The University of Iowa didn’t waste much time answering one of the biggest questions surrounding its women’s wrestling program. After NCAA champion and Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades moved on, the Hawkeyes have secured a proven replacement at 160 pounds by signing one of the nation’s most accomplished rising stars, Brooklyn Hays a wrestler who has already proven she belongs among the world’s elite.
Hays officially joins Iowa after head coach Clarissa Chun announced her signing for the 2026-27 season. The move immediately strengthens a Hawkeye lineup that has consistently attracted top-tier talent and signals Iowa’s determination to remain a national championship contender despite losing one of the sport’s biggest names.
What makes Hays’ arrival especially intriguing is her recent history with Blades. The two met in the 68 kg championship series at the 2025 Final X, where the winner earned a spot on Team USA for the Senior World Championships. Although Blades claimed the series with 10-4 and 5-2 victories, Hays finished as the runner-up against the reigning Olympic silver medalist, proving she can compete with the very best in American wrestling.
That Final X performance wasn’t a one-off either. Hays enters Iowa City carrying an international résumé that few collegiate wrestlers can match. She captured the 2025 U23 Pan-American Championship at 68 kg after winning the 2024 Senior Pan-American title at 76 kg. She also placed fifth at the 2024 U20 World Championships, demonstrating consistency against elite international competition.
Perhaps the biggest reason Hawkeye fans should be excited is that Hays has already shown she can defeat world-class opponents. Her international victories include wins over reigning world champions, highlighting that she isn’t simply a promising prospect she’s already capable of competing for major medals on the global stage. That experience should translate well into Iowa’s championship expectations.
Before dedicating herself full-time to international wrestling, Hays competed at Augsburg University. As a freshman in 2023, she earned NCWWC All-America honors after finishing sixth nationally at 170 pounds. Instead of following the traditional collegiate path, she chose to train full-time with Team USA at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs while representing Titan Mercury Wrestling Club. That decision accelerated her development and helped transform her into one of Team USA’s highest-ranked athletes.
Her rise has been remarkably quick. In just a few years, Hays progressed from a standout collegiate wrestler to becoming the No. 2-ranked American at 68 kg and a Final X finalist. Those accomplishments explain why Iowa aggressively pursued her once the opportunity became available.
Chun believes Hays brings much more than medals and rankings.
“We’re proud to welcome Brooklyn to the Hawkeye family for the upcoming season,” Chun said in Iowa’s official announcement. “She will bring an infectious energy to the team and will be an exciting addition to our program.”
That enthusiasm could be exactly what Iowa needs as it enters another championship chase. Replacing an athlete of Blades’ caliber is never easy. Blades captured the inaugural NCAA women’s wrestling championship at 160 pounds and later secured her first Senior World Team berth by defeating Hays in the Final X finals. Finding someone capable of filling that competitive void seemed like a difficult task.
Instead, Iowa landed one of the few wrestlers already proven on the same stage as Blades. While Hays fell short in that championship series, simply reaching Final X placed her among the nation’s top wrestlers, and her continued international success suggests her ceiling remains extremely high.
For Hawkeye fans, this signing sends a clear message. Iowa isn’t rebuilding—it’s reloading. Adding a wrestler with Pan-American gold medals, Final X experience, Team USA credentials, and a history of competing against Olympic medalists ensures the Hawkeyes remain firmly in the national title conversation.
As the 2026-27 season approaches, all eyes will be on Brooklyn Hays. She arrives in Iowa City with championship expectations already attached to her name, and if her recent performances are any indication, the Hawkeyes may have found the perfect successor to Kennedy Blades at 160 pounds.
