Key moments in Iowa women’s wrestling history

1993 — Atina Bibbs of Davenport is the first Iowan to win a Senior National title. 

1999 — Charles City native Mike Duroe is the head coach of the first U.S. Senior Women’s World Championships team. 

2000 — Dominque Smalley of City High of Iowa City wins Junior World Championships.

2003 — Lizz Sanders of Newton High School becomes the first Iowan to win a Junior National title. 

2004 — Alta native Molly Keith of Missouri Valley College becomes the first woman from Iowa to win a national collegiate championship. 

2010 — Waldorf becomes the first Iowa college to add women’s wrestling. 

2011 — Cassy Herkelman (Cedar Falls High School) and Megan Black (Eddyville High School) become the first girls to qualify for the boys’ high school state wrestling championships.

2012 — Megan Black becomes the first girl to place at the boys’ high school state wrestling championships. Cassy Herkelman becomes the first Iowan to win a 16U National title.

2017 — Megan Black and Rachel Watters become the first Iowans to win U23 National titles. 

2019 — Waverly Shell-Rock is crowned team champion at the first girls' high school state tournament hosted by the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association. 

2020 — Ankeny native Rachel Watters of Oklahoma City University becomes the first Iowan to win a WCWA title.

2021 — Spillville native Felicity Taylor of McKendree becomes the first Iowan to win an NCWWC (NCAA programs) title.

2021 — The University of Iowa becomes the first Power 5 program to add women’s wrestling with Olympic bronze medalist Clarissa Chun named as inaugural head coach. 

2022 — Girls’ wrestling was announced as an officially sanctioned high school sport.

2022 — Adaugo Nwachukwu of Iowa Wesleyan becomes the first wrestler from an Iowa college to win an NAIA Invitational title. 

2022 — Iowa wins the first 16U Girls National Championship — the first state outside of California and Hawaii to do so.