Q&A | Kylie Welker talks wrestling stereotypes, favorite TV shows, and her faith

The Iowa women’s wrestler spoke with Sports Editor Kenna Roering on Feb. 6.

February 13, 2024

Iowa’s 170-pound Kylie Welker poses for a portrait during the inaugural Iowa women’s wrestling media day in the Feller Club Room and the Dan Gable Wrestling Complex at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2023. In the 2022-23 season as an unattached wrestler, Welker was runner-up at the U20 National Championship in 2023.

The Daily Iowan: Do you have a favorite spot to eat in Iowa City?

Kylie Welker: That’s so tough. I feel like my go-to is Bread Garden.

What do you get there?

Typically, I’ll get a cheeseburger or a chicken sandwich. It just changes. I don’t know, sometimes I get the buffet. Sometimes I get the burrito or tacos. They have so much.

In your alone time, what do you like to do?

I listen to a lot of music. I also enjoy watching shows. Ella [Schmit] calls me an iPad kid because I like to watch shows while I eat. And then we also have a cat, and I like to play with him a lot. His name is ZB after Zach Bryan, and he is multicolored.

How would you describe your fashion style?

You can catch me wearing sweatpants almost every day, but sometimes I like to dress up a little bit. I dress up to go to church and take Instagram pictures. You know, sometimes you feel good, but most of the time I like to stay comfy.

Do you have a favorite show right now?

I’m currently watching “The Bachelor.” I like “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” “My Life with the Walter Boys,” shows like that.

You mentioned you’re in Athletes in Action. What is your role with that?

Right now, I’m a leader on the team. Last year I came to weekly meetings on Monday and then I went through this thing called Equipped. And it’s basically like an eight-week training of discipleship and learning how to grow your faith. And then I was able to become a leader after that. And now I’m running a Bible study and training people through Equipped.

Do you have a favorite class that you’ve taken so far?

This is such an unpopular opinion, but I am enjoying my stats class a lot because of the professor. I understand what’s going on, and that doesn’t always happen.

Do you watch a lot of wrestling or any other sports?

I’m not one of those who likes to stay glued to watching wrestling. I like to watch people that I’m close with and know, but I don’t really watch too many sports just because my life is so consumed with sports. So, I like to keep it on the TV shows.

Do you have any pet peeves around wrestling or something you wish was different?

I wish the stigma around female wrestlers was different because they all think that we’re mean and scary and very masculine. And it’s really the other side. Like, yeah, we’re strong, but we’re also girly girls.

About the Contributors

Kenna Roering, Sports Editor

she/her/hers

Kenna Roering is The Daily Iowan's sports editor. She is a junior at the University of Iowa majoring in journalism with a minor in sports and recreation management. Kenna previously worked as a sports reporter for men's wrestling and volleyball and was the summer sports editor in 2023. This is her second year with the DI.

Grace Smith, Senior photojournalist and filmmaker

she/her/hers

Grace Smith is a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa double majoring in Journalism and Cinematic Arts. In her four years at The Daily Iowan, she has held the roles of photo editor, managing summer editor, and visual storyteller. Outside of The Daily Iowan, Grace has held an internship at The Denver Post and pursued freelance assignments for the Cedar Rapids Gazette and the Des Moines Register.