Voinovich denied medical redshirt, Iowa career over
Victor Voinovich's medical redshirt was denied, his Iowa career is finished, and he has already taken a job at Mitch King's financial advisor office. That is one fewer postseason starter in the Hawkeye lineup with the season six weeks out.
Big news
Voinovich medical redshirt denied, Iowa career is over
Ross Bartachek spoke with Voinovich, who confirmed the medical redshirt was denied and that his time as an Iowa wrestler is done. Voinovich missed all of 2024-25 and came back to finish 2026 as Iowa's postseason starter. Per Bartachek, he recently accepted a job at Mitch King's financial advisor office.
Spoke with Victor Voinovich, who confirmed that his medical redshirt has been denied and his time as a wrestler at Iowa has come to an end.
Why it matters: Iowa loses a wrestler who was its starter at the postseason, so the Hawkeyes go into 2026-27 needing a replacement in that spot.
- Our take: Iowa's projected lineup needs a rewrite before the preseason rankings settle.
Hildebrandt returns at RAF 14 against Lucia Yepez
Justin Basch reported that Olympic champ Sarah Hildebrandt will face 2024 Olympic silver medalist Lucia Yepez at RAF 14 in Las Vegas. Hildebrandt has been out since an injury at the US Open finals and was the inaugural RAF strawweight champ after RAF 01. Yepez is 4-0 in RAF and holds the women's strawweight title.
The Olympic Champ will take on 2024 Olympic Silver Medalist Lucia Yepez at RAF 14 in Las Vegas.
Why it matters: It is Hildebrandt's first match back from injury and it comes against the woman holding the belt she once had, so the winner owns the RAF strawweight picture.
- RAF 14 in Las Vegas, with Hildebrandt vs Yepez added to the card
Welker vs Guilford set as Final X best-of-three on Sept 25
USA Wrestling announced that two-time World bronze medalist Kylie Welker and 2022 World Team member Dymond Guilford will meet in a best-of-three series at 2026 Final X. It goes Friday, September 25 in Hilliard, Ohio. FloWrestling is also pushing Real Woods, a 2025 World bronze medalist, against Bo Bassett in a wrestle-off on September 25.
Two-time World bronze medalist Kylie Welker and 2022 World Team member Dymond Guilford renew their rivalry at 2026 Final X, presented by @KerberosCM.
Why it matters: A World Team spot is decided in a three-match series, so Welker has to beat Guilford twice in a night to keep the seat she has held.
- Friday, September 25 in Hilliard, Ohio, best-of-three
Quick hits
Skye Realin granted medical redshirt, back for Iowa in 2026-27
Tanner Lafever reports, via Ross Bartachek, that Skye Realin has been granted a medical redshirt and will compete for the Hawkeyes in 2026-27. She was ranked as high as No. 1 last season at 138 pounds.
Carini vs Tsarni booked at Who's Number One 190
FloWrestling set a Who's Number One rematch at 190 pounds between No. 1 Mario Carini and No. 2 Salah Tsarni for the top spot. Justin Basch notes it is No. 2 vs No. 3 if you use MatScouts rankings, which have Mastny at No. 1.
InterMat drops preseason Division I rankings
InterMat released its preseason DI rankings. Kevin Claunch replied that he could not wait to go through them.
National Duals Invitational announces 16-team field, tickets on sale
National Duals Invitational says 16 top programs will compete at this year's event, sponsored by Paycom. Tickets are on sale now. The account did not give a venue or dates in the announcement.
Ray Lewis reportedly in talks to compete for RAF
Mike Heck reported that RAF co-founders Chad Bronstein and Izzy Martinez told him NFL great Ray Lewis is in discussions to compete for RAF before the end of the year, with Tyron Woodley helping put the deal together. MatScoutWillie followed up with Lewis's prep credentials: state runner-up as a junior, state champ as a senior.