Favorites hold strong through quarterfinals at 2026 NAIA Women’s Wrestling Championships

17 different programs help to comprise Saturday’s semifinalists.

Over half of them (22/40) come from those top five teams I’ve already mentioned. However, 10 different schools each produced more than one.

Among the 40 women whose championship hopes remain alive and well are the following:

• All 10 former national champions
• 19/20 #1 and #2 seeds
• 33 athletes seeded fourth or higher
• Three unseeded athletes

Among the 10 previous champions (starred in the semifinal pairings below), just three of their 26 matches have lasted a full six minutes, with seven points the closest margin of victory.

Senior World team member Cristelle Rodriguez (Doane) has rattled off not one, but two 10-0 technical falls in 17 seconds or less.

Next up for Rodriguez at 124 pounds is a compelling semifinal against #4 Vicky Baez-Dilone (William Penn) – a three-time Senior World teamer for her native Spain.

Meanwhile, all three McBryde sisters – Zaynah (138), Jamilah (145) and Latifah (160) – have cruised to the semis as part of Life University’s team-leading effort.

Elsewhere in the field, 2024 Nigerian Olympians (and returning national champs) Christianah Ogunsanya (117) and Esther Kolawole (138) have steamrolled for William Penn.

And at 131 pounds, a semifinal matchup between #2 Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp (Providence) and #3 Jumoke Adekoye (Dickson State) means that at least one former champ will not get the opportunity to wrestle for another.

The winner is guaranteed to face an athlete from Life University, as #1 Sarah Savidge vs #4 Olivia Mottley features the lone teammate-vs-teammate matchup of the semifinal round.

As for the Cinderella stories, each of Kayla McNatt (Arizona Christian – 110), Aileen Lester (Ottawa – 138) and Holland Wieber (Southern Oregon – 145) has deftly navigated their path(s) thus far.

McNatt used a last-second takedown to defeat #4 Tristan Nitta (Grand View) on criteria, 6-6, in her opener – then pinned her quarterfinal foe in the first period.

Lester grinded out 6-3 and 4-0 wins amidst a section of the 138-pound bracket filled with chaos.

And Wieber prevailed in three consecutive decisions to punch her semifinal ticket – the first of which came against #6 Hayden Newberg (Indiana Tech), 6-4.

They’ll all be heavy underdogs in their next bout – but hey, they weren’t supposed to make it this far either.

And for one last semifinal to keep your eye on, pay close attention to #1 Reka Busa (Life) vs #4 Piper Fowler (William Penn) at 180 pounds.

Busa will be favored based on seeds, but Fowler is a former U17 World champion who has been ascending during the latter stages of her freshman season.

Fans not in the Park City/Wichita area can tune in for all of tomorrow’s action (and replays from day one) via FloWrestling.

Session III (Semifinals + Fifth/Sixth Round Consolations, Placement Matches) and Session IV (Championship Finals) are scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. (CT), respectively.

1 – Life (112.5)

2 – Grand View (108.5)

3 – William Penn (87)

4 – University of Providence (68)

5 – Indiana Tech (62)

6 – Wayland Baptist (58.5)

7 – Ottawa (56.5)

8 – Lindsey Wilson (55.5)

8 – Southern Oregon (55.5)

10 – Missouri Valley (41.5)

11 – Texas Wesleyan (40)

12 – University of the Cumberlands (33)

13 – Oklahoma City (27)

14 – Hastings (26.5)

15 – Doane (23.5)

16 – Saint Mary (21)

17 – Baker (19)

17 – Dickinson State (19)

19 – Evergreen State (18.5)

20 – Avila (14.5)

#1 Erin Hikiji (Providence)* vs #4 Lita Cruz (Grand View)

#3 Zoey Haney (Indiana Tech) vs #7 Alexis Miller (Oklahoma City)

#1 Mia Palumbo (William Penn)* vs Kayla McNatt (Arizona Christian)

#2 Avery Ashley (Oklahoma City) vs #3 Paige Morales (Providence)

#1 Christianah Ogunsanya (William Penn)* vs #4 Cailin Campbell (Grand View)

#2 Salyna Shotwell (Life) vs #3 Zao Estrada (Missouri Valley)

#1 Cristelle Rodriguez (Doane)* vs #4 Vicky Baez-Dilone (William Penn)

#2 Rose Kaplan (Indiana Tech) vs #3 Kamilah Brooks (Lindsey Wilson)

#1 Sarah Savidge (Life) vs #4 Olivia Mottley (Life)

#2 Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp (Providence)* vs #3 Jumoke Adekoye (Dickinson State)*

#1 Esther Kolawole (William Penn)* vs Aileen Lester (Ottawa)

#2 Zaynah McBryde (Life)* vs #3 Samantha Barragan (Texas Wesleyan)

#1 Jordan Suarez (Wayland Baptist) vs #5 Kori Campbell (Lindsey Wilson)

#2 Jamilah McBryde (Life)* vs Holland Wieber (Southern Oregon)

