Iowa 124-pound Cal Leng wrestles McKendree University 124-pound Shelby Moore during session one of the 2026 NCAA Women’s National Championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, IA, on Friday, March, 6, 2026. Moore defeated Leng in a 1-1 decision. Nine of the 10 Hawkeyes advanced to the Championship Quarterfinals, and Iowa leads tournament with 24.5 points. (Ethan McLaughlin/ The Daily Iowan)
Wrestlers and fans from across the country met at Xtream Arena for the first session of the 2026 NCAA Women’s National Championships in Coralville, IA, on Friday, March 6, 2026. The session ended with nine of ten Hawkeyes advancing to the championship quarterfinals. The Hawkeyes lead the tournament with 24.5 points.
The morning session featured the nine Hawkeyes winning at all weight classes except for Cali Leng, who lost at 124 to McKendree’s No.4 Shelby Moore. Among those winners, No.1 180-pound Kylie Welker stood out in her win over Lehigh’s Genevieve An, winning via fall in 35 second. The Hawkeyes also secured falls at 207, 160, and 138.
North Central College, the team most anticipated to challenge the Hawkeyes, advanced all nine of their wrestlers, and are situated right behind there Hawkeyes at 24 team points. McKendree sits at third with 21.5 points, and all ten wrestlers advancing.
The tournament will resume with the quarterfinal championships starting back up in the afternoon of Friday, March 6, 2026. Championship semifinals, championship finals, and the parade of All Americans ceremony will take place on Saturday, March 7.
Fort Hays State 145-pound Nichole Moore and Iowa No.1 145-pound Reese Larramendy wrestle during session one of the 2026 NCAA Women’s National Championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, IA, on Friday, March, 6, 2026. Larramendy defeated Moore 11-1. Nine of the 10 Hawkeyes advanced to the Championship Quarterfinals, and Iowa leads tournament with 24.5 points. (Ethan McLaughlin/ The Daily Iowan) (Ethan McLaughlin)Western New England 117-pound Maddie Ripley gets fanned by her training staff during her match against Fort Hays State No.8 117-pound Leiannah Landreth during session one of the 2026 NCAA Women’s National Championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, IA, on Friday, March, 6, 2026. Ripley defeated Landreth in an 8-8 match. Nine of the 10 Hawkeyes advanced to the Championship Quarterfinals, and Iowa leads tournament with 24.5 points. (Ethan McLaughlin/ The Daily Iowan) (Ethan McLaughlin)Iowa No.1 160-pound Kennedy Blades waves to the crowd following her 10-0 victory by fall over during session one of the 2026 NCAA Women’s Emmanuel University 160-pound Vida Beckel National Championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, IA, on Friday, March, 6, 2026. Nine of the 10 Hawkeyes advanced to the Championship Quarterfinals, and Iowa leads tournament with 24.5 points. (Ethan McLaughlin/ The Daily Iowan) (Ethan McLaughlin)Iowa No.5 207-pound Katja Landreth secures the anklets before her match against Felician 207-pound Talisha Lewis during session one of the 2026 NCAA Women’s National Championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, IA, on Friday, March, 6, 2026. Landreth defeated Lewis 13-0. Nine of the 10 Hawkeyes advanced to the Championship Quarterfinals, and Iowa leads tournament with 24.5 points. (Ethan McLaughlin/ The Daily Iowan) (Ethan McLaughlin)Scoring cards are seen over the shoulder of a scorekeeper during session one of the 2026 NCAA Women’s National Championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, IA, on Friday, March, 6, 2026. Nine of the 10 Hawkeyes advanced to the Championship Quarterfinals, and Iowa leads tournament with 24.5 points. (Ethan McLaughlin/ The Daily Iowan) (Ethan McLaughlin)Iowa 124-pound Cal Leng stares down McKendree No.4 University 124-pound Shelby Moore during session one of the 2026 NCAA Women’s National Championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, IA, on Friday, March, 6, 2026. Moore defeated Leng in a 1-1 decision. Nine of the 10 Hawkeyes advanced to the Championship Quarterfinals, and Iowa leads tournament with 24.5 points. (Ethan McLaughlin/ The Daily Iowan) (Ethan McLaughlin)Iowa No.1 160-pound Kennedy Blades holds down Emmanuel University 160-pound Vida Beckel during session one of the 2026 NCAA Women’s National Championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, IA, on Friday, March, 6, 2026. Blades defeated Beckel 10-0. Nine of the 10 Hawkeyes advanced to the Championship Quarterfinals, and Iowa leads tournament with 24.5 points. (Ethan McLaughlin/ The Daily Iowan) (Ethan McLaughlin)Iowa No.1 180-pound Kylie Welker takes down Lehigh 180-pound Genevieve An during session one of the 2026 NCAA Women’s National Championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, IA, on Friday, March, 6, 2026. Welker defeated An with a 35-second fall. Nine of the 10 Hawkeyes advanced to the Championship Quarterfinals, and Iowa leads tournament with 24.5 points. (Ethan McLaughlin/ The Daily Iowan) (Ethan McLaughlin)Iowa 124-pound Cal Leng wrestles McKendree University 124-pound Shelby Moore during session one of the 2026 NCAA Women’s National Championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, IA, on Friday, March, 6, 2026. Moore defeated Leng in a 1-1 decision. Nine of the 10 Hawkeyes advanced to the Championship Quarterfinals, and Iowa leads tournament with 24.5 points. (Ethan McLaughlin/ The Daily Iowan) (Ethan McLaughlin)A referee looks for a pin during session one of the 2026 NCAA Women’s National Championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, IA, on Friday, March, 6, 2026. Nine of the 10 Hawkeyes advanced to the Championship Quarterfinals, and Iowa leads tournament with 24.5 points. (Ethan McLaughlin/ The Daily Iowan) (Ethan McLaughlin)Iowa No.5 207-pound Katja Osteen smiles as she secures the fall over Felician 207-pound Talisha Lewis during session one of the 2026 NCAA Women’s National Championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, IA, on Friday, March, 6, 2026. Nine of the 10 Hawkeyes advanced to the Championship Quarterfinals, and Iowa leads tournament with 24.5 points. (Ethan McLaughlin/ The Daily Iowan) (Ethan McLaughlin)Iowa No.4 138-pound Lilly Luft celebrates to the crowd of Iowa fans after her 12-0 win over Mount Olive 138-pound Kalyse Hill during session one of the 2026 NCAA Women’s National Championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, IA, on Friday, March, 6, 2026. Nine of the 10 Hawkeyes advanced to the Championship Quarterfinals, and Iowa leads tournament with 24.5 points. (Ethan McLaughlin/ The Daily Iowan) (Ethan McLaughlin)Wrestlers are seen competing in their matches on all four mats during session one of the 2026 NCAA Women’s National Championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, IA, on Friday, March, 6, 2026. [SECOND SENTENCE] Nine of the 10 Hawkeyes advanced to the Championship Quarterfinals, and Iowa leads tournament with 24.5 points. (Ethan McLaughlin/ The Daily Iowan) (Ethan McLaughlin)
