From Hawaii to Iowa City, a young woman from Hawaii became the first women’s wrestling team coach in a Power 5 school today.  “This was a dream of mine when I was in high school,” Chun said. “But that wasn’t a possibility.”  Today marks a special day not only for Coach Chun, but also for young ladies throughout the state of Iowa, and the nation,

Chun was a two-time Olympic qualifier in her wrestling career, finishing fifth in Beijing in 2008 before winning the bronze medal in 2012 in London. She won at the 2008 world championship and also won five U.S. Open titles, along with four gold medals at the Pan American Championships. Chun also won five U.S. Open titles.

This is not her first visit to Hawkeye land.  Chun remembered the day after she qualified for the 2012 Olympics in the trials in Iowa City.  “Some nice young guy came up and congratulated me, and ended up buying breakfast for me, because he was really excited that I made the team,” Chun said. “That doesn’t happen anywhere I’ve been.”  Iowa nice, wrestling tough.

Expectations will be high for the Iowa program based on the success of the men’s program.  Yet women will have to earn their way, earn their wins and push through to become the best they can be,

What does this mean for the little girls like our granddaughter?  Having the coach named, wrestling women moving to campus next year to begin training and full competition in 2023-24 season is pretty strong validation of what they’re doing as young ladies,  They can continue to compete, they are being recognized and encouraged.  That’s huge when you’re 8 or 18!