PREVIEW/THREAD: Five current + one future Hawkeye(s) to compete at U20 World Championships

[Tanner Lafever]

Just published my full Iowa-centric preview for next week's U20 World Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia:

Iowa Wrestling - 2026 U20 World Championships Preview - On3

Here's how the schedule lays out for the half-dozen Hawkeyes set to compete:

August 16-17
- Leister Bowling IV (Greco - 77kg)

August 18-19
- Taylor Whiting (Women's Freestyle - 53kg)

August 19-20
- Everest Leydecker (WFS - 55kg)
- Bella Williams (WFS - 62kg)

August 20-21
- Karlee Brooks (WFS - 57kg)
- Fred Bachmann (Men's Freestyle - 61kg) *2028 commit competing for Team Puerto Rico

 

[Squatch96]

Hopefully having coach chun as a volunteer coach helps with Tania Ferenandez see iowa state seems to be getting kids on campus alot for visits gonna be more competition for recruits of her stature

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Hopefully having coach chun as a volunteer coach helps with Tania Ferenandez see iowa state seems to be getting kids on campus alot for visits gonna be more competition for recruits of her stature

Fernandez very much has the attention of the Iowa staff, I can assure you.

I believe she’s also pretty close with Everest Leydecker, so that won’t hurt either.

As for Iowa State, from what I can tell the Cyclones front loaded pretty much all of their visits this summer - which was probably smart given the program’s recent inception and (as you mentioned) its intention to go head-to-head with the Hawkeyes.

Iowa’s preferred approach is to bring most, if not all of its top targets in for one group visit in the fall - preferably for a non-football weekend.

Last I‘d heard (a few weeks ago), they were still working to finalize exactly what weekend that would be. But once they do, I’ll gather as much info as I can to give folks a heads up and then report back afterwards.

*On a related note: keep an eye out for a huge BTS recruiting feature I’m hoping to publish any day now. I got to spend three days with the Iowa staff at Fargo as they scouted 2027/28 recruits, and there’s a ton of (I think) great stuff that came from it that I can’t wait to share with Hawkeye fans.

 

[Squatch96]

Fernandez very much has the attention of the Iowa staff, I can assure you.

I believe she’s also pretty close with Everest Leydecker, so that won’t hurt either.

As for Iowa State, from what I can tell the Cyclones front loaded pretty much all of their visits this summer - which was probably smart given the program’s recent inception and (as you mentioned) its intention to go head-to-head with the Hawkeyes.

Iowa’s preferred approach is to bring most, if not all of its top targets in for one group visit in the fall - preferably for a non-football weekend.

Last I‘d heard (a few weeks ago), they were still working to finalize exactly what weekend that would be. But once they do, I’ll gather as much info as I can to give folks a heads up and then report back afterwards.

*On a related note: keep an eye out for a huge BTS recruiting feature I’m hoping to publish any day now. I got to spend three days with the Iowa staff at Fargo as they scouted 2027/28 recruits, and there’s a ton of (I think) great stuff that came from it that I can’t wait to share with Hawkeye fans.

Sounds like a great read!

 

[sdvike]

Fernandez very much has the attention of the Iowa staff, I can assure you.

I believe she’s also pretty close with Everest Leydecker, so that won’t hurt either.

As for Iowa State, from what I can tell the Cyclones front loaded pretty much all of their visits this summer - which was probably smart given the program’s recent inception and (as you mentioned) its intention to go head-to-head with the Hawkeyes.

Iowa’s preferred approach is to bring most, if not all of its top targets in for one group visit in the fall - preferably for a non-football weekend.

Last I‘d heard (a few weeks ago), they were still working to finalize exactly what weekend that would be. But once they do, I’ll gather as much info as I can to give folks a heads up and then report back afterwards.

*On a related note: keep an eye out for a huge BTS recruiting feature I’m hoping to publish any day now. I got to spend three days with the Iowa staff at Fargo as they scouted 2027/28 recruits, and there’s a ton of (I think) great stuff that came from it that I can’t wait to share with Hawkeye fans.

Im not sure when you say BTS, is BTS meaning behind the scene?

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Im not sure when you say BTS, is BTS meaning behind the scene?

Yes, BTS was my unnecessary abbreviation for behind the scenes.

(It saved me all of two seconds to type, yet I did it anyway lol.)

But I can see how it may’ve caused confusion - especially for any K-pop fans out there (of which you may or may not be one ).

Or perhaps my insertion of K-pop into this conversation has only served to cause even more confusion on top of the damage I’ve already done - in which case, I apologize for that too!

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Second-year Hawkeye Leister Bowling IV will have the chance to wrestle back for bronze at 77kg (Greco) after he was pulled into repechage.

Bowling lost his opener, 6-0, to reigning U20 European champ Samvel Terteryan (Armenia) - never really finding an opening and never getting a chance on top in par terre to try and flip the script. Terteryan would go on to reach the 77kg final, having yet to concede a point through four bouts (26-0).

