Cornell’s women’s wrestling team will embark on its much-anticipated inaugural competition season this weekend.
The Rams make their varsity program debut at Saturday’s Luther Hill Invitational, hosted by Simpson College in Indianola. Action gets underway at 9 a.m.
“We have girls that want to battle,” said interim head coach Boston Jacobs. “We’re as ready as we can be.”
Cornell’s 2023-24 roster is comprised of senior Kara Rivard (136 pounds), juniors Chloe Loyd (116) and Emma Stevenson (155), sophomores Isabella Moore (123), Cheyenne Mulford (130) and Olivia Cotton (143) and first-years Vaeh Carter (109), Grace Fort (191) and Bralyyn Wagler (191).
Jacobs has been impressed throughout preseason workouts with his young squad.
“The progress has been phenomenal day-to-day,” Jacobs said. “The ladies are showing they want to put in the work and be part of this program. Our practices have been more intense than before. They’re all sticking with it and want to get better.”
The Rams have a bona fide leader in Loyd, a transfer from Indian Hills Community College who captured the 2021 NJCAA national title at 123 pounds. Loyd won three Iowa state championships while at Pleasant Valley High School.
“Chloe lives the wrestling lifestyle and will show the others what it is all about,” Jacobs said. “Our younger girls are going to feed off someone like Chloe who has experience in the sport.”
Although relatively inexperienced with freestyle wrestling as a group, Jacobs expects his Rams to be competitive on the mat.
“Everything starts with the basics. We are all learning,” Jacobs said. “Cornell has a history of high-level wrestling. I’m going to hold our women to the same high expectations as the men’s team.”
Jacobs is joined on his coaching staff by assistant Lauren Louive, an elite senior-level wrestler and current women’s member on Team USA.
Following this weekend’s opener, Cornell has tournaments scheduled Nov. 11 (Luther Open), Dec. 2 (Buena Vista Open) and Dec. 10 (North Central Open) to close the 2023 calendar year. The Rams host the Cliff Keen-Mike Duroe Invitational Jan. 13.
The Rams wrestle Simpson, Wartburg and Grand View at the Jan. 27 Grand View Quadrangular. The Division III Championships are Feb. 3, NCWWC Region Championships Feb. 24 and NCWWC National Championships March 8-9.