BREAKING: Iowa State announces women’s wrestling

Noah LaBlanc, Sports Reporter

April 16, 2026

Fan celebrates after Iowa State wins a match, Iowa State University vs. Arizona State University wrestling meet, Feb. 7, 2025, Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa.

AMES — Women’s wrestling is the newest program at Iowa State, the athletic department announced Thursday. The team will be the 18th varsity program for the Cyclones and begin competing for the 2027-2028 season.

Former men’s head coach Kevin Dresser was named the ISU Director of Wrestling and Alli St. John was named the first head coach of Iowa State women’s wrestling.

The move coincides with a surge in the popularity of women’s wrestling across the country. The NCAA added women’s wrestling as the organization’s 91st championship sport at the 2025 NCAA Convention.

To comply with Title IX, Iowa State needed to add a new women’s athletic program after the gymnastics program was discontinued in March.

The University of Iowa launched its women’s wrestling program for the 2023-2024 season, the first power conference program in the country. Wrestlers like Hawkeye Kennedy Blades have contributed to the growth in popularity of the sport.

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