U17 world finalist Von Gonten commits to Iowa State
Iowa State women's wrestling has landed one of the nation's top high school wrestlers, securing a commitment from Landri Von Gonten of College Park High School in Spring, Texas.
She made the announcement Monday on social media.
Von Gonten, a member of the Class of 2027, is a 2026 U17 world silver medalist and three-time Texas UIL state champion who will be part of the Cyclones' inaugural team when Iowa State begins NCAA competition in 2027-28. A Chickasaw citizen who took up wrestling just five years ago after being drawn to the sport during the COVID-19 pandemic, Von Gonten has risen rapidly to become one of the most accomplished prep wrestlers in the country.
Her international resume is already impressive. Von Gonten earned a spot on the U.S. U17 world team at 61 kilograms this spring and reached the world finals in July in Baku, Azerbaijan, defeating opponents from India, Puerto Rico, Russia and Kazakhstan before falling to Turkey's Ozdenur Ozmez in the gold-medal match. She also won the U17 Pan American Championships earlier in the year.
On the national circuit, Von Gonten went 42-1 as a junior and captured her third consecutive Texas UIL state championship at 135 pounds, pinning Kailin Sebert in 1:33 in the Class 6A final and earning Outstanding Wrestler honors. In 2025, she won a 16U national title at Fargo at 130 pounds and claimed the Who's Number One title, defeating the top-ranked wrestler in her weight class in Coralville, Iowa. She has also collected titles at Super 32 and the Brian Keck Preseason Nationals.
Von Gonten joins one of the most impressive rosters being assembled in women's college wrestling under head coach Alli St. John, which already includes U17 world champion Piper Fowler, NAIA national champions Christianah Ogunsanya, Esther Kolawole and Jumoke Adekoye, NAIA national finalist Anaya Falcon, four-time Iowa state champion Molly Allen, three-time Illinois state champion Gabriella Gomez, Oklahoma State transfer Daniella Nugent and several other accomplished wrestlers and transfers, including fellow Class of 2027 commits Ella Poalillo and Bella Miller.