Clarissa Chun is assembling the framework of a star-studded first Iowa women’s wrestling roster with one blue-chip recruit after another.  

She landed Kylie Welker, the nation’s #1 pound-for-pound prospect, as her first recruit. She reeled in Ella Schmit, the program’s first in-state commit. She added top-ranked 144-pounder Reese Larramendy and third-ranked 106-pounder Nyla Valencia. 

Now Chun has her first set of sisters. 

Twins Brianna and Emilie Gonzalez announced Monday that they’re joining Chun and the Hawkeyes. The California natives shared a Fargo Junior title last summer at 100 pounds and determined that they’d stick together in college as well. 

“I don’t think I could go anywhere without her,” Brianna said. “We have to be together all the time. We can’t be separated.” 

Brianna is ranked #1 nationally at 100 pounds and the #13 pound-for-pound prospect in the country. She posted a win last September against Ava Ward at Who’s #1. She also won the National Recruiting Showcase last spring by defeating her sister in the finals. 

Emilie had been ranked sixth at 100 before moving up to 106, where she’s currently ranked 15th. 

The Gonzalez sisters considered Augsburg, King, North Central College and Oklahoma City before selecting the Hawkeyes. They both said they were drawn to Chun and attracted to Iowa’s passionate wrestling culture. 

“(Chun) has been (coaching) at the (World and Olympic level) and I know she knows what she’s doing and the team she’s recruiting, I know we’re going to have great partners that are going to push me to the next level,” Emilie said.