When Dr. Jennifer Sterling of the Department of American Studies and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication took on the role of curator for the Main Library Gallery’s fall 2024 exhibition, Hawkeye Histories | Sporting Stories, she knew she’d have over a century of material to sort through to tell the story of athletics at Iowa. She was also aware that some of the materials she sought—items with their histories still unfolding—would need to be borrowed from their owners.
One of Sterling’s favorite loaned items in the exhibition is headgear worn during the women’s wrestling team’s record-breaking 2023–24 season. With its championship backstory, this Hawkeye women’s wrestling headgear occupies a place of honor in the exhibition.
According to Sterling, “The fight for girls’ and women’s inclusion in wrestling—and their success—is also part of a rich legacy of advocating for women’s equity in athletics at Iowa.”
In March 2024, the Hawkeye women’s wrestling team brought home the team title from the inaugural National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships (NCWWC), and six of its wrestlers became national champions. Hannah Sieperda, the program’s director of operations, was proud to join them for the journey.
Below, Sieperda shares her perspective on the exhibit and a landmark year for Hawkeye women’s wrestling.
What did you think when Sterling reached out about including some items from women’s wrestling in the exhibition?
I was really excited when [Sterling] reached out about including items from the women’s wrestling program. It’s a great opportunity to highlight the contributions of what our women are doing in this sport and to showcase their impact on women’s wrestling in the state of Iowa. I also worked at the Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame and Museum during my undergraduate studies, so I was excited to be part of the curating process for an exhibit.
What is important about the headgear and the proclamation on display in the exhibit?
The headgear is a meaningful item that we provided to the women for their first postseason competitions. It’s important as a staff to ensure that every piece they received from the program features the Iowa Women’s Wrestling brand or the Tigerhawk logo above a designated line. This line, one of two you can see on the headgear, represents the standard of women’s collegiate wrestling, and that we aim to rise above it—not just as athletes, but as students, community leaders, and advocates for our sport. Each time our athletes wear it, they embody the pride and legacy of the University of Iowa and our women’s wrestling program.
The proclamation serves as an official recognition of women’s wrestling in the state of Iowa. It not only highlights the dedication and hard work of the athletes but also celebrates the progress and achievements of the program we are building here at Iowa.
What are a couple of favorite stories from your historic first season?
One of my favorite stories from our historic season is the incredible resilience our team showed at the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals. In freestyle wrestling, which is different from the men’s folkstyle, even if you lose a match but score a point, you contribute to the team’s score. In a tough finals dual, we came from behind and secured a 21-20 win thanks to one of our athletes scoring a crucial point, despite losing her match. It was a powerful reminder that every point matters and showed the heart and determination that define our program.
Another unforgettable moment was watching our young women win national titles at the NCWWC, competing against seasoned athletes. Their journeys, from day one to the championship, captured the spirit of perseverance and showcased the immense potential of our young program. These moments truly laid the foundation for our team’s future success.
According to Sterling, the work of curation is partially about preserving the present. “We should continue to adapt collection and curatorial practices for an increasingly digitized future,” she says, “So that we can continue to preserve, research, and share these important stories.”
To see the headgear that took Hawkeye women’s wrestling through a banner year and see other Hawkeye Histories up close, visit the Main Library Gallery during the fall 2024 semester.