Iowa Wesleyan Wrestling: Adaugo Nwachukwu is a Prominent Name in Women’s Wrestling

Mt. Pleasant, IA- A 29-hour, 1,968.5 mile, divide separates Adaugo Nwachukwu from her home, but the sensational wrestler for Iowa Wesleyan has certainly made Mt. Pleasant feel like home. In the short two years that Nwachukwu has been a Tiger, she has written the school record book—you read that right as the program is only three years old—and set the standard for future Tiger wrestlers. Here’s a list of her achievements since donning the Purple and White.

In her freshman year, Nwachukwu showed her metal by rising to the rank of #1 wrestler in the 136-pound division for the NAIA. She proved to be dominant in the Heart of America Conference tournament as she walked away with the championship and was named to the 1st-Team All-Conference list as she and Mia Palumbo were the first to do so in school history. Nwachukwu would end the season with a 22-1 season after going 5-0 at the NAIA National Championship culminating in a 13-3 tech fall in the championship bout to secure Iowa Wesleyan’s first National Champion for their wrestling program and the first National Champion for Iowa Wesleyan since rejoining the NAIA.

This momentum propelled her into making the world team for USA Wrestling as she went 5-0 in the USA Wrestling Women’s Nationals including a hard fought final match where she would come back from behind and win 2 to 1. Traveling to Sofia, Bulgaria, Nwachukwu would take home the bronze medal in the Women’s Freestyle in the 62KG division. She defeated Bermet Nuridin Kyzy by a 10-0 decision.

Having collected a National Championship and a bronze medal in her freshman year, there was a lot to expect from the sophomore and she did not disappoint. Coming in as the #1 wrestler in the 136-pound weight class, Nwachukwu would go on to an have an undefeated regular season leading her to be the favorite heading into the Heart of America Championships. She would be awarded with two byes before dominating her competition that ended in her pinning #14 Jade Martin in 1 minute 8 seconds to walk away with her second Heart of America title. All that was left to do was defend her National Championship from a year before. Nwachukwu would breeze through day one, and pin #4 Leidaly Rivera in the semifinals leading to a championship matchup with #7 Mea Mohler. Mohler would attack quick a score an early take down taking a 2-0 lead on the defending champion. That would be it for the challenger as Nwachukwu would score the next 15 points to score a tech fall and become the first two-time National Champion in school history. She also earned All-American honors for the second consecutive year as she ended the year undefeated.

“She[Adaugo Nwachukwu] is super fun to watch,” said Head Coach Jake Kadel. “I mean, I think she’s probably one of if not the best wrestler in college wrestling in right now for women. You know she is blown everybody out of the water, she scores a lot of points, she is fun to watch, she competes hard.”

With only one loss in her collegiate career, two conference titles, two All-American honors, a bronze medal, and two National Championships it is hard to argue with Coach Kadel’s assertion that she is fun to watch.