Women’s College Notebook: Iowa Throws Down, McKendree and Lehigh soar, MoVal Open Week

A dual featuring the top-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes and No. 6 Presbyterian is enough to garner one’s attention all on its own.

But when you combine its inherent elements – like 13 combined participants who rank in the top 10 at their weight(s) – with an event like the “Throwdown on the Yorktown”:

Well, that just takes it to a whole new level.

Wrestling atop the USS Yorktown – a World War II aircraft carrier known as the “Fighting Lady” – Iowa won 8/10 bouts to get the 35-9 win over Presbyterian in a dual featuring the first Power Five (Iowa) and first-ever Division I women’s wrestling program (Presbyterian).

Of Presbyterian’s two wins, its biggest came at 124 pounds, where No. 5 Alyssa Mahan bested Iowa’s fourth-ranked Cali Leng, 9-6.

Meanwhile, it was two unranked Hawkeyes who produced the most noteworthy results.

At 110 and 138 pounds respectively, former U23 World teamers Nyla Valencia and Skye Realin both earned bonus-point victories over third-ranked opponents. This, as they each continue their return from serious injuries that have sidelined them in recent years.

Following its loss to Iowa, Presbyterian wrestled once more atop the flight deck – and against another historic program.

This time the Blue Hose prevailed, 40-6, over Delaware State – wrestling in its first-ever Division I dual.

A day later, all three programs returned to action at Presbyterian’s “Blue Hose Challenge” – where they were joined in a strong field by No. 15 Emmanuel (GA), as well as NAIA No. 1 Life University (GA) and No. 5 Indiana Tech.

Once again, Iowa led the way, winning 5/7 weights at which it had an athlete entered, including a pair of head-to-head finals. Host Presbyterian was next with a pair of champs, while each of Emmanuel/Indiana Tech/Life had one.

If you haven’t been paying attention, the aforementioned Hawkeyes aren’t exactly flying solo at the top of the latest NCAA Women’s Coaches Poll.

That’s because No. 2 McKendree (IL) sits right on their heels – a mere seven projected NCAA team points separating the two.

The Bearcats were also in action last weekend and flexed their muscles in a pair of dominant performances at the Lindenwood Duals.

There, Alexio Garcia’s squad defeated No. 24 Lindenwood (MO) and NAIA No. 10 Wayland Baptist (TX) by a combined margin of 81-7.

Heather Crull (103), Gabriele Tedesco (110), Yu Sakamoto (117), Alex Szkotnick (131), Haylie Jaffe (138) and Destiny Rodriguez (180) each won a pair of bouts via bonus points.

Those six are among eight different Bearcats who currently hold top three national rankings.

Much like it did a few weeks ago with its varsity debut, the Lehigh women’s program made more history on Sunday.

This time, the occasion was its first-ever dual as a varsity program – and its first-ever dual victory, too.

Competing on the road at Lock Haven, the Mountain Hawks won six of the first seven bouts in a 26-15 win.

A Hattie Mack technical fall at 103 pounds gave Lehigh a lead it would never relinquish – as stars like Abbi Cooper and Aubre Krazer (both U20 World team members this summer) helped to cement the dual.

Congrats to the Mountain Hawks and Coach Brazel Marquez for yet another program milestone – and may it be just the first of many more in the years to come.

As we peek ahead to Week 4, one gargantuan event looms as appointment viewing for any college wrestling fan.

That’s right, it’s time for the Missouri Valley Open (streaming live on FloWrestling).

Arguably the toughest, deepest open tournament in the sport – this event annually generates must-see matchups and an abundance of storylines each November. And its latest edition – this Friday/Saturday at the Burns Athletic Center – should be no exception.

As far as sheer quantity, 610(!) wrestlers competed in last year’s tournament. Whether it reaches or exceeds that mark in 2025, what’s not in question is that it’ll have the quality to stand all on its own.

Here’s a preliminary list of some notable teams that either A) already show up on the FloWrestling event page, or B) have the tournament listed on their own schedule(s) – starting with NCAA programs:

• No. 1 Iowa
• No. 2 McKendree (IL)
• No. 5 Colorado Mesa
• No. 13 Fort Hays State (KS)
• No. 13 Tiffin (OH)
• No. 15 Emmanuel (GA)
• No. 19 William Jewell (MO)
• No. 20 Quincy (IL)
• No. 24 Lindenwood (MO)
• Lehigh

And from the NAIA ranks:

• No. 2 Grand View (IA)
• No. 3 William Penn (IA)
• No. 6 Cumberlands (KY)
• No. 8 Lindsey Wilson (KY)
• No. 9 Texas Wesleyan
• No. 10 Wayland Baptist (TX)
• No. 11 Oklahoma City
• No. 12 Ottawa (KS)
• No. 14 Hastings (NE)
• No. 16 Missouri Valley
• No. 17 Saint Mary (KS)
• No. 17 Central Methodist (MO)
• No. 20 Avila (MO)
• No. 20 Campbellsville (KY)

Of course, this is the Missouri Valley ‘Open’ – and that means the field won’t just be limited to varsity college programs.

Two of the schools identified as strong candidates to add the next major Division I program are Tarleton State (TX) and Oklahoma State. Both appear set to send athletes from their talented club programs to Marshall, Missouri, this weekend.

So too, will Valiant Prep (AZ) – home to some of the very best high school wrestlers in America. It likely won’t be alone in sending talented youngsters to test themselves against the loaded collegiate field.

And finally, don’t rule out some senior-level entries either – both from the US and abroad. We’ve seen both at this prestigious tournament before.

If you’re not completely exhausted after running the MoVal Open marathon on Friday/Saturday, you’ll want to tune in Sunday for the ‘icing’ on an incredible weekend of wrestling ‘cake.’

I’m talking about No. 3 Grand Valley State (MI) versus No. 4 North Central (IL) – starting at 3:00 p.m. ET from the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.

These two talented teams – both trophy winners at last year’s national tournament – first dualled about a year ago – when the first-year GVSU program put up a valiant effort in a 26-17 road defeat.

Now, the Lakers will serve as hosts in a rematch that could feature as many as 19 ranked wrestlers between the two lineups.

Need I say more?