Iowa women’s wrestling head coach Clarissa Chun makes the recruiting process simple. Her goal is to find the women who want to be challenged — the athletes who aren’t particularly the most talented but willing to fight and compete for spots in the lineup.
That mindset is the exact embodiment of first-year Valarie Solorio, a 110-pounder from Panama City Beach, Florida.
Solorio had been a lifelong advocate of Iowa wrestling years before the university installed a women’s program. She knew the level of competition she would face while being at Iowa during her recruiting process, as the Hawkeyes returned an abundance of talent in their lightweight classes.
However, Solorio was determined to compete for a position on the Hawkeye roster regardless of the challenges she faced.
“She knew what we had, especially at those lightweights,” Chun said. “We have returning national champions and returning runner-ups. But she didn’t care. She wanted to earn her spot and be in a room to continue to grow and develop.”
Chun said Solorio’s history in multiple different wrestling backgrounds has given the freshman a different attitude both on and off the mat.
“She’s from Florida, so she has a different swag about them I think,” Chun said. “But she also has been trained in Pennsylvania. That’s a lot of great ability to scramble and wrestle through positions. Her swag from her Florida upbringing, and her technical aspect of what she has brought from Pennsylvania, makes her unique.”
This was tested immediately when Solorio stepped foot on the mat for her first collegiate competition at the Luther Hill Open in Indianola, Iowa, on Nov. 2.
Solorio dominated her first match against Quincy University’s Sereena Baca in a 12-0 technical fault victory. This win displayed the talent she brings while reassuring Solorio she has the attributes and skills to compete at this level.
“It kind of felt like freshman year of high school again where you are walking into your first room questioning if you should be there. I had a really big imposter syndrome,” Solorio said. “I was really happy to make it to the finals and prove to myself that I can do this and that this is just like any other day.”
Solorio battled adversity over her next two rounds, earning comeback victories in matches against Grand View’s Tristan Nitta and Lindenwood’s Kate Cooper via decision.
Solorio claims that wrestling from behind is never ideal, but her experience at Iowa has prepared her for any situation or position she may find herself in.
“Thankfully, all my partners here are amazing and put me in situations where I have to fight for every single point,” Solorio said. “Whenever I was down by four, five, or six, I felt fine and never out of it. I felt like I could come back because I do this in the room every day. I train with the best every day.”
The pair of victories earned a spot in the championship bout with a chance to win the first championship in her Iowa career. Standing in her way was reigning National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championship winner Ava Bayless, a second-year with a career record of 34-1, who is also her Hawkeye teammate.
This moment felt surreal for Solorio. Since she started her wrestling career, Solorio said Bayless had been a pioneer of the sport in Pennsylvania and someone she has looked up to growing up.
While they may be competitors on the mat, the two grapplers are close off of it, often hanging out at each other’s homes and bonding.
“She really has taken me in as a big sister figure,” Solorio said. “Not only am I with her every day here [at thewrestling facility], but I want to say Thursday through Sunday I’m staying at her house in the basement on a spare bed. I’m with her all the time.”
Solorio didn’t come away with the first-place finish, dropping to Bayless in a 5-0 decision. Although this wasn’t the outcome she desired, Solorio proved that she can compete at the highest level of women’s wrestling.
“It shows just because I’m a freshman doesn’t mean that I should count myself out,” Solorio said. “I deserve to be here like any other wrestler at any age. I know I deserve to be here. I do my best and I prove that on the mat.”