Nov. 12, 2023, is a day that the Iowa women’s wrestling program will always remember. 

For the first time, they ran out of the Carver-Hawkeye Arena tunnel with the Black and Gold faithful cheering them on. 

The announced attendance was 8,207, which is believed to be the world record for a women’s wrestling dual. 

“To be part of something this big and historic is just so meaningful for the whole scene of women’s wrestling,” fifth-year Felicity Taylor said. 

The record crowd did not go home disappointed, as the Hawkeyes demolished Presbyterian, Lindenwood, and Sacred Heart to win the Trailblazer Duals, an event that honored past, present, and future women’s wrestlers. 

Iowa only allowed three points over its three duals and shut out Lindenwood, 43-0. 

Following the meet, Iowa wrestlers and coaches were overcome with emotion. 

Taylor has waited a long time for this moment. She was one of the first notable female wrestling stars in the state of Iowa, and the first female in her conference to capture a state title. 

Following the meet, Taylor was still in disbelief. 

“It’s more than anything I could have ever dreamed of. It’s the best feeling in the world to have all of the Hawkeye fans cheering you on,” Taylor said. 

The state of Iowa is known as a wrestling hotbed, and Carver-Hawkeye Arena has been known as a death trap when the men’s wrestling team hosts duals. 

But, in some states, wrestling hardly makes its way into the conversation. 

First-year Emily Frost is from New York, a state that is primarily focused on lacrosse, baseball, and football. Despite this, Frost was well aware of Iowa’s obsession with wrestling. 

“I’ve always known that Iowa was a big wrestling state because you see all of the guys and girls from Iowa placing the highest in national championships,” Frost said. 

In her first-ever home dual, Frost was able to experience the raucous Iowa crowd right from the start, when she pinned Presbyterian’s Olivia Waller with 10 seconds left in the match. 

“I was down the whole match, but you can have 10 seconds left, and the match is never over,” Frost said. “The fans have been awesome.”

Following the meet, head coach Clarissa Chun was overwhelmed with joy and received a big hug from her parents. She said that her dream had finally become a reality. 

“When I woke up this morning, I didn’t wake up nervous. I just woke up thinking this is real, this is really happening,” Chun said. 

In a sport historically dominated by males, the sport of women’s wrestling continues to grow throughout the nation. 

When Chun first started her own wrestling career, she recalls the few opportunities that she had, and she is grateful the sport continues to grow. 

“It’s amazing, and it gives me time to reflect on what it was like 20-25 years ago,” Chun said.

Before Sunday’s event, most of the Hawkeye wrestlers had competed in sparse crowds during their careers. Most have wrestled in front of just a few family members. 

But, one thing is for certain — Sunday was the biggest crowd any of them have ever faced. 

“My first national tournament was in a college gym,” Taylor said. 

Iowa was the first university to add a women’s wrestling program. Chun hopes that other schools do the same. 

“Who will be next?” Chun said. “Hopefully someone adds a team and then others follow.”