Iowa

2024 Paris Olympics wrestling: Day 6 live updates, Iowa’s Kennedy Blades’ shines

Published

2 years ago

August 10, 2024

Press Room

2024 Paris Olympics wrestling: Day 6 live updates, Iowa’s Kennedy Blades’ shines

The Iowa Hawkeyes have one more chance at wrestling gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, in a way almost nobody expected.

Kennedy Blades committed to the Hawkeyes in July following a stint with the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club out of high school and attending Arizona State University. She qualified for the Olympics in April by defeating Adeline Gray, a six-time World champion and a 2020 Olympic silver medalist. While Blades lost to Gray at the 2020 Olympic Trials, then at the age of 17, she got her redemption by beating one of the United States’ all-time wrestlers.

Blades, 20, is one of the premier talents of the sport as a Junior World champion in 2021, but had never made a senior-level team until making the Olympic team.

“This was honestly my goal since I was seven. 2024 was definitely my goal,” Blades said. “I’ve never even made a Senior World team, so it’s just amazing to think I made an Olympic team.”

Before she becomes a Hawkeye, she has a dream to realize, so follow along for updates here on her journey throughout the day Saturday.

Quarterfinal matches getting set for Day 6 of wrestling at Olympics

WFS 76 kilograms

Kyrgyzstan’s Aiperi Medet Kyzy vs. India’s Reetika Reetika
Team USA’s Kennedy Blades vs. Cuba’s Milaimy De La Caridad Marin Potrille
Columbia’s Tatiana Renteria vs. Mongolia’s Davaanasan Enkh Amar
Turkey’s Yasemin Adar Yigit vs. TBD

MFS 65 kilograms

Armenia’s Vazgen Tevanyan vs. Mongolia’s Tulga Tumur Ochir
Japan’s Kotaro Kiyooka vs. Puerto Rico’s Sebastian Rivera
Hungary’s Ismail Musukaev vs. Azerbaijan’s Haji Aliyev
Albania’s Islam Dudaev vs. Iran’s Rahman Mousa Amouzadkhalili

MFS 97 kilograms

Azerbaijan’s Magomedkhan Magomedov vs. Poland’s Zbigniew Baranowski
Georgia’s Givi Matcharashvili vs. Ukraine’s Murazi Mchedlidze
Team USA’s Kyle Snyder vs. Cuba’s Arturo Silot Torres
Kazakhstan’s Alisher Yergali vs. Bahrain’s Akhmed Tazhudinov

Future Hawkeye Kennedy Blades puts on show in first round

About all you could do while watching this was gasp at Blades dominance of Catalina Axente.

Blades from the first whistle flashed some of the most entertaining throws and moves we’ve seen from any wrestler all tournament. First going for a slick blast double and nearly into a cradle lock for a pin. When she didn’t get that, she came right back with a four point, feet-to-back throw to lead 6-0 going into the second period.

While Axente largely slowed up the match with front headlocks, Blades still found a way in the second period to line up the move of the Olympics thus far in wrestling, going for a five-point grand amplitude throw to lock up an 11-0 win over Axente. Axente fell onto her neck and had to be stretchered off the mat.

Blades will face Cuba’s Milaimy De La Caridad Marin Potrille next, who dominated Bulgaria’s Yuliana Vasileva Yaneva with seven first period points and held on for a 7-1 victory.

Team USA’s Zain Retherford drops first match to World champion

Retherford couldn’t of asked for a tougher first opponent, drawing Iran’s Rahman Mousa Amouzadkhalili. Amouzadkhalili. He’s a 2023 world champion and a three-time age-group world champion at 22 years old competing in his first Olympics.

Amouzadkhalili’s talent flashed here, getting a 8-0 lead and not conceding from there to defeat Retherford. Now, the American will need his opponent to reach the final to have a chance at bronze.

Team USA’s Kyle Snyder rallies to advance to quarterfinals

Down 4-0 to China’s Awusayiman Habila following a review that flipped points from Snyder to Habila, Snyder went on to outscore Habila 9-1 the rest of the way to advance.

It was a scare for the American, who is a three-time world champion looking for his third Olympic medal, but he eased Team USA’s nerves with a solid finish.

