Iowa Women's Wrestling to Compete at Missouri Valley Open

Sixteen student-athletes from the University of Iowa women’s wrestling program will compete at the Missouri Valley Open this weekend in Marshall, Missouri.

The competition begins Friday, Nov. 13, at Missouri Valley College, with matches continuing through Saturday, Nov. 14. This event serves as a critical litmus test for a Hawkeyes roster that is currently balancing veteran dominance with a high-upside influx of new talent.

The program enters the weekend having won two matches during the first day of the Yorktown Duals on Saturday. According to Iowa Hawkeyes Athletics – Official Athletics Website, the Hawkeyes defeated #24 Delaware State and #3 Presbyterian, finishing with a combined 17-3 record that included four falls and nine technical falls.

A roster built on championship pedigree

The Hawkeyes are not merely participating in these regional meets; they are defending a standard of excellence established by a deep pool of returning talent. The 2026 roster features 12 returning All-Americans, including two NCAA national champions, Kylie Welker and Valarie Solorio.

The statistical strength of the program is evident in the sheer volume of decorated athletes returning to the mat. Seven of the 12 returning All-Americans earned that distinction at the NCAA National Championships this past March: Karlee Brooks, Bri Gonzalez, Reese Larramendy, Lilly Luft, Solorio, Nyla Valencia, and Welker. Among them, Welker, Larramendy, and Bri Gonzalez have all achieved three-time All-American status.

The following table outlines the weight classes and athletes representing Iowa at the Missouri Valley Open:

Weight Class	Athletes
103	Madison Nieuwenhuis, Sterling Dias
110	Emilie Gonzalez, Bella Gonzales
117	Bri Gonzalez, Taylor Whiting
124	Harlee Hiller, Cali Leng, Ava Rose, Mia Goodwin
131	Emily Frost
145	Nora Akpan
160	Brooklyn Hays, Cadence Diduch
180	Naomi Simon
207	Libby Dix

Building the Class of 2027

While the immediate focus remains on the Missouri Valley Open, head coach Clarissa Chun is already reshaping the program’s future through strategic recruiting. On Thursday, the program announced the signing of three standout athletes from the Class of 2027.

Brooke Huffman, a 180-pounder from Wittenberg, Wisconsin, brings an undefeated 100-0 record to Iowa City. Huffman is a three-time state champion and holds the Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School records for most pins, wins, and takedowns. She is also the top-ranked wrestler in her weight class by FloWrestling and a two-time Fargo champion.

The incoming class also includes Eve Skrocki, a 145-pounder from Dubuque, Iowa. Skrocki joined an elite group of four USA Wrestling Triple Crown winners in 2025, earning titles at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals, U16 Folkstyle Nationals, and the Girls High School Recruiting Showcase. She previously won an IHSAA state championship as a sophomore at Dubuque-Wahlert.

The road to the national title

The Hawkeyes will return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday, Nov. 22, for a dual against King University. That event begins at 4:30 p.m. (CT) and follows the Iowa men’s dual against Iowa State, which starts at 1 p.m. (CT).