Iowa State women's program signs NAIA national champ Fowler
The Iowa State Cyclones women's wrestling program added a major piece to its inaugural roster Tuesday, signing Piper Fowler, a transfer from William Penn University with an already decorated resume at both the collegiate and international levels.
Fowler, a 2023 U17 world champion, 2026 NAIA national champion, and 2026 U20 World Team member, becomes the first student-athlete in program history for Iowa State under head coach Alli St. John. She was also named The Open Mat's NAIA Women's Freshman of the Year on Monday, further highlighting her standout debut season.
In her lone season at William Penn, Fowler captured the 180-pound national title as a true freshman. Entering the tournament as the No. 4 seed, she dominated the field by recording four pins in just 7:18 of total mat time.
Her ability to finish matches was a defining trait throughout the year. Fowler earned WIN Magazine Women's Schalles Award honors in 2026, given annually to the nation's top collegiate pinner in women's wrestling. She totaled 16 falls and 11 technical falls on the season, including a streak of eight consecutive pins to close the year.
On the international stage, Fowler has been equally impressive. She is a two-time U17 World Team member and captured gold at the 2023 U17 World Championships. This year, she claimed the 76 kg title at the Women's World Team Trials to earn a spot on Team USA for the U20 World Championships, set for August 17–23 in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Prior to her collegiate career, Fowler was dominant at the high school level, finishing with a perfect 93-0 record as a four-time Tennessee state champion. She was also the 2025 recipient of the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award, which recognizes excellence in wrestling, academics, and community service.
Fowler's accolades also include a 2023 junior national title, runner-up finishes in 2023 and 2024, and a championship at the prestigious Super 32 tournament in 2022.
With Fowler leading the way, Iowa State takes a significant step forward as it begins building its women's wrestling program from the ground up.