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Campbellsville repeats as NAIA Women’s Invitational champion with one champion; four win their second career titles
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Campbellsville women's wrestling team poses with their NAIA national title banner and awards. Photo by Terry Steiner.
JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Campbellsville, led by champion Kenya Sloan (155) and eight All-Americans, repeated as champions at the NAIA Women’s National Invitational on Saturday night.
Sloan pinned Kaylynn Albrecht of Baker in the finals in 2:18. Campbellsville also had two runners-up in Leilah Castro (123) and Emma Walker (143). Campbellsville coach Lee Miracle was named Coach of the Tournament.
Campbellsville finished with 189 points, 30.5 points ahead of runner-up Southern Oregon with 158.5 points. Menlo College finished third with 157 points, and Life was fourth with 155.5 points.
Winning a second career NAIA national title were Nina Pham of Wayland Baptist (101), Peyton Prussin of Life (109), Alleida Martinez of Menlo (116) and Dymond Guilford of the University of the Cumberlands (170). Pham and Prussin won their first NAIA titles in 2021, while Martinez and Guilford won their first titles in 2019. Guilford’s first title was for Missouri Baptist. (There was no NAIA Nationals in 2020 due to the pandemic).
Runner-up Southern Oregon was led by 123-pound champion Caro Moreno (123) and nine All-Americans. It was their best finish in NAIA women’s wrestling history.
The Outstanding Wrestler was freshman Adaugo Nwachukwu of Iowa Wesleyan, who pinned Gracie Figueroa of Menlo College in 4:37 in the 136-pound finals. Figueroa, now a two-time NAIA runner-up, has won multiple age-group World medals in her career. It was Iowa Wesleyan’s first NAIA women’s national champion.
Also winning the first NAIA nationals title for her school was Lexie Basham of Texas Wesleyan, who won the 130-pound title with a 3-2 victory over No. 1 seed Nanea Estrella of Menlo.
Other individual champions were Destiny Lyng of Oklahoma City at 143 pounds and Kelani Corbett of Lyon at 191 pounds.
Life head coach Ashley Flavin was named Coach of the Year.
The top two wrestlers in each weight class who are U.S. citizens qualify for the 2022 Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Coralville, Iowa, May 21-22. A total of 18 athletes who had not yet qualified for the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament were determined today. They can compete in whatever Senior World Championships weight class they choose.
NAIA WOMEN’S NATIONAL INVITATIONAL
At Jamestown, N.D., March 11-12
101 LBS
1st Nina Pham (Wayland Baptist) tech. fall Ivy Navarro (University of Providence), 12-1 4:12
3rd Esther Walker (Midland) pin Katalina Bartelt (Life U (Georgia)), 4:28
5th Madison Brown (Texas Wesleyan) dec. Ira Navarro (University of Providence), 10-4
7th Emma Baertlein (Southern Oregon) pin Tianna Fernandez (Menlo College), 4:52
109 LBS
1st Peyton Prussin (Life U (Georgia)) dec. Mia Palumbo (Iowa Wesleyan), 8-8
3rd Alexis Medina (University of the Cumberlands) dec. Tehani Soares (Indiana Tech), 6-1
5th Jasmine Godinez (Texas Wesleyan) inj. Asia (oviance) Ray (Wayland Baptist),
7th Kory Phillips (Life U (Georgia)) pin Jessica Correrdor (Missouri Baptist University), 2:49
116 LBS
1st Allieda Martinez (Menlo College) tech. fall Salyna Shotwell (Life U (Georgia)), 12-0 6:00
3rd Tara Othman (Southern Oregon) dec. Ashley Gooman (University of Providence), 4-4
5th Camille Fournier (Texas Wesleyan) forfeit Mckayla Campbell (Campbellsville), 0-0
7th Carol Johnson (Southern Oregon) tech. fall Kendall Martin (Corban), 12-2 3:39
123 LBS
1st Caro Moreno (Southern Oregon) tech fall Leilah Castro (Campbellsville), 11-0 3:53
3rd Alana Vivas (Menlo College) dec. Macy Higa (Eastern Oregon), 9-0
5th Nichole Moore (Baker) tech. fall Adrienna Turner (Grand View University), 11-1 4:10
7th Devin Patton (Texas Wesleyan) pin Karoline Ortiz (Missouri Baptist University)
