Iowa women’s wrestler Kylie Welker makes her season debut in Day 1 of National Duals

CEDAR FALLS — Wearing golden hair tinsel that was woven into two french braids and pulled into a ponytail, Iowa women’s wrestler Kylie Welker stepped into the circle for the first time this season.

At least, the first time wearing her Hawkeye singlet.

The Iowa redshirt junior has spent most of the season recovering — not from an injury, though. Welker needed the break, her last major competition being the U24 World Championships right at the start of the NCAA season.

She took home gold in that competion at 72 kilograms. And despite knowing she needed the time to rest and recover from her tumultuous adventures, she was itching to get back on the mat within a week.

“I have a hard time taking time off the mat,” Welker admitted with a smile. “But I knew I needed to take some time just to heal my body. I feel so good right now.”

Welker won her bout against Sacred Heart through a technical fall, helping secure Iowa’s 39-3 win over the Pioneers in the second round of National Duals. The Hawkeyes won their first round of the competition, 40-5, against William Jewell just two hours prior.

Welker only competed against Sacred Heart on Friday afternoon, with Katja Osteen competing at 145 pounds in the opening round. The only Hawkeye wrestler who competed in both rounds was senior Kennedy Blades — who won both her matches via technical falls.

“Honestly, it's just like practice,” Blades said. “The room is a super tough room, and so we do multiple matches all the time whenever coaches think like it's time. And so that's what it feels like here, too.”

Welker and Blades are typically practice partners, despite the two competing in different weight classes. While Welker was on her break, Blades was competing in the 180-pound slot in Iowa’s lineup.

Blades admitted sparring with Welker has become a mutually beneficial relationship: the two can play off each others’ skills and use it in competition. But with Welker back competing again, Blades said she was just happy to have a friendly face cheering her on again.

“She's very energetic,” Blades said. “I asked her earlier, ‘Did you bring the speaker?’ So it's like little things that you can rely on her with, because she brings the energy. She's a top, one of the top girls in the world. So that's perfect for me, too.”

To make things even sweeter for the reigning National College Wrestling Champion? National Duals is one of her favorite meets the Hawkeyes compete in all season.

Iowa’s two wins on day 1 sets up the Hawkeyes’ chances for a third consecutive National Duals title. The Hawkeyes follow a similar path to a title as they have the last two years, facing No. 3 North Central College in the semifinals Saturday morning, with the winner of No. 4 Grand Valley State and No. 2 McKendree University facing off the bottom half of the bracket.

Welker will be waiting in the wings until it's her turn to step on the mat again. Instead of a few months, it’ll more likely be 24 hours.

“I feel like where I left off,” Welker said. “There’s a little bit of rust left I have to shake off, but hopefully tomorrow, we’ll just keep building off today.”

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