Felicity Taylor and Briana Gonzalez know each other well. They were teammates on the Iowa State women's freestyle wrestling team that won the 2024 National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championship.
They also faced off when the stakes were high. Taylor started the college season at 123 pounds, but dropped to 116 pounds to finish his senior season.
Gonzalez won 9-3 in the regional finals on February 23, and Taylor upset 9-2 in the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championship finals on March 9. Up to 15 NCAA teams can qualify for the national championship.
The Hawkeye teammates clashed again on April 20th in the 53kg repechage match for the 2024 Olympic Trials. Taylor won the rubber match 9-4, earning third place and a spot on the U.S. national team.
Taylor started his career at McKendree before taking advantage of the pandemic to transfer to Iowa. The Spillville, Iowa, native is a five-time national finalist and two-time collegiate champion, winning titles in 2021 and 2024.
Gonzalez will return to Iowa's lineup and likely take over the 116-pound spot. She will represent the United States at the U20 World Championships in the 53 kg division, which will be held in Pontevedra, Spain, from September 2-8.
Unlock this video, live events, and more with your subscription.
sign up
Already a subscriber? Login
Watch Brianna Gonzalez named to the U20 World Championship Team
