Women’s College Wrestler of the Year Award for 2025
The 2025 Winner
Kennedy Blades, a junior at the University of Iowa, was voted the winner of the 2025 Women’s College Wrestler of the Year Award, which recognizes the nation’s best college wrestler annually.
Impressive Collegiate Performance
In her first collegiate season with the Hawkeyes, Blades achieved a remarkable 25-0 record, including a 100% bonus rate, 23 technical falls, and two pins. Her performances not only earned her the 160-pound title at the 2025 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships but also helped the Hawkeyes claim their second-straight national team title.
International Experience
Blades’s impressive record was further enhanced by her participation in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, where she represented Team USA and won a silver medal at 76 kg. Her experience in the Olympics, coupled with her domestic achievements, solidified her status as one of the top college wrestlers in the country.
Accolades and Recognition
Blades’s impressive performance earned her the Outstanding Wrestler of the Event title at the 2025 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships. She was also named as one of the finalists for the 2025 USA Wrestling Women’s College Wrestler of the Year Award, which is voted on by a combination of wrestling journalists, women’s college head coaches, and fans.
Quotes from the Coaching Community
Clarissa Chun, head coach of the University of Iowa, praised Blades’s skills, saying,
“Kennedy, I call her a showstopper. She bring a lot of great energy. She draws a lot of great people to her and does a great job, like being respectful to her opponents…she’s fun because she cares about wanting to put points on the board for her teammates, for the team title.”
Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director, also commended Blades’s achievements, stating,
“What a year for Kennedy Blades. From being an Olympic finalist to earning a college national title, it was one of the more dominating seasons in women’s wrestling history. Congratulations to Kennedy on this sensational achievement.”
The USA Wrestling Women’s College Wrestler of the Year Award is selected by a vote from three major constituent groups: wrestling journalists, women’s college head coaches, and fans. Each of these groups accounted for one-third of the vote, making it a truly representative award that recognizes the nation’s top college wrestler.
The other finalists for the 2025 USA Wrestling Women’s College Wrestler of the Year Award were:
- Amani Jones of North Central College
- Macey Kilty of the University of Iowa
- Esther Kolawole of William Penn University
- Sage Mortimer of Grand Valley State University
- Christianah Ogunsanyah of William Penn University
- Cristelle Rodriguez of Doane University
- Kylie Welker of the University of Iowa
Blades was voted the winner by all three distinct voting groups to secure the award over the other seven finalists, all of whom are college national champions.
The USA Wrestling Women’s College Wrestler of the Year Award aims to elevate the significance and impact of college wrestling awards, similar to other prestigious awards in college athletics, such as the Dan Hodge Trophy for men’s college wrestling and the Heisman Trophy for college football. USA Wrestling’s goal is to make the award a premier recognition of excellence in women’s college wrestling, recognized and respected by the wrestling community, college coaches, and fans alike.