX)

USA Wrestling ASICS/Vaughan Junior & Cadet National Championships (July 16-23-Fargo, ND).

 

Iowa has the opportunity to field a solid dual team at the USA Wrestling Junior Girls Folkstyle National Duals in Oklahoma City, Sunday March 30th as well as the USA Wrestling Lady Lincoln Women’s National Freestyle Duals in Tinley Park, April 15th. Historically the larger states with higher participation such as Michigan, California and Texas have swept these tournaments. We have started building Team Iowa and will be extremely competitive if we can get the participation we need to field a complete team. We are asking for our high school wrestlers to touch base with Charlotte at coach@femaleelitewrestling.com and let her know that you are interested in representing Team Iowa at these events.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @watters_ia and @FEWTeamIowa.

Know of high school, college or senior women’s wrestling info that was missed? Email me at: matt@femaleelitewrestling.org.

Interested in the benefits of wrestling at any age level? Contact Charlotte Bailey of Female Elite Wrestling (FEW) at: coach@femaleelitewrestling.org to find out more.