On April 14, Iowa Women's Wrestler Nanea Estrella was named the first female recipient of the Jackie Robinson Community and Impact Award.
The Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community and Impact Award recognizes athletes who best personify Jackie Robinson's legacy of courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship justice, commitment, visibility, and advocacy through their community service.
All 18 Big Ten universities nominated one male and one female athlete representing those values. Estrella and Will Ryan (track and field) were Iowa's nominations this year.
Estrella was chosen as the female recipient of the 36 nominations.
A true leader. 🌟
— Iowa Women's Wrestling (@IowaW_Wrestling) April 14, 2025
Congratulations to Nanea Estrella, a national winner of the 2025 @bigten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award. @naneaestrella x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/ppaILjNyyN
Estrella earned the nomination after creating and leading an online donation drive to help the people of Lahaina, Hawaii, after devastating wildfires In August 2023. The wildfires were some of the deadliest in history and destroyed the town.
The virtual donation drive focused on the Maui Food Bank, and she also organized a toy/sports equipment drive to aid the people in Lahaina. The drive raised over $5,000 for the food bank and provided toys and equipment to multiple people.
Estrella is a Makawao, Hawaii native, but attended Lahainaluna High School in Lahaina. During her high school wrestling career, Estrella was a four-time letter winner and ranked in the top ten nationally every year except her freshman year.
She was also named as the team captain for three years.
After two years, Lahaina is still recovering from the wildfires. Estrella tries to visit home often and help run wrestling practices to give back to the community and grow support for the sport.