Tigers On Top — Again

Campbellville University took the NAIA Women’s Championship for the second year in a row thanks to a balanced effort led by 155-pound champion Kenya Sloan. The Tigers had eight place winners and scored 189 points. 

The race for second was an ongoing storyline of the tournament. Southern Oregon scored 158, followed by Menlo (157), and Life (155.5).

Ten schools had an individual champion in one of the most balanced national tournaments in wrestling history. 

Campbellsville coach Lee Miracle saw his team rally during the season and at the tournament. The Tigers dropped three duals — including two to Life University — before winning the Mid-South Conference Championships on Feb. 20 and the NAIA Championships on March 11.

“This was a tough year for us,” Miracle said. “It was not a normal year in a lot of respects. I think some people thought we were going through a rebuilding year. These girls really responded well to the training. 

“They just continued to improve every week. This group is really special. In the end, they really rallied together as a family. You could tell they were wrestling for each other and not just themselves. That made all the difference.” 

Top 10 Teams
Campbellsville — 189
Southern Oregon — 158.5
Menlo — 157
Life — 155.5
Texas Wesleyan — 135.5
Grand View — 124
Providence — 106
Cumberlands — 83
Wayland Baptist — 77
Eastern Oregon — 75.5

Individual champions
101 — Nina Pham (Wayland Baptist)
109 — Peyton Prussin (Life)
116 — Allieda Martinez (Menlo College)
123 — Caro Moreno (Southern Oregon)
130 — Lexie Basham (Texas Wesleyan)
136 — Adaugo Nwachukwu (Iowa Wesleyan)
143 — Destiny Lyng (Oklahoma City University)
155 — Kenya Sloan (Campbellsville)
170 — Dymond Guilford (University of the Cumberlands)
191 — Kelani Corbett (Lyon College)

Women's Spotlight

Peyton Prussin of Life Univesity recently won her second NAIA championship. Learn more about her story.

RudisPlus Super Matches

Four women’s matches were on the recent RudisPlus card held in Detroit, Michigan, on March 16. Olympic bronze medalist Sarah Hildebrandt headlined the women’s field and she didn’t disappoint. Hildebrandt scored a takedown and four turns for a 10-0 win in under a minute. 

Returning World silver medalist Kayla Miracle had an impressive win, too. She defeated Emma Bruntil, 8-2. Bruntil had won two international tournaments and took bronze in a third entering the bout. 

Results
50 kg – Erin Golston over Emily Shilson, 2-2
72 kg – Kennedy Blades tech. superiority Victoria Francis, 11-1
62 kg – Kayla Miracle over Emma Bruntil, 8-2
53 kg – Sarah Hildebrandt tech. superiority Ronna Gross, 10-0

World Classic Adds Women's Division

The Journeymen/ADIDAS World Classic is adding a women's division for its event on April 9-10 in Troy, New York. State teams from around the United States will face off against each other along with international teams in a dual format.

"Obviously, we have a women's division," Frank Popolizio of Journeymen Wrestling said. "Obviously, women's wrestling is exploding. Obviously, I want to be on the right side of things. I'm doing my part to help the product overall and to help opportunity." 

For more information on the event, click here.

Girls Folkstyle Nationals

The first leg of the Triple Crown took place at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs on March 19. Fourteen champions were crowned in the Junior and 16U divisions at the Girls Folkstyle Nationals, highlighted by Gigi Bragg and Ava Ward who won titles in both. 

Junior Champions
100 pounds: Gigi Bragg
106 pounds: Ava Ward
112 pounds: Jenavi Alejandro
117 pounds: Isabella Marie Gonzales
122 pounds: Sofia Macaluso
127 pounds: Shelby Moore
132 pounds: Sarah Savidge
138 pounds: Paige Wehrmeister
144 pounds: Maggie Graham
152 pounds: Haley Ward
164 pounds: Shannon Workinger
180 pounds: Ella Murphey
200 pounds: Madeline Welch
225 pounds: Alysse Phillips

16U Champions
94 pounds: Katey Valdez
100 pounds: Gigi Bragg
106 pounds: Ava Ward
112 pounds: Reanah Utterback
117 pounds: Carley Ceshker
122 pounds: Everest Leydecker
127 pounds: Ryen Allen
132 pounds: Lauren Walton
138 pounds: Gianna DiBenedetto
144 pounds: Emma Peach
152 pounds: Piper Fowler
164 pounds: Ella Pagel
180 pounds: Cheyenne Ruiz
200 pounds: Tirza Twoteeth

She Said It

“Wrestling has taught me almost everything I know in some way or another. When I am in a difficult situation in life, I always look back on how I handled difficult situations in wrestling. Wrestling taught me how to push through difficult times and how to analyze different issues that I experience. I would not be the person I am today without the sport.” — Emily Tew, four-time undefeated WCWA national champion (2012-15) for Oklahoma City University at 101 pounds with a career college record of 118-0