It was a great last week of October for multiple University of Iowa athletes.
Iowa remains a wrestling hub, and two talented Iowa basketball players were added to award watch lists for the 2026-2027 season. Before October wraps up and everyone gets into Thanksgiving spirit, a few Hawkeyes made headlines.
Iowa wrestler Everest Leydecker wins gold at the Senior World Championships
After committing to the University of Iowa women's wrestling program, ultra-talented wrestler Everest Leydecker got it done on the national stage. Leydecker competed in the 55 Kg weight class at the Senior World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, and added another gold medal to her growing resume before even stepping onto the mat at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Leydecker opened the tournament with a 2-1 victory over Canada's Karla Godinez and a win against Germany's Anastasia Blayvas to secure her spot in the semifinals. She then defeated Japan's Nagisa Harada 6-1 to reach the finals. In the gold medal match, Leydecker defeated Ukraine's Nataliia Klivchutska 4-1, earning her fourth gold medal of the year.
She has now won gold at the Under-20 World Championships, Pan American Championships, and the Zagreb Open Ranking series, adding another impressive feat to her career resume at only 19 years old.
Iowa center Andrew McKeever was added to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award watch list
Ben McCollum and the Iowa men's basketball program didn't dive too heavily into the transfer portal, but they brought in two talented players who can help them win immediately. Saint Mary's transfer Andrew McKeever was one of those players, and he solved a clear issue the program had last season. Iowa's starting center last year was Cam Manyawu, but at six-foot-nine, he was one of the smaller centers in the Big Ten. Iowa lacked rim protection, forcing them to pressure the ball at the point of attack. They immediately went out and got McKeever, adding his seven-foot-three frame to the front court.
McKeever is a prolific rebounder and a good shot-blocker, and he earned his first start with the program in an exhibition against Illinois Springfield. Iowa didn't force-feed the paint with McKeever down low, but they could have. No one on UIS's roster had the size to compete with him, but the McCollum wanted to run other sets to work on them before the Big Ten season. McKeever showcased his passing ability, leading the squad with seven assists, and was a key initiator.
McKeever has a chance to thrive in McCollum's offense, and people are noticing. He was added to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award top-20 preseason watch list. The award is presented annually to the best center in Division I men's basketball, and McKeever is one of six Big Ten players on the list.
Ava Heiden was added to the Lisa Leslie Award watch list
Third-year center Ava Heiden went from a reserve role in her first season to becoming Iowa's best player in an amazingly quick turnaround. Heiden was a stellar complement to Hannah Stuelke last season, leading the team in scoring and was second in rebounding. With Stuelke gone, Heiden is primed to take another step forward, and has more talent around her this season. Heiden is a rare combination of speed and skill for her size, and she runs the court like a gazelle. If the defense turns its head for only a moment, Heiden is past them at the rim for an easy bucket.
Jan Jensen and her coaching staff had to rebuild the roster after nine players left the program, and they did an excellent job. They added four talented players from the transfer portal, including star guard Dani Carnegie from Georgia, and two players in the 2026 recruiting class, including five-star prospect McKenna Woliczko. Despite all the talent around her, Heiden will be a focal point this season, and she's being recognized.
Heiden was added to the Lisa Leslie Award preseason watch list, and is one of 20 players on it. The award is presented annually to the best center in Division I women's college basketball and is named after Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie. Heiden had a breakout season in 2025-2026, averaging 18.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 64.1 percent from the field.
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