The moment wrestling fans have been waiting for is here. For the first time in the history of NCAA women’s wrestling, Iowa will compete at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships. 

On Friday and Saturday, the best NCAA women will converge upon the Alliant Energy PowerHouse Arena in Cedar Rapids with team trophies and national titles on the line.

North Central not only looks to defend its first national title, the Cardinals look to flip the script on their 21-20 loss in the finals of National Duals against Iowa. Here’s a closer look at this weekend’s competition.

Wrestlers to Watch

McKendree’s Shelby Moore (123 pounds) 

Since the calendar turned to 2024, McKendree freshman Shelby Moore has beaten a collection of high-caliber opponents, including North Central’s Amani Jones, the #2 seed heading into Cedar Rapids. After a remarkable high school career, where she doubled up at Fargo in 2021, the freshman has put herself in a prime spot to win her first college national title.

North Central’s Yele Aycock (136 pounds) 

North Central’s returning national finalist is seeded #1 and is the heavy favorite heading to Nationals. It would be her first title in her third trip to the event. She did not place in 2022 and lost in the finals last year to King’s Ana Luciano.

North Central’s Alara Boyd and Iowa’s Reese Larramendy (143 pounds) 

Upsets happen, but if seeds hold, top-seeded Boyd of McKendree and #2-seeded Larramendy of Iowa are on a collision course to meet in the national finals this weekend. Two-time national champion Emma Bruntil’s return was short-lived, as she lost in the regional final to Larramendy and scratched from the NCWWC. That leaves Iowa’s Ella Schmit on the top side of the bracket as the #4 seed, a tough out for Boyd if they hit in the semis. William Jewel's Athena Willden moves into the #3 seed spot on the bottom side.

Iowa’s Marlynne Deede and King’s Cheyenne Bowman (155 pounds) 

Another possible mega-matchup as Iowa’s returning national champion Marlynne Deede, the #1 seed, aims to reach the finals for the second straight year and perhaps face off with King’s #2-seeded Cheyenne Bowman, a two-time All-American. 

North Central’s Trae Haynes and Brittyn Corbishley (191 pounds) 

With four-time national champion Sydnee Kimber out of the way, this weight will have a new national champion for the first time in five years, and it will likely be one of North Central’s duo — #1 seed Trae Haynes or #2 seed Brittyn Corbishley. When they hit last year at this event, it was Haynes 4-4. Haynes is 13-1 this season, her only loss to a redshirt teammate Heikkila at their home tournament the North Central Open, and other than forfeiting the regional finals to Haynes, Corbishley is undefeated this season at 18-1. One other name to watch is Iowa #5 seed Jaycee Foeller, who was a national finalist in 2022 when she was with McKendree. She took a 2-1 loss to #3 seed Sara Lake of Lindenwood in the regional finals.

Weights to Watch

101 pounds  

Thanks to Iowa, this weight gives us more intrigue than normal, as the #1 and #2 seeds are both Hawkeyes. #1 seed Emilie Gonzalez and #2 seed Sterling Dias have wrestled three times this year, with Gonzales holding a 2-1 advantage, including the most recent win in the Region V finals. Meanwhile, returning national champion Madison Avila of North Central hides in the shadows at the #3 seed. #5 seed Lizette Rodriguez is the picture of consistency, as the senior took 3rd at this event for the past three years. #4 seed Jennesis Martinez of Colorado Mesa is a three-time All-American.

109 pounds 

North Central’s Kendra Ryan is undefeated this season in official college matches at 19-0. However, she took a loss in December at Senior Nationals to Lock Haven’s #4 seeded Kaelani Shufeldt by fall. If the bracket goes chalk, they’d hit in the semis. Ryan beat Iowa’s #2-seeded Ava Bayless at the same event 12-1, so if she can get through Shufeldt, she’d go into the finals a heavy favorite should Bayless get through. Easier said than done, as North Central returning national champion Jaslynn Gallegos is seeded third in this deep weight class.

