Decorah's Naomi Simon, an Iowa wrestling signee, to compete for an Olympic Trials spot

Eli McKown, Des Moines Register

Decorah's Naomi Simon, the first female four-time high school state champion in Iowa and an Iowa women's wrestling signee, will be competing in the Last Chance Olympic Trials qualifier on April 6-7.

Simon, wrestling in the 76-kilogram class, is one of three Iowa commits headed to Fairfax, Virginia to attempt to qualify for the Olympic Trials. She'll be joined by Karlee Brooks (57 KG) and Cadence Diduch (62 KG). For any of them to qualify for the Olympic Trials, held at the Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State University on April 19-20, they will need to take first in their respective weight class.

If any qualify for the Olympic Trials, they will then need to beat the best in the nation to earn a spot to represent the United States at the Olympic games in Paris.

This is not Simon's first time wrestling at a senior level, having wrestled at the U20 World Team Trials last year. Leading up to major events, Simon says she typically starts to feel nervous about a week and a half out. However, after getting in some good practices and lifts, she's feeling confident in what she can bring to the table.

"I'd say I'm appropriately nervous heading into competition," Simon said, cracking a smile.

Simon was ready to try and compete at the 2023 Senior Nationals in Fort Worth, Texas in December, but was not old enough. As a result, she'll be attempting to reach for the Trials in the final qualifying opportunity of the cycle.

The experience she had at the U20 World Team Trials, where she became an All-American at the age of 16, gives her a lot of confidence heading into this weekend.

"That sort of showed me that, 'Hey, I can wrestle up a division, succeed and learn a lot," Simon said.

Simon became the first four-time girls high school state champion in Iowa history in February, pinning all but one of her opponents that season. She finished her high school career 130-0 with a 2023 Junior national championship in Fargo to highlight a lengthy list of other accomplishments.

She most recently wrestled at the 2024 Folkstyle Nationals at the UNI-Dome earlier this year, where she won the 170-pound bracket with three pins and an 8-1 decision in the quarterfinals.

With all the success Simon has had at every level, she's going to stick to what's got her to this point. Which includes wrestling with her usual training partners and being cornered by her mentor Lee Fullhart, a three-time Iowa state champion and an NCAA title winner with the Hawkeyes.

"I just got to go in there believing in all the training that I've done, stick to the stuff that I know how to do best and just really have a good time," Simon said. "Especially wrestling senior-level women, I'm going to get so much experience and it's just going to help me grow as an athlete."

Other Iowa wrestlers headed to Last Chance Olympic Trials qualifier

Men's freestyle

  • Jaydin Eierman (Iowa) - 65 KG

  • Jeremiah Moody (Iowa) - 74 KG

  • Devinaire Hayes (Dubuque University) - 74 KG

  • Taylor Lujan (Northern Iowa) - 86 KG

  • Nelson Brands (Iowa) - 86 KG

  • Jacob Warner (Iowa) - 97 KG

  • Guy Patron (Loras College ) - 97 KG

  • Lance Runyon (Northern Iowa) - 97 KG

Women's freestyle

  • Sterling Dias - 50 KG

  • Nyla Valencia - 50 KG

  • Brianna Gonzalez - 50 KG

  • Alexandra Baudhuin - 57 KG

  • Karlee Brooks (Iowa commit, Arizona native) - 57 KG

  • Cadence Diduch (Iowa commit, Illinois native) - 62 KG

  • Naomi Simon - 76 KG

Men's Greco-Roman

  • Eddie Smith (Loras College) - 77 KG

  • Guy Patron (Loras College) - 97 KG

  • Kaleb Reeves (Coe College) - 130 KG

A notable wrestler in the field is Nelson Brands, who is competing for one of the first times since his suspension in the gambling probe that dates back to a season ago. Another is Lance Runyon of Northern Iowa, a two-time NCAA qualifier, who is back competing after missing the 2023-24 season with injuries.

On the women's side, several Hawkeyes will throw their hat into the ring. As previously mentioned, incoming freshmen Brooks, Diduch and Simon will compete in the Last Chance qualifier too.

Four years ago, Kylie Welker qualified for the Olympic Trials and was one win away from qualifying for the last Summer Olympics in Tokyo as a high schooler. That should show the incoming Hawkeye freshmen that the opportunity is there for them to make a splash.

Welker, Emilie Gonzalez, Ava Bayless, Felicity Taylor, Reese Larramendy, Marlynne Deede and Rose Cassioppi have all qualified for the Olympic Trials with previous performances on different stages. On the men's side for the Hawkeyes, Spencer Lee, Austin DeSanto, Alex Marinelli and Tony Cassioppi have already qualified for the Olympic Trials as well.

Iowa State's David Carr and Northern Iowa's Parker Keckeisen have also qualified for the Olympic Trials after winning NCAA national titles last month. A full list of US Olympic Trials qualifiers can be found on flowreslting.com.

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Decorah's Naomi Simon set to wrestle for spot at Olympic Trials

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