picture of Clarissa Chun

A native of Hawaii and pioneer in the sport of women's wrestling, Chun was a 2008 world champion and 2012 Olympic bronze-medalist, the first medal ever from an American in women's wrestling. Chun continues to shatter boundaries when she was named the head coach of the Iowa women's wrestling program in 2021, the first NCAA women's varsity program from a D1 Power 5 conference.

  1. Women's Wrestling Academy Set For Sept. 22-23 In Iowa City

    Women's Wrestling Academy Set For Sept. 22-23 In Iowa City

    Aug 7, 2023

    Ever wondered what goes into a wrestling workout? What about that feeling when you pin your opponent? Or run out of the tunnel and onto the mat at Carver-Hawkeye Arena?
  2. What Iowa Wrestling Coach Clarissa Chun Said At NWCA Convention: Takeaways

    What Iowa Wrestling Coach Clarissa Chun Said At NWCA Convention: Takeaways

    Aug 2, 2023

    FloWrestling’s Andy Hamilton interviewed Iowa women’s coach Clarissa Chun and her assistant Tonya Verbeek at the NWCA Convention in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Here is what we learned about the Iowa women’s program for the upcoming inaugural season.
  3. Women's Freestyle Final X 2023 Watch Guide

    Women's Freestyle Final X 2023 Watch Guide

    Jun 6, 2023

    Final X, presented by Tezos, determines the 2023 U.S. Senior World Teams in all three Olympic disciplines: men’s and women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman. Final X is the last leg in the World Team Trials process.
  4. Women's Weekly: Is Tonya Verbeek Iowa's Secret Weapon?

    Women's Weekly: Is Tonya Verbeek Iowa's Secret Weapon?

    May 8, 2023

    Iowa coach Clarissa Chun accomplished something that USA Wrestling could not: hire Tonya Verbeek.
  5. Women's Weekly: 15-Year-Old Wins Midlands

    Women's Weekly: 15-Year-Old Wins Midlands

    Jan 4, 2023

    Carley Ceshker just won the Midlands Championships as a freshman — in high school.
  6. Women's Weekly: The Rise Of Adaugo Nwachukwu

    Women's Weekly: The Rise Of Adaugo Nwachukwu

    Dec 19, 2022

    Adaugo Nwachukwu's wrestling journey seems nearly impossible. Nwachukwu left Nigeria for California in 2018 and found the sport as a sophomore. She expected rings and ropes but realized quickly that high school wrestling was far different than the theatrics seen on television.
  7. Women's Weekly: Iowa Passes First Test

    Women's Weekly: Iowa Passes First Test

    Nov 21, 2022

    Clarissa Chun has been on the recruiting trail during her first year as head coach at the University of Iowa. The former Olympic bronze medalist sought the best talent from across the country to Iowa City.
  8. Iowa Prep Star Chooses The Hawkeyes

    Iowa Prep Star Chooses The Hawkeyes

    Sep 29, 2022

    Lilly Luft was wrestling with pain, so she turned to the sport her brother dedicated his life to. On July 15, 2017, Logan Luft — an incoming freshman at Charles City High School — lost his life at the age of 15 in an ATV accident.
  9. Women's Weekly: Amit Elor Makes History

    Women's Weekly: Amit Elor Makes History

    Sep 22, 2022

    Three of four World Championships are complete following a historic performance by the U.S. women’s freestyle team in Belgrade, Serbia. The team finished second behind Japan and crowned three individual World champions and won seven total medals.
  10. Women's Weekly: Fargo Fever

    Women's Weekly: Fargo Fever

    Jul 21, 2022

    The past week has been filled with women’s wrestling news — and all of it is exciting. Here are the highlights.
  11. Key Moments In Iowa Women's Wrestling History

    Key Moments In Iowa Women's Wrestling History

    Jul 18, 2022

    1993 — Atina Bibbs of Davenport is the first Iowan to win a Senior National title.
  12. Iowa Adds 3x Olympic Medalist To Coaching Staff

    Iowa Adds 3x Olympic Medalist To Coaching Staff

    Jul 15, 2022

    Clarissa Chun keeps adding pieces to the Iowa women's wrestling program, and she just landed one of the best coaches in the world to be her assistant. Tonya Verbeek -- a six-time World/Olympic medalist -- will join Gary Mayabb on staff with Chun leading the way.
  13. Sterling Dias Commits To Iowa

    Sterling Dias Commits To Iowa

    May 20, 2022

    Iowa’s recruiting haul continues to grow with the addition of two-time Cadet World medalist Sterling Dias. Dias is currently ranked third in the nation at 106 pounds, which will add depth to the lower weights.
  14. Women's Weekly: NAIA Gets Championship Status

    Women's Weekly: NAIA Gets Championship Status

    Apr 13, 2022

    A big piece of news for women’s wrestling dropped over the weekend when the NAIA voted to adopt women’s wrestling as its 28th national championship sport beginning next season. An NAIA Invitational has taken place since 2019 but this will be the first time women's wrestling will have an officially-sanctioned collegiate national championship at any level.
  15. Iowa Women Pick Up Two More Commitments

    Iowa Women Pick Up Two More Commitments

    Apr 12, 2022

    Iowa coach Clarissa Chun just added commitments #9 and #10 to its monster inaugural recruiting class. Sam Calkins (#1 at 200 pounds) and Bell Mir (#6 at 144 pounds) confirmed that they will wrestle for the Hawkeyes.