Bowling will need to win three matches tomorrow in order to earn bronze - the first two of which would be held during the early session (3:00am CT start) and the latter during the medal round (11am CT start).

 

[sdvike]

Yes, BTS was my unnecessary abbreviation for behind the scenes.

(It saved me all of two seconds to type, yet I did it anyway lol.)

But I can see how it may’ve caused confusion - especially for any K-pop fans out there (of which you may or may not be one ).

Or perhaps my insertion of K-pop into this conversation has only served to cause even more confusion on top of the damage I’ve already done - in which case, I apologize for that too!

Thanks. Now I got to look up kpop kids.

 

[dt21]

thought it was beat the streets

 

[Tanner Lafever]

thought it was beat the streets

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Here’s Bowling’s repechage path - which will start tomorrow at 3:00am CT:


His first bout vs Egypt will be up 2nd on Mat B.

Win that and he’ll return shortly thereafter to face a Hungarian foe in the 15th match on Mat A.

If he reaches the bronze medal match, that wouldn’t occur until the day’s second session - set for 11:00am CT.

What do all four wrestlers in this bracket have in common? None of them scored a single point against the Armenian who ultimately reached the gold medal bout

On the bright side, this feels like a navigable path for the Hawkeye if he wrestles well - and we shall see in just a few hours!

 

[Tanner Lafever]

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Bowling falls on criteria, 1-1, to Hungary's Zalan Toplak and is eliminated one step short of the bronze medal match.

Lots of hand fighting in that bout - plus several stoppages for blood time for the Hawkeye - and neither wrestler could get a turn on top.

Ultimately, Toplak's first score gave him criteria (a Greco-specific quirk I was not previously aware of) and Bowling couldn't find the go-ahead score from their feet over the final 2:00 of action.

I believe Bowling will finish 10th at 77kg - one year after placing 5th at the same weight class.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Here are the draws for the Iowa women:

Taylor Whiting (53kg) leads thing off tomorrow (Tuesday) morning amidst a loaded field - incl. a R16 opener vs 2024 U17 World champion Kaura Coles (Canada):



Next up, Everest Leydecker (55kg) and Bella Williams (62kg) begin their tournament on Wednesday.

Leydecker draws reigning U23 World silver medalist Hansika Lamba (India) to start, while Williams gets the largely unknown Gabriela Rudoi (Moldova):





And on Thursday morning, Karlee Brooks (57kg) rounds things out, drawing Poland's Julia Gibalska in the Round of 32:

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Almost four hours after this morning's session began, Taylor Whiting (53kg) loses via 2nd period fall to Canada's Kaura Coles - a 2024 U17 World Champion.

Whiting got to legs twice early, scoring the opening point on a step out. But Coles really cranked up the pressure after that, using her length to widen the gap before ultimately running a bar for the fall shortly after intermission.

Later, Coles hangs on for a 9-7 quarterfinal victory (over another former U17 champ) to keep Whiting's repechage hopes alive.

The Canadian needs to win once more in the semis to give Whiting an opportunity to wrestle back tomorrow.

 

[sdvike]

Almost four hours after this morning's session began, Taylor Whiting (53kg) loses via 2nd period fall to Canada's Kaura Coles - a 2024 U17 World Champion.

Whiting got to legs twice early, scoring the opening point on a step out. But Coles really cranked up the pressure after that, using her length to widen the gap before ultimately running a bar for the fall shortly after intermission.

Later, Coles hangs on for a 9-7 quarterfinal victory (over another former U17 champ) to keep Whiting's repechage hopes alive.

The Canadian needs to win once more in the semis to give Whiting an opportunity to wrestle back tomorrow.

Thanks for the update.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Whiting gets the help she needs - and a chance to wrestle back for bronze tomorrow:



(For context, both of Whiting's losses this summer have come against the two U20 World finalists at 53kg.)

If she wins twice tomorrow, she'll come home with a medal. But it won't be easy.

Up first is India's Muskan - who earned U17 gold in 2022 and silver in 2023, plus a pair of bronze medals at SR Ranking Series events this year.

Win that and China's Yuxuan Li awaits - the back-to-back SR Asian Championships runner up (at 55kg).

 

[Tanner Lafever]

It's been a picture-perfect start to Day Four thus far for the Hawkeyes.

Three matches, three wins (all via bonus) - with Taylor Whiting (53kg) advancing to the bronze medal bout and both Everest Leydecker (55kg) and Bella Williams (62kg) reaching the quarters:

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Leydecker gets another pin to advance to the 55kg semifinals - this time over former U17 World silver medalist Valeryia Mikitsich (Belarus). Built a 10-0 lead late in the 1st period before settling in for the fall.

She’ll face China’s Meilin Zhou at 10:00am CT for a spot in the finals.

Meanwhile, Bella Williams fell 10-0 in the 62kg quarters - hardly an unexpected (or poor) result given it came against the reigning SR World champion (Japan’s Sakura Onishi).

If Onishi wins her semifinal as expected, Williams gets pulled into repechage tomorrow for a shot at bronze.

