Women's College Notebook: Iowa, Oklahoma State women take center stage at Carver-Hawkeye

Following a mostly docile Thanksgiving weekend, women’s college wrestling resumes in full force as the calendar turns to December.

Most of the top teams across NCAA and NAIA divisions are back in action – and several of them will converge at shared locales as part of the headline events of Week 5.

Chief among them is Iowa City, Iowa, where the NCAA #1 Iowa Hawkeyes will dual a pair of noteworthy opponents.

One of them is #5 Colorado Mesa – a perennial top-five contending team at the national tournament in recent years.

But while the Mavericks and head coach Travis Mercado certainly deserve (and will receive) their just due, the eye-catching opponent that will take the mat at historic Carver-Hawkeye Arena hails not from Grand Junction, Colorado, but Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Nearly every wrestling fan knows the significance of the Iowa/Oklahoma State rivalry – on the men’s side.

Not only have the two legendary programs produced countless all-time great athletes and coaches, and combined for a whopping 59 NCAA team titles, but they also annually square off in a dual that captures the attention of the wrestling world.

Now, what if a similarly indelible, captivating rivalry could be forged on the women’s side?

Sure, it might take some time. After all, the Hawkeyes and Cowboys have existed as varsity men’s programs since 1910 and 1914, respectively.

That date is only 2022 for the Iowa women – currently amidst their third official season of varsity competition. And for Oklahoma State – well, it still doesn’t quite exist yet. But it might sometime soon, and this Sunday could be yet another step in that direction.

That’s because the top-ranked Hawkeyes will host the Oklahoma State Cowgirls (club) program as part of a dual triangular, along with previously mentioned Colorado Mesa.

There’s no better source of insight on the club’s journey thus far than FloWrestling’s Kyle Klingman – who has written about its attraction for high school prospects – including the nation’s fifth-ranked recruiting class in 2025 – as well as the potential timeline (and hurdles) for the Cowgirls to join the Hawkeyes as a full-fledged, “Power Four” varsity program.

We’ve already seen the impact Iowa has had since announcing its program four-plus years ago.

Oklahoma State could produce its own wide-reaching effect on the women’s college wrestling landscape (and beyond) were it to do the same.

And maybe – just maybe – the two of them can help carry the sport even further together, including a burgeoning rivalry that gets its start on Sunday afternoon.

**All three duals between Iowa, Colorado Mesa and Oklahoma State will be streamed live on B1G+ (subscription required)**

Historical and/or future context aside, Sunday’s dual(s) in Iowa City carry plenty of fascination thanks to the talent each team will bring to the arena.

The top-ranked Hawkeyes are a given in that area – given their well-established depth and firepower across all 10 weight classes.

But Colorado Mesa is ranked #5 in the country for a reason.

At 103 pounds, King transfer Mia Zuniga is a returning All-American.

So too, is #2 Lorianna Piestewa (124) – who won the U20 World Team Trials at 57 kilograms this past April.

Meanwhile, the likes of #7 Isabella Morales (117) and #3 Jayleen Sekona (207) have reached the podium multiple times in their college careers to date.

Add in a trio of other ranked athletes - #10 Adriana Gomez (110), #10 Hania Halverson (131) and #3 Gretchen Donally (145) – and the Mavericks are a tough task in a dual setting.

As for Oklahoma State, the young Cowgirls roster is led by 2025 U20 World teamer Daniella Nugent (fifth at 65kg) and Iowa native Molly Allen.

Allen, from Underwood, Iowa – about a 3.5-hour drive from where she’ll compete this Sunday – was a four-time undefeated state champion for Riverside-Oakdale High School.

Her college career has gotten off to a fast start, with wins at the Falcon and Viking Opens, plus a seventh-place finish at the prestigious Missouri Vallen Open two weeks ago.

While the aforementioned dual triangular receives top billing, the most compelling matchup this week from a strictly competitive standpoint has to be tonight’s top-three NAIA matchup between #2 Grand View (IA) and #3 William Penn (IA).

Located barely 60 miles apart in central Iowa, these two programs have emerged as consistent national contenders – and this year is no different.

The visiting Vikings boast nine wrestlers ranked in the top 10 of the latest NAIA Coaches’ Top 20 poll – including #2 Judy Sandoval (103) and #2 Catharine Campbell (124).

Meanwhile, the host Statesmen counter with eight top-10-ranked athletes of their own – headlined by returning national champions (and Nigerian Olympians) Christianah Ogunsanya (117) and Esther Kolawole (145).

Fans of either program, or just great wrestling in general, can stream the dual here for free, starting tonight at 7 p.m. (CT).

What’s more, both teams are also scheduled to compete at Friday’s Doane Conner/Oppenheim Open – where they’ll be joined by ranked NAIA Nebraska institutions #7 Doane and #16 Hastings, among others.