Bronze medal matches getting set for for second session of Day 6

MFS 74 kilograms

AIN’s Mahamed Khabib Kadzimahamedau OR Albania’s Chermen Valiev vs. Tajikstan’s Viktor Raddadin
Team USA’s Kyle Dake vs. Serbia’s Hetik Cabolov

MFS 125 kilograms

Kyrgyzstan’s Aiaal Lazarev vs. Turkey’s Taha Akgul
Poland’s Robert Baran vs. Azerbaijan’s Giorgi Meshvildishvil

WFS 62 kilograms

Mongolia’s Orkhon Purevdorj vs. Kyrgyzstan’s Aisuluu Tynybekova
Canada’s Ana Gonzalez vs. Norway’s Grace Bullen

Kennedy Blades’ path

Blades will face Romania’s Catalina Axente, who took fifth at the World Championships in 2023 and is the No. 4 seed while Blades is unseeded. Following a win there, Blades would have the winner of Cuba’s Milaimy De La Caridad Marin Potrille or Bulgaria’s Yuliana Vasileva Yaneva. Potrille was a 2019 U23 World champion and a fifth-place winner at the 2023 Senior World Championships, while Yaneva won a 2023 gold medal at the European championships.

The top-seeded wrestler on her side of the bracket is Aiperi Medt Kyzy of Kyrgyzstan. She’s a 25-year-old World silver medalist in 2023 and a World bronze medalist in 2021. She thrashed Gray at the Zagreb Open in Croatia in a 10-0 technical fall. She’s wrestled in six World Championships prior to making this year’s Olympic team.

The 2023 World champion at 76 kilograms, and perhaps the favorite in Paris, is Yuka Kagami of Japan. At age 23, she is a World champion and a World bronze medalist, but remains on the other side of the bracket and could be a finals opponent should Blades get there.

Blades is young, but there is growing confidence as she was the betting favorite (+150) on DraftKings to win gold as of Friday night.

Who is Kyle Dake?

Dake is one of the best wrestlers in the United States at the moment as a four-time world champion and a 2020 Olympic bronze medalist. The former Cornell wrestler, where he won four NCAA titles, is Team USA’s representative at 74 kilograms.

After losing in the semifinal in an offensive showcase with Japan, Dake will face the winner of Cuba’s Geandry Garzo Caballero and Serbia’s Hetik Cabalov.

Who is Zain Retherford?

The former Penn State star, who won three NCAA championships, is hoping to remain on top of the world.

He is the reigning World champion at 70 kilograms, but he’ll be the Team USA representative at 65 kilograms in Paris. He won a World silver in 2022 as well.

Retherford has it tough from round one, facing Iran’s Rahman Mousa Amouzadkhalili. The Iranian beat Cornell superstar Yianni Diakomihalis for 2022 World gold at the age of 20 and is competing in his first Olympics. If Retherford gets through that, we’ll know he means business.

Who is Kyle Snyder?

We’ve had Michigan Wolverines compete, now it’s time for a Buckeye.

The former Ohio State star, who won three NCAA titles, is Team USA’s representative at 97 kilograms. He has won three World Championships, an Olympic gold in 2016 and an Olympic silver in 2020.

He has China’s Awusayiman Habila first. Habila has not finished higher than 26th at the Senior World championships. Snyder is the second-odds on favorite (+110) to win gold, trailing only Iran’s Akhmed Tazhudinov, who was a World champion in 2023.

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him atEmckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.

Source link

Click to comment

Iowa

4 thoughts from Iowa women’s abrupt NCAA exit vs Virginia | Leistikow

Published

6 hours ago

March 24, 2026

Press Room

4 thoughts from Iowa women’s abrupt NCAA exit vs Virginia | Leistikow

IOWA CITY — The Iowa women’s basketball team was playing with fire down the stretch of its season.

And in the always-tense round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament, the second-seeded Hawkeyes got burned.

Stagnant offense, missed free throws and continued woes from 3-point range were too much for Iowa to overcome in a disheartening, 83-75 double-overtime loss to 10th-seeded Virginia before 14,332 fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 23.

Though there were 50 minutes of court action, this was still an abrupt end of the season — similar to Iowa’s loss to No. 10 seed Creighton in the round of 32 in 2022.

“We didn’t deserve to win,” Iowa head coach Jan Jensen said. “We took 20 more shots (84 to 63). We out-rebounded them (50 to 42). Free throws were bad. Three-point percentage, bad. Hats off to Virginia. … That’s a great, great story. Players made shots. Players made plays. We didn’t make enough of them.

“Even with all of that … one little free throw by someone.”

And … yeah, that’s why it was so frustrating.

Iowa was favored by 13½ points and looked like it finally got things together, taking a 52-43 lead with 8:07 remaining. But Iowa scored only five points in the rest of regulation, with Chit-Chat Wright missing a wild 2-pointer on the final possession.