130 LBS
1st Lexie Basham (Texas Wesleyan) dec. Nanea Estrella (Menlo College), 3-2
3rd Andrea Schlabach (Grand View University) pin Allie Baudhuin (Jamestown), 2:02
5th Katlyn Pizzo (Campbellsville) forfeit Julia Vidallon (Life U (Georgia)), 0-0
7th Desinee Lopez (Southern Oregon) pin Kaylee Moore (Eastern Oregon), 1:10
136 LBS
1st Adaugo Nwachukwu (Iowa Wesleyan) pin Gracie Figueroa (Menlo College), 4:37
3rd Emily Se (Southern Oregon) pin Paige Respicio (University of Providence), 4:15
5th Diana Dzasezeva (Waldorf) dec. Randi Robison (Campbellsville), 2-0
7th Ellyana Kuzma (Indiana Tech) pin Samanatha Barragan (Life Pacific), 5:35
143 LBS
1st Destiny Lyng (Oklahoma City University) dec. Emma Walker (Campbellsville), 5-5
3rd Alexis Gomez (Grand View University) tech. fall Samantha Snow (Indiana Tech), 12-1 5:57
5th Madison Diaz (Grand View University) tech fall Maryellen Lafferty (Texas Wesleyan), 10-0 3:00
7th Josette Partney (Missouri Baptist University) tech. fall Morgan Shines (Eastern Oregon), 11-0 1:02
155 LBS
1st Kenya Sloan (Campbellsville) pin Kaylynn Albrecht (Baker), 2:18
3rd Sienna Ramirez (Southern Oregon) dec. Sadie Antoque (University of Providence), 4-1
5th Destinee Rivera (Life U (Georgia)) dec. Kendra Thompson (Campbellsville), 6-1
7th India Page (Brewton-Parker) dec. Alia Abushi (Menlo College), 9-1
170 LBS
1st Dymond Guilford (University of the Cumberlands) dec. Olivia Robinson (Eastern Oregon), 7-0
3rd Jordan Nelson (Life U (Georgia)) tech. fall Brittyn Corbishley (Texas Wesleyan), 10-0 4:25
5th Chamira Cooper (University of the Cumberlands) tech. fall Bailey Dennis (Southern Oregon), 10-0 4:05
7th Abby Mcintyre (Grand View University) pin Sierra Talmadge (Jamestown), 1:16
191 LBS
1st Kelani Corbett (Lyon College) pin Gabrielle Hamilton (Life U (Georgia)), 1:30
3rd Tavia Heildelberg-tilliston (Menlo College) tech. fall Jesse Kirby (University of the Cumberlands), 11-0 1:54
5th Lilliana Vergara (Campbellsville) tech. fall Natalia Villegas (Grand View University), 10-0 3:40
7th Elisa Robinson (Baker) pin Karrah Smith (Southern Oregon), 2:19
World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Qualifiers
101 champion - Nina Pham (Wayland Baptist)
101 runner-up - Ivy Navarro (University of Providence)
109 champion - Peyton Prussin (Life University)
109 runner-up - Mia Palumbo (Iowa Wesleyan),
116 champion - Allieda Martinez (Menlo College)
116 runner-up - Salyna Shotwell (Life University)
123 champion - Caro Moreno (Southern Oregon)
123 runner-up - Leilah Castro (Campbellsville)
130 champion - Lexie Basham (Texas Wesleyan)
130 runner-up - Nanea Estrella (Menlo College)
136 champion - Adaugo Nwachukwu (Iowa Wesleyan)
143 champion - Destiny Lyng (Oklahoma City University)
143 runner-up - Emma Walker (Campbellsville)
155 champion - Kenya Sloan (Campbellsville)
155 runner-up - Kaylynn Albrecht (Baker)
170 runner-up - Olivia Robinson (Eastern Oregon)
191 champion - Kelani Corbett (Lyon College)
191 runner-up - Gabrielle Hamilton (Life University)
Team Standings
1 Campbellsville 189
2 Southern Oregon 158.5
3 Menlo College 157
4 Life U (Georgia) 155.5
5 Texas Wesleyan 135.5
6 Grand View University 124
7 University of Providence 106
8 University of the Cumberlands 83
9 Wayland Baptist 77
10 Eastern Oregon 75.5
11 Indiana Tech 74.5
12 Baker 72.5
13 Iowa Wesleyan 68
14 Jamestown 54.5
15 Brewton-Parker 52.5
16 Lyon College 52
17 Missouri Baptist University 51
18 Oklahoma City University 50
19 Midland 41.5
20 Missouri Valley College 38.5
21 Waldorf 34
22 William Penn 21
23 Hastings 20.5
24 Central Methodist University 20
25 Corban 18.5
26 Life Pacific 18
27 Ottawa 15
27 York college 15
29 Avila 11.5
30 University of Saint Mary 11
31 St. Andrews 10
32 Lincoln 5
33 Simpson University 3.5
JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Campbellsville, led by champion Kenya Sloan (155) and eight All-Americans, repeated as champions at the NAIA Women’s National Invitational on Saturday night.
