Isabella Marie Gonzales, a name quickly becoming synonymous with excellence in women's wrestling, has carved an impressive path from the wrestling hotbed of California's Central Valley to the national stage. This is a story centered on the people and perseverance that made her recent commitment (and subsequent signing) possible. Her journey is a testament to talent, dedication, and the unwavering support of her family and coaches.
Isabella Gonzales during a wrestling match.
Early Influences and Mentors
“When I started wrestling in elementary school, he was my wrestling coach,” says Gonzales of Blanco. “He sparked my interest and encouraged me to pursue this.
Ray Blanco mentors a fourth-grade Isabella at a local tournament. “When I started wrestling in elementary school, he was my wrestling coach,” says Gonzales of Blanco. Described as a “Mr. Miyagi” type figure by her father, Blanco also provided Isabella with individual lessons/instruction at night.
Their partnership has progressed all the way through the Clovis school system and beyond. Pull up a video of almost any competition featuring Gonzales and you’ll find her father stationed in her corner. “He’s very persistent. He’s very like, ‘We’re gonna get this right.
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“And I see myself in him a lot like that - where I’m like, ‘No, I have to do this right. I’m gonna keep going until I get this right.
Sophia - a nationally ranked wrestler in her own right - trains with Isabella daily. (From left-to-right) Club/school coach Ray Blanco, Isabella, Sophia and Geoffrey Gonzales pose for a photo at a wrestling tournament. “I’m really pushing her to get that (freshman state title) so she can be a four-timer, unlike me.
Isabella and Sophia Gonzales during training.
Balancing Athletics and Academics
Now eight years in, wrestling has become a major source of aspiration for Gonzales (both collegiately and beyond). “As early as they could ask you, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ I already knew in my head I’m going to be in the medical field.
A nurse practitioner (NP) for nearly 20 years, Jennifer Gonzales has long inspired her daughter to pursue medicine as well. Isabella (left) plans to follow her mom, Jennifer (right), into a career as a nurse practitioner. “But nursing is something that’s always been a part of me. So, then seeing that it’s coming together, it’s just like, ‘Wow, this is amazing.
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A member of the National Honor Society, she was four-time member of the high honor roll and a three-time member of the principal’s honor roll.
Commitment to Iowa
Growing up in California, she looked toward older girls from the ‘Central Valley’ who’d made it big in wrestling. Gonzales highlights the campus/coaches/teammates/facilities/resources/etc. as all being pluses from the visit.
A highlight of her official visit to Iowa City, Isabella Gonzales looks across Kinnick Stadium at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. “I was so excited about that,” says Gonzales. “I’m going to go there. I’m going to see myself in that singlet.
University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
Accolades and Achievements
Isabella Marie Gonzales of Fresno, California was a three-time California girls state champion and a four-time state finalist for Clovis East High School. She teamed with her sister, Sophia Marie, and Jaelyn Unpingco to win the girls team title at the California state championships in 2025. The trio combined for 13 falls, one technical fall and one major decision.
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Gonzales is ranked No. 1 at 120 pounds and No. 3 in pound-for-pound in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, USA Wrestling and FloWrestling National Girls High School Rankings. Gonzales competed for the United States and finished fifth in the 2024 United World Wrestling U17 World Championships in Amman, Jordan, and won a gold medal in the 2023 U17 Pan American Games in Mexico City, Mexico. She also won gold medals at the U15 Pan American Games in 2022 and 2021.
Named Outstanding Wrestler at the 2023 California state tournament, Gonzales was a four-time California Interscholastic Federation Central Section Masters champion, twice being named Outstanding Wrestler, and a four-time CIF Central Section Area champion, being named Outstanding Wrestler all four years. She is a three-time USA Wrestling freestyle national champion and a two-time folkstyle national champion.
Gonzales is a five-time California freestyle state champion, a four-time California Greco-Roman state champion, and a three-time California folkstyle state champion.
Key Achievements of Isabella Gonzales
| Achievement | Year |
|---|---|
| California Girls State Champion | 3 Times |
| U17 World Championships Finish | 5th (2024) |
| U17 Pan American Games Gold Medal | 2023 |
| U15 Pan American Games Gold Medal | 2022, 2021 |
| USA Wrestling Freestyle National Champion | 3 Times |
| USA Wrestling Folkstyle National Champion | 2 Times |
The Future Awaits
New challenges and environments await Isabella Gonzales as a student-athlete at the University of Iowa. “We kind of just grew up from there,” says the future Hawkeye. “I feel like I’ve just matured over time into telling myself, ‘You don’t have to be emotional while you’re wrestling. You just have to focus.