Iowa Women's Wrestling Wins Five Titles at Open
Iowa earned five first-place finishes and three third-place finishes at the Missouri Valley Open.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Wrestling
Naomi Simon, Brooklyn Hays, Nora Akpan, Brianna Gonzalez, and Maddie Nieuwenhuis each won first place in their weight classes at the Missouri Valley Open. Ten of Iowa's 15 wrestlers advanced to the semifinals on the first day of the tournament.
Why it matters
The championship haul gives Iowa women's wrestling a strong showing in a tournament that tests depth across many weight classes. Ten semifinal advancements on day one signal consistent performance from across the roster rather than from a few standouts.
Iowa claimed five championships, including Brianna Gonzalez's 10-0 victory over Shammilka Miranda and Brooklyn Hays's 10-0 technical fall over Cadence Diduch at 160 pounds. Nora Akpan won 145 pounds with an 8-6 decision over Landri Vongotten.
The players
Carver-Hawkeye Arena
The University of Iowa's indoor arena in Iowa City that serves as the home venue for Hawkeye athletics, including wrestling duals.
King University
A private Christian university in Bristol, Tennessee, whose wrestling program is scheduled to face Iowa in a home dual.
The details
Maddie Nieuwenhuis, wrestling at 103 pounds, advanced to the semifinals without surrendering a point before pinning Jaidyn Alvarado of Fort Hays State and later facing Jocelynn Benitez of Fresno State in the final. Naomi Simon reached the 207-pound final after four straight first-round pins, including a one-minute fall over Martha Hinneh of Grand View in the semifinals.
Timeline
Missouri Valley Open results were published on November 14, 2026.
Iowa hosts King University at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday, November 22, with the dual starting at 4:30 p.m.
Season Trajectory
Early championship results at a major invitational help set the competitive tone for Iowa women's wrestling as the season moves toward conference and national competition. Strong depth across weight classes at this stage can shape seeding and positioning as the calendar advances.
Fans attending the November 22 dual at Carver-Hawkeye Arena can see a lineup that just produced five individual champions. Fantasy and bracket watchers can track the weight-class winners as the season develops.
The takeaway
Depth across weight classes, not just top individuals, is what drove Iowa's day-one semifinal count of 10 wrestlers. That consistency is the most useful signal for judging the team heading into its next dual.
What happens next
Iowa hosts King University at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday, November 22, with the dual beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in the Wrestling section for ongoing Iowa women's wrestling news.
