With the college season well underway it was exciting to review the WCWA/Intermat rankings that were released earlier this week. Several of Iowa’s own have earned their spots in the rankings and are included later in this update. As women’s wrestling continues its rapid growth, Iowa’s high school wrestlers have also had several opportunities over the past two weekends to compete in preseason Folkstyle national tournaments. Not only did they have great opportunities to compete, but they came away with some impressive results.

High School Girls

Cliff Keen/USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals, Cedar Falls, November 6 

Felicity Taylor, a junior from South Winneshiek went 2-1 to take 2^nd place at 112 pounds. Taylor was last season’s 106 pound, Upper Iowa Conference champion.

Chloe Clemons, a freshman from Center Point, went 2-2 at 117 pounds to take 3^rd.

Alisha Smith, a junior from Bettendorf Pleasant Valley went 3-2 to take 3^rd at 139 pounds.

Grace Massier, a junior from Des Moines Roosevelt went 0-3 at 121 pounds to take 4^th.

Tateum Park, a freshman from Davenport North went 2-2 to take 4^th at 112 pounds.

Agony in Ames, October 29

Nicole Watters, a junior at Ballard High School and USA Wrestling Folkstyle All-American faced USA Wrestling Freestyle (Fargo) runner up, Alexis Gomez of Illinois in the Agony in Ames All-Star Dual.

Watters led 2-2 on criteria after the 1^st period but gave up two takedowns in the 2^nd to end with a 2-6 loss.

USA Girls Folkstyle Preseason Nationals (War of the Roses), Davenport, October 29

At the catch weight of 112-117, Tateum Park of Davenport North High School posted a solid 3-0 performance to take 1^st place while Chloe Clemons of Center Point went 2-1 to secure 2^nd.

Amaya Graham, a sophomore from Oskaloosa, went 1-2 to take 2^nd at 125.

Donny Bradburn, a freshman from Dubuque, battled through the bracket to a 4-1 finish to take 2^nd at 130 pounds while Kaia Graham, a sophomore from Oskaloosa, went 3-2 to secure 3^rd at the same weight.

Alisha Smith of Bettendorf went 2-2 to take 3^rd at 139.

Kali Zufall, a senior from Estherville, went 0-2 to take 2^nd at 200 pounds.

It will be exciting to watch these young athletes move into the high school programs and add to the continued growth of wrestling in our state.

College Women

WCWA/Intermat Rankings

The most recent WCWA (Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association)/Intermat rankings were released this week and include three of Iowa’s own: 

Megan Black of Batavia, a redshirt junior for McKendree University (Lebanon, IL) is ranked #2 at 130 pounds.

Jasmine Bailey of Iowa City, is a 143 pound junior for McKendree and is currently ranked #6.

Rachel Watters of Ankeny is a freshman for Oklahoma City University and is ranked #4 at 155 pounds.

Since our last update we have had several Iowa wrestlers in action at the collegiate level.

Anna Poyner of New Hartford, a 136 pound junior for Missouri Valley College (Marshall, MO) went 3-2 to take 5^th place in the Can/Am Open at the University of Jamestown (Jamestown, ND), November 5^th. Poyner lost by fall in her first match of the day to Alisha Kaegi of the University of Winnipeg then followed it up with a pin over Jenna Wilson of Ottawa University (Ottawa, KS). Poyner lost a close 3-4 decision to Cara Romeike of the University of Jamestown followed by a pin over Victoria Lyons of Waldorf University (Forest City, IA) and a 10-0 tech fall over teammate Bethany Davis. Poyner also took to the mat in dual competition with a 2-12 tech fall loss to Alexia Ward of McKendree University. Poyner improved her record to 8-6 for the season.

Megan Black picked up a pin over Alicia Reyes of Missouri Valley in dual competition to bolster her undefeated season to 10-0.

Jasmine Bailey took a loss by fall in dual competition to Montana Drum of Missouri Baptist (St. Louis, MO) moving her record to 10-4 for the season.

Veronica Goodale of Cedar Falls, a 191 pound senior from Lindenwood University-Belleville went 0-2 at the MacMurray Open (Jacksonville, IL) on November 5^th. Goodale opened with a 2-13 tech fall loss to Rebecca Carson of Campbellsville University (Campbellsville, KY) followed by a 1-3 loss by decision to teammate Rachel Doolittle. Goodale’s record stands at 2-3 for the season.

Waldorf University, Forest City, IA

Iowa’s own Waldorf University was hard at work at the Can/Am Open in Jamestown, North Dakota.

Bailey McLaughlin, a junior from Centennial, CO, went 3-2 to take 2^nd at 136 pounds while sophomore, Harmony Maitland of Killen, TX went 3-2 at 191 pounds to claim 5^th. At 109 pounds, junior Rose Heurtelou of Brooklyn, NY took 6^th and sophomore Amanda Mercier of Orlando, FL took 7^th. Sophomore Abigail Flores of Frisco, TX and freshman Dennielle Phillip of Brooklyn, NY took 7^th at 155 pounds and 116 pounds respectively. Freshmen Jasmine Alexander (116 pounds) and Alethea Flores (155 pounds) both of Hemet, CA placed 8^th. Sophomore Victoria Lyons of Santa Maria, CA finished 10^th at 136 pounds.

Per the Waldorf University Sports Information office: “It was a solid effort all around,” Waldorf coach Tyreece Gilder said. “I think a lot of the ladies are starting to find their offense.”

Senior Women

Bill Farrell Memorial International Tournament, New York City, November 10

Hawkeye Wrestling Club wrestler, Lauren Louive of Iowa City (58kg) and college freshman, Rachel Watters of Ankeny (Oklahoma City University) (69kg) will be wrestling in the Bill Farrell Memorial International Tournament with action starting at 10:00 a.m., November 10^th. This is the 1^st USA Wrestling World Team Trials qualifier event. The highest placing U.S. athlete per weight class, who also earns a medal, will qualify to compete at the World Team Trails, set for April 27-29, 2017 in Las Vegas, NV.

There are plenty of opportunities to come out and support your Iowa women wrestlers and we will continue to bring you timely updates throughout the season!

SDSU Women’s Wrestling Camp

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the South Dakota State University women’s wrestling camp June 11-17 at SDSU in Brookings, SD. The camp will be run by USA Wrestling women’s head coach, Terry Steiner and SDSU head coach Chris Bono. More details will come as we get closer, but this is a good one to get on the calendar.

For updates, be sure to follow us on Twitter: @watters_ia, @FewTeamIowa, and @IAwrestle! 

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.