Iowa State to Send Five to Missouri Valley Open

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State will send five athletes to the Missouri Valley Open, traditionally the largest collegiate women's wrestling event in the country, this weekend to compete against athletes from 40 teams across NCAA Division I, Division II, NAIA and NJCAA, with nearly 700 total wrestlers.

What: Missouri Valley Open
Where: Marshall, Mo. – Burns Athletic Complex
When: Nov. 13-14, 9 am each day
Brackets: FloWrestling

ISU ENTRIES
110: Avy Perez
131: Gabriella Gomez, Kailey Benson
138: Brooklyn Perez
145: Greta Brus

PLEASE NOTE
Iowa State student-athletes will be competing unattached from the university during the program's 2026-27 academic year.

LAST TIME OUT: SIMPSON OPEN
Eight Cyclones competed unattached at the Simpson Open to close October. Of the eight Cyclones that competed, seven claimed eight podium finishes, with Persaeus Gomez (138) and Gabriella Gomez (131) collecting second-place finishes. Kailey Benson (131) and Molly Allen (124) would battle back to win the consolation bracket and take home a third-place finish. Other placewinners included Avy Perez (7th, 110), Brooklyn Perez (5th, 138) and Greta Brus (5th, 145).

BRAND NEW PROGRAM
On April 16, 2026, it was announced that women's wrestling will debut as Iowa State University's 18th intercollegiate athletics program during the 2027-28 academic year. With the addition of women's wrestling, the first sport added at ISU since women's soccer in 1996, the Cyclones will sponsor 18 sports—11 women's teams and seven men's programs. ISU will offer 10 scholarships and have a roster of 30 positions on its inaugural team in 2027-28.

LEADING THE CHARGE
Two-time World Wrestling Championships silver medalist Alli St. John (Ragan) was selected as the first head coach of the Iowa State women's wrestling program. As an undergraduate student at King (Tenn.) University, St. John was a two-time Women's College national champion and a four-time finalist. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from King in 2014. St. John's husband, Derek, is the Associate Head Coach for the men's team.

Joining St. John on the coaching staff are Jake Kadel and Cash Wilcke. Both joined the staff after a three-year stint at William Penn, where they helped lead the Statesmen to three consecutive NAIA top-five finishes.

ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Iowa State's roster during its ramp-up season currently sits at 17. 13 of the 17 came from the transfer portal, with five following Coaches Kadel and Wilcke from William Penn to Ames. Coach St. John signed four freshmen to her inaugural class, including a pair from Iowa: Greta Brus and Chloe Sanders.

St. John and her staff added seven wrestlers who have earned All-American status at the NAIA level, including four who were NAIA champions.

Jumoke Adekoye (Dickinson State) – 2025, '26 Champion
Makennah Craft (Campbellsville) – 2026 All-American
Anaya Falcon (Life) – 2025 All-American
Piper Fowler (William Penn) – 2026 Champion
Esther Kolawole (William Penn) – 2025, '26 Champion
Christianah Ogunsanya (William Penn) – 2025, '26 Champion
Avy Perez (William Penn) – 2026 All-American

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Players Mentioned

Jumoke Adekoye

Molly Allen

Kailey Benson

Greta Brus

Makennah Craft

Anaya Falcon

Piper Fowler

Gabriella Gomez

Persaeus Gomez

Esther Kolawole

Christianah Ogunsanya

Avy Perez

Brooklyn Perez

Chloe Sanders

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