AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State women’s wrestling program has signed three more athletes. Joining the Cyclones are William Penn transfers Tatiana Paragas and Avy Perez, as well as Oklahoma State transfer Kailey Benson, head coach Alli St. John announced.
Both Paragas and Perez spent one year at William Penn and have followed coaches Jake Kadel and Cash Wilcke to Ames. Benson follows fellow Oklahoma State transfers Molly Allen and Daniella Nugent to the Cyclone program.
Iowa State’s roster now sits at 15, with five transfers coming from William Penn and three from OSU. Paragas and Perez will join fellow WP transfers Piper Fowler, Christianah Ogunsanya and Esther Kolawole at Iowa State.
Kailey Benson – 131 | So. | Saint Peters, Mo. | Francis Howell Central HS | Oklahoma State Transfer
Benson began her collegiate career at Oklahoma State, wrestling for the school’s club program. There, she amassed a 22-6 record, going 4-1 in dual action. Benson claimed a pair of titles in her first year, at both the Annual Women’s Viking Open and the Spire Classic.
Benson totaled a 162-13 prep record, going a combined 93-0 across her last two seasons with a pair of Missouri state titles. She is a three-time Junior Nationals Fargo All-American, was a U20 Women’s National Finalist, and a 2026 Pan Am team member.
Tatiana Paragas – 124 | So. | Honolulu, Hawai’i | Punahou HS| William Penn Transfer
Paragas spent her freshman season with William Penn, posting a 31-12 record. She finished her rookie campaign with six pins and 19 tech falls, and didn’t surrender a point in 15 of her 31 wins.
Paragas competed at the 2026 World Team Trials over the summer, going 3-2. In high school, Paragas totaled a 94-18 mark, twice finishing as a state finalist (’23 & ’25) and third in 2024.
Avy Perez – 110 | So. | Mission Hills, Calif. | Birmingham Community Charter HS | William Penn Transfer
Perez was an NAIA All-American in her freshman season at William Penn, placing seventh. She went 19-11, placing third at the Heart of America Conference Championship. Perez also claimed a pair of event titles, winning both the Luther Hill/Simpson Open and the Jimmy May Open.
Perez prepped at Birmingham Community Charter in high school, amassing a 161-25 record. She was a two-time Junior Nationals Fargo All-American.