But probably the biggest blown opportunity came with 22 seconds left in the first overtime. With a tie score, 63-63, Iowa was awarded two free throws and the ball after a flagrant-1 foul on Virginia’s Sa’Myah Smith for connecting with Hannah Stuelke in the neck.

Iowa could choose anyone to shoot the foul shots, and Wright – an 86% free-throw shooter – knocked down 1-of-2. She was fouled again, and hit just 1-of-2. Instead of a potential four-point lead, Iowa’s lead was two … and Kymora Johnson scored to force Iowa’s first double-overtime game in six years.

“I practice free throws day in and day out,” Wright said. “I really expected myself to make those two that I missed. Just got to get in the gym and get better.”

Iowa shot 5-of-29 from 3-point range and 8-of-16 from the foul line. Those aren’t winning numbers against almost any opponent. The Hawkeyes were 1-of-13 from 3 and 17-of-29 from the foul line in a precarious NCAA Tournament opener against Fairleigh Dickinson.

“We have to make shots. That’s basketball,” said sophomore Taylor Stremlow, who was 1-for-10 from 3. “That’s what we’re here for.”

Add it up, and Iowa was 14.3% from 3 (6-for-42) and 55.6% from the line (25-for-45) in two games here this week. Tack those numbers onto the 45-point outing in the Big Ten championship game vs. UCLA, and the Hawkeyes’ final three games were disappointing.

“There’s not many excuses you can make,” said senior Kylie Feuerbach, who was 1-for-7 from 3. “You can’t let up. I personally didn’t hit the shots that were open. We had the crowd behind us. We had the energy. We had everything in our favor. We weren’t able to maximize those opportunities.”

Three duds don’t take away from what was an overachieving season.

But appreciating the season needs a little time.

“It’s been a great year,” Jensen said. “It’s just when it ends like this, it’s a dagger.”

Chit-Chat Wright reflects on missed free throws, first season at Iowa

The sophomore transfer eyes next season after Iowa’s 83-75 double-overtime loss to Virginia in the NCAA Tournament.

Assertive Chit-Chat, cramping Chit-Chat

That was the missive from Jensen coming into this round-of-32 matchup, to get Wright to be more aggressive on the offensive end of the floor.

Wright uncorked a 3-pointer on Iowa’s first possession and was Iowa’s leading scorer in the first half, scoring eight points on 4-of-10 shooting. Wright’s tendency has been to shrink when her shot is off, but she kept firing — which was important, especially as the Hawkeyes got only 8:48 of playing time from Heiden in the opening 20 minutes.

Wright’s 3-pointer with 5:43 left pushed Iowa to a 55-51 lead. But shortly thereafter, she was pulled with cramps — an issue she has dealt with during the late part of the season. Wright came out of the game, sucked down some applesauce and pickle juice and quickly returned after 40 seconds on the bench.

The cramping returned in both overtimes but she battled through it to play 49:20.

“It was in and out,” Wright said. “It would go away and come back.”

For the game, Wright finished with 21 points on 8-of-22 shooting with five rebounds, three assists and five turnovers. The misfire at the end of regulation was a relapse of being a bit too indecisive. Jensen said that was on her as a coach to bring Wright along this offseason.

“We drew it up. But there was so much hesitancy,” Jensen said. “I think that was the youth. Again, it goes to the deference. ‘Should I be looking for Ava?’ Well, no, you had it wide open.”

Tearful goodbyes to Kylie Feuerbach, Hannah Stuelke

The toughest part about the loss was seeing two program stalwarts who were part of two Final Four runs end their Hawkeye careers.

Feuerbach had four points and five assists before fouling out. Stuelke set career highs in minutes (48:34) and rebounds (19) to go with 15 points and six assists in her final game.

“Those are two of my best friends,” Stremlow said. “It’s hard knowing we won’t get another opportunity to play with them. It’s just hard. They’ve meant so much to our program.”

Both players were instrumental to this 27-7 season. By the end, Jensen really had only six players she could trust in crunch-time situations. These seniors provided stability.

Stuelke battled through multiple injuries and played wherever Jensen needed her.

Feuerbach was the ultimate defensive stopper, earning all-defense honors in the Big Ten.

“Surreal,” Feuerbach said of her five years at Iowa. “It would be impossible to list off everything right now. This moment really is hard, but then you can look back at all the highs that you’ve had, and they surpass everything else.”

Stuelke was a starter on the 2024 team that reached the national-title game. She outscored Caitlin Clark that year in the national semifinals as Iowa beat UConn. She once scored 47 points in a game.

