Leydecker reaches finals of U20 Worlds for second straight year
Iowa incoming freshman Everest Leydecker is through to the U20 World Championship finals after a dominant 8-0 shutout over 2026 U20 Asian silver medalist Meilin Zhou of China at 55 kilograms Wednesday evening, becoming the first American to reach the finals in Slovakia this week.
Leydecker controlled the match from start to finish. She built a 3-0 lead at the break on a shot clock point and single-leg finish late in the period before pulling away in the second period with a pair of takedowns and a step-out. Earlier in the day, she pinned both 2025 U23 world silver medalist Hansika Lamba of India and 2021 U17 world silver medalist Valeryia Mikitsich of Belarus. Leydecker, one of the most highly recruited women's wrestlers in Iowa history, will defend her 55 kilograms title against 2024 U17 world silver medalist Nana Kozuka of Japan.
Piper Fowler reached the semifinals at 76 kilograms before losing to India's Kajal. Kajal struck early with a knee pick and controlled the ties with a seatbelt position throughout. Fowler, a 2023 U17 world champion and 2026 NAIA national champion at William Penn who transferred to Iowa State this offseason, will wrestle for bronze against either Miyu Takayama of Japan or three-time age-group world medalist Elmira Yasin of Türkiye. In the preliminary rounds, Fowler posted technical superiorities over 2026 U20 European bronze medalist Evelin Ujhelji of Serbia and 2026 U20 Pan American silver medalist Sophia Perez Bassino of Brazil.
Iowa's Bella Williams landed on the right side of the repechage draw and will have a chance to wrestle back for bronze at 62 kilograms. She needs a win Thursday morning over either Barbara Bager of Hungary or Miranda Kapanadze of Georgia to qualify for the bronze medal match.
Morgan Turner, a two-time U17 world champion and senior world team member, rebounded from a quarterfinal loss on Tuesday to earn the bronze medal at 50 kilograms. She won the bronze with an 11-0 technical superiority over Kayla Batres of Guatemala. Batres lives in the United States and attends Green Farms Academy in Westport, Connecticut. She is one of the nation's top seniors in the Class of 2027.
Iowa incoming freshman Taylor Whiting placed fifth at 53 kilograms after falling in the bronze-medal match.