CORALVILLE – The 10 unattached University of Iowa women’s wrestlers competing at the inaugural Solider Salute closed out the first session with a record of 12-3. Sterling Dias, Emile Gonzalez and Felicity Taylor advanced to the semifinals. Nanea Estrella and Reese Larramendy advanced to the quarterfinals. Kylie Welker and Bella Mir are undefeated in round robin style brackets.
The unattached Hawkeyes recorded three falls in the first session as Taylor pinned Leah Pekar of Life University in 1:01, Mir pinned Aspen Barber from Army WCAP in 2:26 and Brianna Gonzalez pinned teammate Ava Bayless in 2:51. They also tallied eight tech falls in 8:39 of wrestling.
Iowa will compete unattached in 2022-23. Iowa announced in September 2021 it would become the first Division I Power Five school to add women’s wrestling. The Hawkeyes begin competing in 2023-24.
Solider Salute Results
101 LBS
Sterling Dias
Sterling Dias (Unattached) tech. fall Anika Barker (William Penn), 10-0
Emilie Gonzalez
Emilie Gonzalez (Unattached) tech. fall Mya Turnmire (Iowa Wesleyan), 12-0
109 LBS
Ava Bayless
Ava Bayless (Unattached) tech. fall Destiny Carranza (Iowa Wesleyan), 11-0
Brianna Gonzalez (Unattached) pinned Ava Bayless (Unattached), 2:51
Brianna Gonzalez
Jenavi Alejandro (Tiffin University) tech. fall Brianna Gonzalez (Unattached), 10-0
Brianna Gonzalez (Unattached) pinned Ava Bayless (Unattached), 2:51
116 LBS
Felicity Taylor
Felicity Taylor (Unattached) pinned Leah Pekar (Tiffin University), 1:01
136 LBS
Nanea Estrella
Nanea Estrella (Unattached) tech. fall Glenda Veiga (Indiana Tech), 10-0
143 LBS
Reese Larramendy
Reese Larramendy (Unattached) tech. fall Michaela Blume (Iowa Wesleyan), 10-0
Ella Schmit
Maya Letona (Columbia) tech. fall Ella Schmit (Unattached), TF 11-1
Ella Schmit (Unattached) no contest Emerald Raya (William Penn), NC
155 LBS
Bella Mir
Bella Mir (Unattached) pinned Aspen Barber (Army WCAP), 2:26
Bella Mir (Unattached) tech. fall Grace Doering (Indiana Tech), 10-0
170 LBS
Kylie Welker
Kylie Welker (Unattached) tech. fall Catherine McNulty (Indiana Tech), 10-0
Kylie Welker (Unattached) tech. fall Tristan Kelly (Army WCAP), 10-0
UPDATE:
Eight of the 10 unattached University of Iowa women’s wrestlers competing at the inaugural Soldier Salute are going strong after finishing day one, leaving the team with a record of 16-4. Reese Larramendy advanced to the semifinals, but Nanea Estrella injury defaulted from the tournament. Bella Mir stayed undefeated in her round-robin bracket.
Brianna Gonzalez closed the day with a tech fall against Kory Phillips from Life University, while Reese Larramendy and Bella Mir had a combined 3 pins. Ava Bayless also closed out with a decision over Mia Palumbo of Iowa Wesleyan, 4-1.
Iowa is competing unattached in 2022-23. Iowa announced in September 2021 it would become the first Division I Power Five school to add women’s wrestling. The Hawkeyes begin competing in 2023-24.
Soldier Salute Results
109 LBS
Brianna Gonzalez
Brianna Gonzalez (Unattached) tech. fall Kory Phillips (Life University), 10-0
Ava Bayless
Ava Bayless (Unattached) dec. Mia Palumbo (Iowa Wesleyan), 4-1
136 LBS
Nanea Estrella
Emily Neumann (Iowa Wesleyan) inj. default Nanea Estrella (Unattached)
Michal Buska (Tiffin University) inj. def Nanea Estrella (Unattached), NC
143 LBS
Reese Larramendy
Reese Larramendy (Unattached) pinned Elleni Johnson (Army WCAP), 1:50
Ella Schmit
Elleni Johnson (Army WCAP) pinned Ella Schmit (Unattached), 4:41
155 LBS
Bella Mir
Bella Mir (Unattached) pinned Emma Cole (Iowa Wesleyan), 5:17
Bella Mir (Unattached) pinned Jessica Kemgne (Columbia), 0:31