She was a massive part of Jensen’s first two seasons at the helm as she looks to build it back up to where it was when Clark moved on to the WNBA in 2024.

“It’ll be trending upwards,” Stuelke said. “The young girls on this team are really great. If they keep growing, they’re going to be spectacular. I’m excited to keep watching them and cheering them on. Hopefully they’ll text me if they need any advice.”

Hear from Ava Heiden after Iowa women’s basketball season ends vs. Virginia

Ava Heiden scores 55 points in two NCAA games, but has regrets

Heiden had a clean look to win the game at the end of the first overtime off a putback, but didn’t take it. Stremlow’s in-and-out 3, with the score 65-65, bounded into Heiden’s hands, about 6 feet away from the hoop. Instead of going back up for a shot, she looked to kick it out. She said in postgame interviews that she thought she had more time. Once she realized the clock was about to expire, she put up a wild shot that wasn’t close.

“That’s on me,” Heiden said. “I could’ve probably been more aware of the clock. That’s something I’ll grow into. I haven’t quite been in those late-game situations where I’m the one getting the (last shot).”

That set up the second fateful overtime.

Heiden was once again Iowa’s best player even though she missed 11:12 of the first half with two early fouls. This was the epitome of a learning experience for a sophomore who had a great season, but whose best play is undoubtedly yet to come.

“That first five minutes, we were kind of rolling,” Jensen said. “She did some of the things she did earlier (in the season), fouling 94 feet away. That (second) one was such a bizarre one how she got it, still learning about her body control.”

Heiden confessed after scoring 29 of Iowa’s 58 points in its first-round win that she wasn’t fully comfortable being the go-to player in key moments. That should come.

Heiden finished with a team-high 26 points in 36:20.

“It’s just hard,” Heiden said. “There are some things that all of us could’ve done better at. Definitely things I wanted to do better. We’ll grow from it and apply it to next year.”

Heiden finished her year with 614 points, third in Iowa program history among sophomores behind the uncatchable Caitlin Clark (863) and Megan Gustafson (628). Pretty elite company. And a centerpiece to build around for the next two years.

Hawkeyes columnist Chad Leistikow has served for 31 years with The Des Moines Register and USA TODAY Sports Network. Chad is the 2023 INA Iowa Sports Columnist of the Year and NSMA Co-Sportswriter of the Year in Iowa. Join Chad’s text-message group at HawkCentral.com/HawkeyesTexts. Follow @ChadLeistikow on X.

Source link

Iowa

Iowa lawmakers at a standstill over pipeline fight that could shape landowners’ rights

Published

18 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

Iowa lawmakers at a standstill over pipeline fight that could shape landowners’ rights

Lawmakers have yet to agree on whether private companies should be allowed to use eminent domain for a proposed carbon capture pipeline, leaving landowners and industry groups waiting on an outcome that could have lasting impacts across the state.

Source link

Iowa

3 key bills that survived the Iowa funnel deadline — and 2 that didn’t

Published

1 day ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

3 key bills that survived the Iowa funnel deadline — and 2 that didn’t

The Iowa Legislature’s 2nd funnel deadline put an expiration date on dozens of bills that failed to advance far enough this session. Here’s a quick rundown:

The Iowa Legislature’s second funnel deadline has passed, closing the door on dozens of proposed bills.

The self-imposed deadline requires bills to have passed one chamber and be approved by a committee in the opposite chamber by March 20 or be relegated to the trash heap.

What Iowa bills missed the cut?

Among the casualties: bills that would have allowed community colleges to offer some four-year degrees and eliminated all school vaccination requirements.

What Iowa bills made the cut?

Other bills remain alive, including legislation restricting the governor’s emergency powers, allowing Iowans to buy ivermectin over the counter without a prescription and limiting tuition increases at Iowa’s public universities.

What big issues are hung up?

Republicans, who control the Iowa House and Senate, have yet to strike deals on two of the top issues of the legislative session: property tax relief and eminent domain restrictions.

“There are some heavy lifts obviously,” Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville, told reporters. “Property taxes, eminent domain conversation, and budgeting.”

What was the fate of dozens of other Iowa bills?

If you’re looking for a more complete list of bills that lived and died, read our exhaustive roundup of education, health care, business, state government and law enforcement and courts legislation.

Portions of this article appeared in the Des Moines Register’s politics newsletter. Don’t miss out. Sign up here.

Marissa Payne covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. Reach her by email at mjpayne@registermedia.com. Follow her on X at @marissajpayne.

Source link