Iowa Women's Wrestling Star Kennedy Blades Opts Out of Final Year

The Iowa women's wrestling team faces a significant change as one of its standout athletes, Kennedy Blades, has decided to forgo her final year of eligibility. Blades made her debut with the Hawkeyes during the 2024-25 season, quickly establishing herself as a top competitor. Over her junior year, she achieved an impressive unbeaten record of 25-0, which included a staggering 23 technical falls. In her senior season, she maintained her dominance, finishing 19-0 and securing the first NCAA national championship in women's wrestling history.

Despite expectations that Blades would return to Iowa for another year in hopes of repeating her national success, she announced via Instagram on Friday that she will be stepping away from college wrestling. Instead, she plans to focus on her Senior Level Career full-time and will be joining Real American Freestyle, a wrestling promotion founded by the legendary Hulk Hogan.

Real American Freestyle offers a unique opportunity for athletes, allowing them to compete in professional wrestling and earn a profit, distinguishing it from traditional amateur wrestling. The promotion is described on its website as "the first unscripted pro wrestling league for the best athletes in the world."

While Blades will not be part of the Hawkeyes' roster next season, she intends to remain in Iowa City to continue her training as she sets her sights on competing in the 2028 Olympic Games. Her absence will certainly be felt by the team, but her contributions to the program will leave a lasting legacy.