Iowa Wrestling Star Kennedy Blades Earns Spot on U.S. Senior World Team

Kennedy Blades, a two-time national champion at the University of Iowa, will represent the United States at the Senior World Championships in Kazakhstan next month after her opponent withdrew from the Final X wrestle-offs.

The delayed competition, held Sept. 25, determined the final three spots on the U.S. Senior World team. Blades was one of three current or former Iowa Hawkeye wrestlers competing, alongside Kylie Welker and Real Woods. Only Blades secured a spot on the team heading to the Senior World Championships in Kazakhstan from Oct. 24 through Nov. 1.

How Kennedy Blades Made the Senior World Team

Blades, who competes in women's freestyle at 68 kilograms, was scheduled to face former Hawkeye Bella Mir, a 2026 NCAA champion now wrestling for North Central. However, Mir withdrew from the event after Blades made weight, giving Blades the spot by forfeit. Mir will instead represent the United States at the U23 World Championships later in October, according to USA Wrestling.

This marks the second consecutive year Blades has made the Senior World team. She won a bronze medal at the 2025 Senior World Championships, following her silver medal performance at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Three Hawkeyes Headed to Kazakhstan

Blades is one of three wrestlers with Iowa ties advancing to the Senior World Championships. She joins three-time NCAA champion and Olympic silver medalist Spencer Lee on the men's side, and true freshman Everest Leydecker on the women's side.

Kylie Welker Falls Short in Bid for Third Straight Appearance

Welker, a three-time national champion at Iowa, was seeking her third consecutive appearance at the Senior World Championships. She lost two of three matches to Dymond Guilford, a U23 World silver medalist, in the best-of-three series at 76 kilograms.

Welker won the opening match with a 4-1 decision, using a takedown, step-out, and shot-clock point in the first period. Guilford bounced back with a 3-2 decision in the second match, then dominated the decisive third bout with a 7-1 win, recording three takedowns in the second period.

Despite the loss, Welker will represent the United States at the U23 World Championships, where she won gold last year. She and Guilford have faced each other multiple times over the years, with Welker winning the majority of those matchups.

Real Woods Swept by Rising Star Bo Bassett

Former NCAA All-American Real Woods, who now wrestles for the Cliff Keen Wrestling Club, was swept in two matches by 20-year-old Bo Bassett at 65 kilograms.

Bassett won the first match by an 8-4 decision. After Woods scored first on an exposure, Bassett countered with an exposure and step-out to lead 3-2 after the first period, then pulled away with back-to-back takedowns and a step-out. In the second bout, Woods led 5-1 after a penalty point, takedown, and gut wrench, but Bassett rallied with four consecutive takedowns to win 9-5.

Woods earned a Senior World bronze medal last year, highlighting just how impressive Bassett's performance was. Bassett, who decommitted from Iowa in June 2025, will begin his freshman year at Virginia Tech this season.

This article was adapted from reporting by Eli McKown of the Des Moines Register.