Iowa women's wrestling 2026 recruiting rundown

Just as we did yesterday with the men’s program, today we’re checking in on where Iowa women’s wrestling stands with its 2026 recruiting efforts.

Unlike the typical recruiting timeline for high school boys, it’s exceedingly rare for prospects on the girls’ side to make a college commitment prior to their senior year. And not only that, but the entire process for girls recruiting is far less publicized, too.

For instance, lists of top 5-10 schools (or more) put out by prospects are almost nonexistent. And official visits aren’t broadcast across social media with anywhere near the degree of regularity as compared to their male counterparts.

Basically, it all makes keeping tabs on this process for a school like Iowa a tricky endeavor.

(Thankfully, I did wind up with a decent ‘batting average’ when it came to the Class of 2025.)

Having said all that, the following article is my as-informed-as-can-be projection as to the collection of young, talented wrestlers from which the next batch of Hawkeyes is likely to come.

Granted, it could be an exceptionally small ‘batch’ given that 28/30 wrestlers on Iowa’s 2025-26 roster will still have additional eligibility remaining after next season. And with rosters capped at 30 athletes maximum, expect the coaching staff to be incredibly selective/deliberate in its process of whom it pursues next.

That was precisely the case last cycle, when Iowa had just two commits as of this April. Then, shortly after a pair of transfers opened up additional roster spots, the Hawkeyes landed a trio of late commits over the span of two weeks to bring the final tally to five.

Don’t be shocked if the 2026 class goes on a similar journey.

Now, here are some names to keep an eye on.

***all rankings per Flo/USA Wrestling***

Everest Leydecker (Phoenix, AZ – Valiant Prep)

• #1 pound-for-pound (regardless of age/weight), #1 at 120 pounds
• 2025 Final X runner up
• 2025 Senior World Team Trials challenge tournament champion
• 2025 US Open runner up
• Three-time age-level World teamer – 2023-24 (U17) and 2025 (U20)
• Three-time Who’s Number One champion (2022-24)
• Fargo (2022) and Super 32 (2024) champion

The first prospect on this list was already considered among the best in America entering this spring. But what Everest Leydecker has done since April has now vaulted her to the very top of the national pound-for-pound rankings.

That’s what happens when a 17-year-old defeats a back-to-back collegiate national champion and multiple senior-level opponents over the span of several weeks – one of whom took fifth at the 2024 World Championships for Team USA.

Forget for her age; the high school senior-to-be has suddenly established herself as one of America’s best at any age.

And even though Leydecker fell just short of making the 2025 Senior World team last month, it took a barnburner best-of-three series to finally stop what had been a remarkable run.

She projects at 124/131 pounds in college – both weights at which Iowa currently has depth and young talent. But based on her recent performances it’s not a stretch to suggest that Leydecker would be the top option if she were to step into the Iowa room right now.

Morgan Turner (Lockport, IL – Lockport HS)

• #6 P4P, #1 at 105 pounds
• U17 World champion (2023), U17 World bronze (2024)
• Three-time U17 World teamer (2023-25)
• Two-time Who’s Number One champion (2022, 2024)
• Super 32 (2022) and Fargo (2023) champion

Another premier prospect in the Class of 2026 is Morgan Turner – who resides just three hours east of Iowa City.

The Lockport (IL) native is also the lone World champion on this list, having won a U17 title in 2023.

Turner followed that up with a U17 World bronze last summer and made Team USA again in 2025. She’s dynamic on her feet, and a relentless competitor to boot.

Along with Leydecker, Turner feels like a cut (or two) above the rest of the 2026 class. Not only has she won just about every major high school event, but she’s also competed at several college opens to similarly dominant results.

In January, Turner bonus’d a pair of NAIA All-Americans en route to a title at the Warrior Open.

Iowa is absolutely loaded at 103/110 pounds right now – where Turner projects at the next level. However, as many as four of its six hammers at those weights could be gone after the 2026-27 season.

Landing a talent like Turner would make for quite the succession plan for the Hawkeyes.

Taylor Whiting (Oconto, WI – Oconto Falls HS)

• #23 P4P, #3 at 115 pounds
• Three-time World Team Trials placer – 3^rd in 2024 (U17) and 2025 (U20)
• 2024 Fargo Junior champion
• 2024 Who’s Number One champion
• Three-time Super 32 placer (2022-24)

Arguably the next best wrestler in the Class of 2026 is Wisconsin lightweight Taylor Whiting. That’s thanks in large part to a stellar past 12 months on the mat.

During that time, Whiting has won titles at Fargo and Who’s Number One. At the latter, she knocked off 2025 prospect Heather Crull – who’s since ascended to #4 in the national pound-for-pound rankings:

Whiting also has familiarity with the Iowa program. Last month, she joined several other elite Wisconsin preps training in Iowa City alongside the Iowa Women’s Wrestling Club. And back in December, she took fifth at the Soldier Salute amongst a loaded bracket at 110 pounds – including three different Hawkeyes.