#1 Latifah McBryde (Life)* vs #4 Mercy Adekuoroye (Wayland Baptist)

#2 Shannon Workinger (Evergreen State) vs #6 Bo Geibe (Indiana Tech)

#1 Reka Busa (Life) vs #4 Piper Fowler (William Penn)

#2 Kathryn Hingano (Southern Oregon) vs #6 Andjela Prijovic (Grand View)

#1 Lillian Gradillas-Flores (Southern Oregon) vs #4 Carla Campos (Texas Wesleyan)

#2 Haley Ward (Avila) vs #3 Selena Mares (Grand View)

#1 Erin Hikiji (Providence) dec. #8 Alexsys Jacquez (Saint Mary), 11-4

#4 Lita Cruz (Grand View) dec. Aynsley Fink (Ottawa), 6-4

#3 Zoey Haney (Indiana Tech) dec. #6 Isabelle Apple (Grand View), 5-4

#7 Alexis Miller (Oklahoma City) fall #2 Makennah Craft (Campbellsville), 2:09

#1 Mia Palumbo (William Penn) tech. fall #8 Emma Jones (Indiana Tech), 11-0

Kayla McNatt (Arizona Christian) fall Jenna Gerhardt (Dickinson State), 2:50

#3 Paige Morales (Providence) dec. #6 Avy Perez (William Penn), 8-4

#2 Avery Ashley (Oklahoma City) dec. #7 Eliana Martinez (Grand View), 8-3

#1 Christianah Ogunsanya (William Penn) tech. fall Addison Saporito (Ottawa), 11-0

#4 Cailin Campbell (Grand View) tech. fall Carolina Rios (Texas Wesleyan), 11-0

#3 Zao Estrada (Missouri Valley) tech. fall #6 Grace Lashinsky (Lindsey Wilson), 10-0

#2 Salyna Shotwell (Life) fall #7 Joely Slyter (Providence), 5:18

#1 Cristelle Rodriguez (Doane) tech. fall Kaitlin Castro (Cumberlands), 10-0

#4 Vicky Baez-Dilone (William Penn) tech. fall #5 Anna Krejsa (Life), 10-0

#3 Kamilah Brooks (Lindsey Wilson) dec. #6 Alyssa Randles (Providence), 6-6

#2 Rose Kaplan (Indiana Tech) fall Tati Paragas (William Penn), 2:51

#1 Sarah Savidge (Life) dec. #8 Jeila Ramos (Lindsey Wilson), 6-2

#4 Olivia Mottley (Life) tech. fall #5 Larissa Kaz (Hastings), 15-4

#3 Jumoke Adekoye (Dickinson State) tech. fall #6 Alexis Schneider (Bismarck State), 10-0

#2 Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp (Providence) fall #7 Kendall Bostelman (William Penn), 4:09

#1 Esther Kolawole (William Penn) tech. fall #8 Christina Jaen (Life), 10-0

Aileen Lester (Ottawa) dec. Skylur Lewis (Saint Mary), 4-0

#3 Samantha Barragan (Texas Wesleyan) fall #6 Maci Avila (Midland), 2:26

#2 Zaynah McBryde (Life) tech. fall #7 Reagen Gallaway (Hastings), 14-3

#1 Jordan Suarez (Wayland Baptist) tech. fall Madison Diaz (Grand View), 12-0

#5 Kori Campbell (Lindsey Wilson) dec. #4 Genesis Gilmore (Cumberlands), 5-3

Holland Wieber (Southern Oregon) dec. Gabriella Perez (Campbellsville), 5-3

#2 Jamilah McBryde (Life) tech. fall #7 Sarina Bertram (Missouri Valley), 10-0

#1 Latifah McBryde (Life) dec. #8 Darby Weidl (Ottawa), 9-0

#4 Mercy Adekuoroye (Wayland Baptist) fall #5 Aspen Dodge (Providence), 1:14

#6 Bo Geibe (Indiana Tech) dec. #3 Allyssa Johnson (Central Methodist), 9-3

#2 Shannon Workinger (Evergreen State) dec. Hailey Sutton (Providence), 9-0

#1 Reka Busa (Life) fall Saiheron Preciado-Meza (Cumberlands), 4:03

#4 Piper Fowler (William Penn) fall #5 Siara Arrington (Ottawa), 1:53

#6 Andjela Prijovic (Grand View) dec. #3 Hannah Jackson (Ottawa), 5-2

#2 Kathryn Hingano (Southern Oregon), fall #7 Ambre Chevreau (Wayland Baptist), 0:40

#1 Lillian Gradillas-Flores (Southern Oregon) fall Leilani Sanchez (Wayland Baptist), 5:08

#4 Carla Campos (Texas Wesleyan) dec. Kena Leonard (Ottawa), 5-3

#3 Selena Mares (Grand View) fall #6 Madeline Welch (Life), 1:21

#2 Haley Ward (Avila) fall #7 Naomi Duenas (Cumberlands), 2:31