Athlete of the Month
Reese Larramendy

Pictures and Content courtesy of the Larramendy Family,the University of Iowa, IA@ROSS BCHEK and USA Wrestling Aj Grieves and Cliff Keen Athletics

From 2024 through 2026, I was blessed to experience one of the most successful three-year stretches of my wrestling career while competing for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Wrestling at the highest collegiate level pushed me mentally, physically, and spiritually every single day, and over those three seasons I was able to compile a 103–7 overall record while proudly representing both Iowa and my hometown of Reno, Nevada. Being recognized as NVSportsLocal’s Female Athlete of the Month means a lot to me because it reflects not only my accomplishments, but also the people and community that helped shape me into the athlete I am today.

A Three-Year Journey of Growth and Dominance: Since the start of the 2024 season, I’ve had the opportunity to compete alongside one of the best programs in the country at Iowa. Every season brought new challenges, lessons, and motivation to continue growing.

The National Title Run (2024): During my freshman season at 143 pounds, I finished with a 37–3 record and achieved one of my biggest goals by winning the NCWWC National Championship Title. That season taught me what it meant to compete fearlessly, overcome adversity mid-season and trust my preparation.

The Sophomore Surge (2025): Moving up to the 145-pound division challenged me in new ways, but I embraced it and finished the season 30–3 while earning a 3rd-place finish nationally and my second straight All-American honor.

The Near-Perfect Finale (2026): My junior season was one of the most rewarding years of my career. I finished 36–1, advanced to the national finals, and became a three-time All-American while finishing as the National Runner-Up. I’m proud of this season, not letting my final match hangover my head and let me forget what an incredible season run I had. The first match of the year I beat a 2x Olympian from Nigeria and didn’t slow down after that. I’m excited to show a new level of myself next season.

The “Bonus-Point” Mentality: One thing that has always separated my style is my mindset when I step onto the mat. I never wanted to simply win matches—I wanted to wrestle aggressively, score points, and push the pace from start to finish. This is something I have grown from since my freshman year. Yes, I won a national title, but I had a more conservative and content style. Now I put progress over outcome.

Out of my 103 career wins, 77 came through bonus-point victories, including 65 technical falls and 12 pins. This past 2026 season I won the NCAA most tech falls award with 24 techs. I also am super happy with the way I contributed to the team in dual competition, going 21–0 in regular-season duals during the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

Looking Ahead: My collegiate career has helped me prepare for the next level of freestyle wrestling and international competition. Competing as a U20 World Team member, Senior National Team and u23 world team contender has given me confidence as I continue pursuing bigger goals. As I transition into the next phase of my career, I’m focused on continuing to grow, represent Team USA, and begin preparing for the 2028 Olympic cycle.

Here is the link to Reese’s First Athlete of the Month for NVSportsLocal Reese Larramendy Bio Part 1

Here is the link to Reese’s Second Athlete of the Month for NVSportsLocal Reese Larramendy Bio Part 2