Just as I mentioned regarding Morgan Turner, Whiting could be an excellence succession option – probably at either 110 or 117.

Madison Nieuwenhuis (Plainwell, MI – Plainwell HS)

• #5 at 100 pounds
• Two-time U17 World Team Trials placer – 3^rd in 2025, 4^th in 2024
• Won titles in 2023 at Fargo, Who’s Number One and Super 32

Another lightweight prospect to watch out for is Madison Nieuwenhuis.

For one, she’s quite good – as evidenced by some of her credentials listed above. But the Michigander also makes this list because she looks very much like a career 103-pounder in college.

I’ve mentioned multiple times already how deep Iowa is in its lightweights, but 103 isn’t a spot to take for granted. Athletes can easily grow out of the lowest collegiate weight class over time, therefore necessitating depth at that spot as a precaution.

Fun fact, Nieuwenhuis has wrestled several down-to-the-wire bouts against current Hawkeye Rianne Murphy when the two were in high school. She also won the college open title at the 2023 Midlands, defeating a returning national champion in the final.

Carley Ceshker (Lake Geneva, WI – Traver HS)

• #4 at 130 pounds
• Four-time U17/U20 World Team Trials placer – incl. U17 runner up in 2023 (to Leydecker)
• Who’s Number One participant (2023)
• Two-time Fargo and Super 32 finalist (2022-23)

Stepping up the weight class ladder, another Wisconsinite makes our list.

Carley Ceshker has been a fixture on the podium at major competitions throughout her high school career. She also has close ties to the Iowa program through Hawkeye star Kylie Welker (also from Wisconsin).

Ceshker, too, competed at the Soldier Salute this past December – and to impressive results of her own. The high school junior finished third at 131 pounds, twice defeating NAIA All-American Olivia Mottley (Life University) in decisive fashion.

Combine all those elements and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Ceshker ultimately dons the Black & Gold someday – likely at 131/138 pounds.

Faith Bane (New Bern, NC – New Bern HS)

• #6 at 145 pounds
• 3^rd place at 2025 National HS Recruiting Showcase

This last (national) name is a bit of a hunch on my part, given she’d yet to place at one of the major high school competitions until this April.

That’s when North Carolina native Faith Bane stormed through the consolations to finish third at the Girls National High School Recruiting Showcase in Las Vegas – where numerous current/future Hawkeyes were simultaneous competing in either the Showcase or the US Open.

Then last month, Bane attended one of Iowa’s summer camps in Iowa City.

I’m just saying…bookmark this late-rising Tobacco Road prospect for (potential) future reference.

And if nothing becomes of it? Well, then forget I ever said anything.

In-state options

Given limited roster spots and without a bona fide top-shelf in-state prospect in the 2026 class (at least yet), it’s quite possible the Hawkeyes go a second-consecutive year without signing anyone from the state of Iowa.

Even so, here are a few local wrestlers worth monitoring over the recruiting cycle ahead:

Katie Biscoglia (Waukee, IA – Raccoon River HS)

• #16 at 105 pounds
• Three-time IGHSAU state champion (2023-25)

Greta Brus (Blue Grass, IA – Davenport HS)

• #9 at 140 pounds
• 2024 IGHSAU state runner up

Skylar Slade (Altoona, IA – Southeast Polk HS)

• #21 at 145 pounds
• 2023 IGHSAU state champion, 3^rd in 2024, 2^nd in 2025

Anastasia Simon (Decorah, IA – Decorah HS)

• #26 at 155 pounds
• 2025 IGHSAU state runner up, 3^rd in 2024

Autumn Elsbury (Chelsea, IA – South Tama County HS)

• #11 at 170 pounds
• 2025 IGHSAU state champion, 2^nd in 2024, 4^th in 2023

All six of these prospects are nationally ranked, and all have either competed in or won a Friday night final at the ever-popular girls state tournament.

Of note, Anastasia Simon (Decorah) is the younger sister of current Hawkeye Naomi Simon.

Back in 2024, Naomi became the first-ever four-time state champion in Iowa girls high school wrestling history.

Short time

That’s going to do it for me on this preliminary 2026 recruiting rundown.

For any of you who missed it a few weeks ago, I also wrote a comprehensive piece on the Class of 2027 – which will be massively important for head coach Clarissa Chun’s program.

And again, I want to emphasize this process will be incredibly fluid when it comes to girls’ high school recruiting.

As new names/information emerge (and they almost certainly will) I’ll keep you guys updated with anything that could prove relevant to the Hawkeyes. But until then, hopefully I’ve provided a solid starting point for this somewhat mysterious process.

Thanks as always for reading and be on the lookout for my ‘Three Questions’ article regarding the 2025-26 women’s team – which I’m hoping to publish by the end of the day.

Talk to you soon!