Taylor Whiting (53kg) will round out the day’s action with her bronze medal match - which should begin ~11:00am CT. Her opponent will be 2025-26 SR Asian Championships runner up Yuliana Li (China) - who defeated Iowa alum Felicity Taylor 11-1 back in February of 2025.

 

[TheGreatDivider101]

It's been a picture-perfect start to Day Four thus far for the Hawkeyes.

Three matches, three wins (all via bonus) - with Taylor Whiting (53kg) advancing to the bronze medal bout and both Everest Leydecker (55kg) and Bella Williams (62kg) reaching the quarters:

A pin from a standing position...Crazy!

 

[Squatch96]

Thanks for the updates Tanner. Any chance Whitting goes 110 this year with Bayless and Nyla moving on might be one of the only weights were we dont have so much depth?

 

[sstark46]

Thanks for the updates Tanner. Any chance Whitting goes 110 this year with Bayless and Nyla moving on might be one of the only weights were we dont have so much depth?

I assume that between Solorio, Dias, Murphy, and Emilie Gonzalez, we'll have 103 and 110 covered

 

[Squatch96]

I assume that between Solorio, Dias, Murphy, and Emilie Gonzalez, we'll have 103 and 110 covered

Solorio has wrestled 110 before im not sure if dias or Murphy would be effective there could be wrong though either way Emilie is most likely the starter. If she got hurt though was just wondering if Whitting would be an option

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Thanks for the updates Tanner. Any chance Whitting goes 110 this year with Bayless and Nyla moving on might be one of the only weights were we dont have so much depth?

My initial inclination would be no - just because Iowa hasn’t typically been a big weight cutting program (unless an athlete specifically brings the idea to them).

But I can’t say exactly what Whiting’s situation is and whether it’d be a feasible/desirable cut for her. Maybe the new 5-for-5 rule (no redshirts) impacts her and/or others’ decisions?

For now, I’m projecting 110 to be a battle between Emilie Gonzalez (who placed 5th at the weight at NCWWCs in 2025) and someone else bumping up from 103 - much like @sstark46 and @Squatch96 have already mentioned.

We’ll see though!

 

[TNTwrestle]

Leydecker wins 8-0 over Zhou of China to advance to the finals against Kozuka of Japan.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Here are the semifinal highlights:

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Bella Williams (62kg) has also been pulled into tomorrow’s repechage - where she’ll be two wins away from earning bronze.

But first, Taylor Whiting (53kg) rounds out the day with her bronze medal bout - which is coming up 6th on Mat B.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Whiting takes 5th at 53kg - giving up an early takedown + four gut wrenches to Yuxuan Li (China).

For context, Li is a back-to-back Senior Asian Championships runner up who also beat former Hawkeye Felicity Taylor (USA‘s SR rep at 53kg last year) 11-1 at a 2025 Ranking Series event.

Whiting’s other loss this week came against the eventual World champ, Canada’s Kaura Coles - who won via fall in the gold medal bout.

53kg was just silly loaded at this tournament - especially Whiting’s half of the bracket.

 

[Squatch96]

Im sure Whitting fell short of her goals but 5th place is nothing to sneeze at especially in that bracket

 

[sdvike]

Here are the semifinal highlights:

I don't know where she fits into the lineup but no way she isn't at the NCAA championships next year. Sure would be nice if they still had the 15 participants for NCAA.

 

[Squatch96]

I don't know where she fits into the lineup but no way she isn't at the NCAA championships next year. Sure would be nice if they still had the 15 participants for NCAA.

Cali leng returns at 124 she was 7th 2 years ago and R12 this year Isabella Marie Gonzalez wrestled some this year at 24 as well but I think she might go 117 not for sure tho just a guess. Leydecker probably to good not to have in the lineup

 

[sdvike]

Cali leng returns at 124 she was 7th 2 years ago and R12 this year Isabella Marie Gonzalez wrestled some this year at 24 as well but I think she might go 117 not for sure tho just a guess. Leydecker probably to good not to have in the lineup

Wasn't Leng injured at last year's tournament? Still, Leydecker should be starter. Way too early but Leydecker could be next Kenedy Blades.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Here’s Thursday’s schedule for the Hawkeyes:

Both Everest Leydecker (gold) and Bella Williams (bronze) will go for medals. Meanwhile, Karlee Brooks and 2028 men’s commit Fred Bachmann each begin their respective journeys in Slovakia.

 

[Tanner Lafever]

Cali leng returns at 124 she was 7th 2 years ago and R12 this year Isabella Marie Gonzalez wrestled some this year at 24 as well but I think she might go 117 not for sure tho just a guess. Leydecker probably to good not to have in the lineup

Barring catastrophe, Leydecker will be in the lineup, yes - presumably at 124lbs.

I’ll have a roster breakdown out any day now (if the men’s program would finally publish its 2026-27 roster) that kind of lays out all the options at each weight.

For now, I think the biggest question marks are how 110 and 207 sort out (with several candidates to bump up and contend) - plus who might go where given the smorgasbord of options at 131/138.