The college season is underway and Iowa programs occupy five of the top 10 spots in the women’s college pound-for-pound rankings. William Penn’s Adaugo Nwachukwu retains her #1 spot while her teammate Mia Palumbo is #10.

Welcome to a new era of women’s wrestling in the United States.

Iowa sent its full line-up to watch National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, earlier this year. The Hawkeyes made the 15-minute drive north to scout the competition for their inaugural season.

The University of Iowa women’s wrestling team kicks off its inaugural season later this year. Head coach Clarissa Chun has already built a championship-caliber team with multiple high-level options at most weights.

There’s a new number one in the pound-for-pound women’s college rankings — and her name is Adaugo Nwachukwu.

Watching Sacred Heart coach Paulina Biega at last year’s Senior High School Nationals in Virginia Beach was a sight to behold. She was there recruiting talent, of course, but she also had a long line of parents and athletes who wanted to learn more about her program.

What happens when the top-ranked NAIA wrestler faces the top-ranked NCAA wrestler?

Carley Ceshker just won the Midlands Championships as a freshman — in high school.

Adaugo Nwachukwu's wrestling journey seems nearly impossible. Nwachukwu left Nigeria for California in 2018 and found the sport as a sophomore. She expected rings and ropes but realized quickly that high school wrestling was far different than the theatrics seen on television.

Aurora’s Lexi Janiak’s college career didn’t get off to a good start. The freshman phenom from Plainfield, Illinois, opened her season by losing to North Central’s Sara Sterner in her first dual. Oh, by the way, she got pinned.