116 pounds 

Another wild weight. Returning national finalist Samara Chavez of King had a stellar year, including a win over #2 seed Sydney Petzinger from North Central at the All-Star Classic. That being said, the two Iowa teammates at this weight have had a battle of their own, with #3 seed Brianna Gonzalez defeating three-time finalist and 2021 national champion Felicity Taylor in their regional final. Taylor is the #4 seed, which means she could hit Chavez in the semis. Not a great draw for the King All-American, though it’s really a matter of picking your poison at this point. 

130 pounds 

Baez-Guerin-Janiak makes for one of the most exciting weights to watch this weekend. King’s #1-seeded Victoria Baez-Dillone, a World teamer for Spain, defeated #2 seed Cam Guerin 2-2 at National Duals, so a rematch would certainly be one to watch. But will three-time national champion Guerin get through Aurora’s Alexis Janiak? After splitting matches last season, Guerin got the last word with a 9-0 victory in the national finals over Janiak, but Janiak has looked as tough as ever this season. Keep your eye on this weight.

170 pounds 

In what could be the match of the tournament, #1 seed Kylie Welker of Iowa and #2 seed Yelena Makoyed of North Central could square off in the finals for a rematch of their National Duals matchup when a national title was on the line. Welker won that one convincingly, 11-3, though Makoyed has beaten her in the past. It does feel odd to say “#2 seed Makoyed” when we’re talking about a two-time national champion and the winner of last year’s inaugural USA Wrestling Women’s College Wrestler of the Year award, but that’s what happens when a young phenom like Welker enters the college scene. McKendree’s Tristan Kelly is seeded #3. She’s a returning All-American who took third in 2021 as a member of the Colorado Mesa program.

Dark Horses

With all the hoopla about the higher seeds at 101, it’d be easy to forget about King’s returning All-American Jessica Corredor, the #6 seed. Keep her on your radar. She had wins over Avila and Rodriguez last season. And let’s not forget that Tiffin’s Jenavi Alejandro — the #5 seed at 109 — pulled some big upsets and made the finals last year. She could do it again. At 116, don’t sleep on Colorado Mesa freshman Kiely Tabaldo. She’s 17-1 this season, but her only loss was a forfeit in the conference finals. So yeah, she’s undefeated, though she did take a loss to #7 seed Julia Vidallon at Senior Nationals, which wasn’t officially a college match. Right now Tabaldo is the #8 seed, but she’s a wildcard for sure. 

Unseeded 123-pound Presbyterian freshman Alyssa Mahan has had some big wins this year, including over top-10 ranked Salome Walker and Ally Fitzgerald, who she could face in the second round. Meanwhile #7 seed Mia Macaluso always seems to come up big in the biggest moments, so don’t count her out.

A dark horse at 136 is Estella Gutches, who might hit #1 seed Yele Aycock in the second round, though she only lost to her 5-4 at National Duals. At 143, don’t forget King hammer Aine Drury, who moves to the #5 spot after Bruntil’s departure. She beat #1 seed Larramendy, World medalist Skylar Hattendorf, and 2023 national champ Ana Luciano last summer at the U.S. Open. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see her in the finals.

Team Race

Though Iowa won National Duals with a nailbiting 21-20 victory over North Central, it’s the Cardinals who are ranked #1 in the last NWCA tournament team poll. Expect #3 King and #4 McKendree to put up a fight, though this is looking like a two-team race. North Central walloped McKendree 32-9 at National Duals, and Iowa didn’t treat King much better, winning 31-8. Both King and McKendree have some serious firepower, but expect to see an exciting North Central-Iowa battle come down to the outcome of the finals.

To stay on top of your NCAA women’s game, make sure you read Kyle Klingman’s 2024 NCAA Women's College Championships Bracket Reaction and use FloWrestling’s 2024 NCWWC Watch Guide. Brackets are here.