NEW COMMIT: Iowa women land Wisconsinite Carley Ceshker - nation's #2 ranked 135-pounder

[Tanner Lafever]

I'm writing up a story as we speak - but earlier today the Iowa women landed a commitment from another elite Midwestern prospect:



Per her interview with Flo, Ceshker (then an eighth-grader) actually tagged along with long-time friend Kylie Welker when the latter took part in (I think) the first-ever official visit weekend hosted by the women's program - way back in January of 2022.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Forgot to drop this in here the other day, but here's my story on Ceshker's addition to the Iowa program:

2026 commit Carley Ceshker continues Wisconsin-to-Iowa pipeline - On3

(And just a heads up on the pronunciation of the last name - its CHESS-ker)

**Iowa also officially announced her signing just moments ago**

 

[Sir Pin Alot]

Forgot to drop this in here the other day, but here's my story on Ceshker's addition to the Iowa program:

2026 commit Carley Ceshker continues Wisconsin-to-Iowa pipeline - On3

(And just a heads up on the pronunciation of the last name - its CHESS-ker)

**Iowa also officially announced her signing just moments ago**

Iowa is a vacuum with the women.. Is there a top level recruit they haven't secured?

 

[Squatch96]

There's been some high ranked girls that iowa did recruit go to Lehigh or even the Oklahoma state club team Molly Allen 4 Time iowa state champ is at Oklahoma state

 

[HawkAlum2002]

Iowa is a vacuum with the women.. Is there a top level recruit they haven't secured?

Lehigh has a few, they just aren't deep at every weight yet enough to compete for a team title. I think they'll be the stiffest competition within two years.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Iowa is a vacuum with the women.. Is there a top level recruit they haven't secured?

Sure.

McKendree and North Central have been major players for recruits who would fit right in at Iowa.

As mentioned already, Lehigh is quickly becoming a destination - featuring three members of last year’s U20 World team, two of whom I’d consider national title favorites this year.

Iowa certainly doesn’t land all of the top prospects - and the women’s recruiting landscape becomes more competitive by the day.

 

[WhiteDog125]

There's been some high ranked girls that iowa did recruit go to Lehigh or even the Oklahoma state club team Molly Allen 4 Time iowa state champ is at Oklahoma state

So what’s the deal with OSU. my understanding was they were getting things in place to make the jump from club to d1? Maybe next season?

 

[Tanner Lafever]

So what’s the deal with OSU. my understanding was they were getting things in place to make the jump from club to d1? Maybe next season?

They’ve certainly acted like they’re headed in the direction of full varsity status - I’m not sure how they’d be able to recruit some of the athletes they have without indicating as much.

But there’s been various rumblings about what’s causing the delay - be they administrative, NIL, Title IX, etc.

I can’t say for certain what is the primary cause, but at this point I’d be surprised if they made the transition as soon as next season. I think it will happen at some point, but 2027-28 feels more likely in my moderately educated opinion.

Keep an eye on the Ivy League - esp. Columbia - as perhaps the next major school to add a varsity program.

 

[WhiteDog125]

They’ve certainly acted like they’re headed in the direction of full varsity status - I’m not sure how they’d be able to recruit some of the athletes they have without indicating as much.

But there’s been various rumblings about what’s causing the delay - be they administrative, NIL, Title IX, etc.

I can’t say for certain what is the primary cause, but at this point I’d be surprised if they made the transition as soon as next season. I think it will happen at some point, but 2027-28 feels more likely in my moderately educated opinion.

Keep an eye on the Ivy League - esp. Columbia - as perhaps the next major school to add a varsity program.

I agree. Thanks Tanner.

 

[heldyhawk606]

They’ve certainly acted like they’re headed in the direction of full varsity status - I’m not sure how they’d be able to recruit some of the athletes they have without indicating as much.

But there’s been various rumblings about what’s causing the delay - be they administrative, NIL, Title IX, etc.

I can’t say for certain what is the primary cause, but at this point I’d be surprised if they made the transition as soon as next season. I think it will happen at some point, but 2027-28 feels more likely in my moderately educated opinion.

Keep an eye on the Ivy League - esp. Columbia - as perhaps the next major school to add a varsity program.

Can't remember where I saw it but someone made the comment about has Iowa State thought about dropping women's gymnastics after all the issues they've had recently - cancelling remaining season, rumors of DOJ investigations, and millions in losses - and adding women's wrestling; which leads to are there other such schools that might look to do similar, drop other women's sports that require specific equipment, facilities, or insurance as I'm sure gymnastics has, for something that fits in with school already. Sports like swimming and diving that require pools, diving pits etc. in favor of facilities they have already? and still meet Title IX regulations? Not that I want to see any sports cut.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Can't remember where I saw it but someone made the comment about has Iowa State thought about dropping women's gymnastics after all the issues they've had recently - cancelling remaining season, rumors of DOJ investigations, and millions in losses - and adding women's wrestling; which leads to are there other such schools that might look to do similar, drop other women's sports that require specific equipment, facilities, or insurance as I'm sure gymnastics has, for something that fits in with school already. Sports like swimming and diving that require pools, diving pits etc. in favor of facilities they have already? and still meet Title IX regulations? Not that I want to see any sports cut.

I haven’t thought about it that way before - granted, like you, I would prefer for that not to be the way women’s wrestling continues to grow at the D1 level.

Even with potential savings on facilities, however, I wonder about the cost to get any new athletic program off the ground. And could you make a big enough dent with this hypothetical approach that a school would go for it?

I’m pretty sure ISU scrapped plans for a new wrestling facility a years ago or two ago - which may indicate how they view wrestling in the pecking order in this new NIL/rev share era.