Sloan pinned Kaylynn Albrecht of Baker in the finals in 2:18. Campbellsville also had two runners-up in Leilah Castro (123) and Emma Walker (143). Campbellsville coach Lee Miracle was named Coach of the Tournament.
Campbellsville finished with 189 points, 30.5 points ahead of runner-up Southern Oregon with 158.5 points. Menlo College finished third with 157 points, and Life was fourth with 155.5 points.
Winning a second career NAIA national title were Nina Pham of Wayland Baptist (101), Peyton Prussin of Life (109), Alleida Martinez of Menlo (116) and Dymond Guilford of the University of the Cumberlands (170). Pham and Prussin won their first NAIA titles in 2021, while Martinez and Guilford won their first titles in 2019. Guilford’s first title was for Missouri Baptist. (There was no NAIA Nationals in 2020 due to the pandemic).
Runner-up Southern Oregon was led by 123-pound champion Caro Moreno (123) and nine All-Americans. It was their best finish in NAIA women’s wrestling history.
The Outstanding Wrestler was freshman Adaugo Nwachukwu of Iowa Wesleyan, who pinned Gracie Figueroa of Menlo College in 4:37 in the 136-pound finals. Figueroa, now a two-time NAIA runner-up, has won multiple age-group World medals in her career. It was Iowa Wesleyan’s first NAIA women’s national champion.
Also winning the first NAIA nationals title for her school was Lexie Basham of Texas Wesleyan, who won the 130-pound title with a 3-2 victory over No. 1 seed Nanea Estrella of Menlo.
Other individual champions were Destiny Lyng of Oklahoma City at 143 pounds and Kelani Corbett of Lyon at 191 pounds.
Life head coach Ashley Flavin was named Coach of the Year.
The top two wrestlers in each weight class who are U.S. citizens qualify for the 2022 Senior World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Coralville, Iowa, May 21-22. A total of 18 athletes who had not yet qualified for the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament were determined today. They can compete in whatever Senior World Championships weight class they choose.
NAIA WOMEN’S NATIONAL INVITATIONAL
At Jamestown, N.D., March 11-12
101 LBS
1st Nina Pham (Wayland Baptist) tech. fall Ivy Navarro (University of Providence), 12-1 4:12
3rd Esther Walker (Midland) pin Katalina Bartelt (Life U (Georgia)), 4:28
5th Madison Brown (Texas Wesleyan) dec. Ira Navarro (University of Providence), 10-4
7th Emma Baertlein (Southern Oregon) pin Tianna Fernandez (Menlo College), 4:52
109 LBS
1st Peyton Prussin (Life U (Georgia)) dec. Mia Palumbo (Iowa Wesleyan), 8-8
3rd Alexis Medina (University of the Cumberlands) dec. Tehani Soares (Indiana Tech), 6-1
5th Jasmine Godinez (Texas Wesleyan) inj. Asia (oviance) Ray (Wayland Baptist),
7th Kory Phillips (Life U (Georgia)) pin Jessica Correrdor (Missouri Baptist University), 2:49
116 LBS
1st Allieda Martinez (Menlo College) tech. fall Salyna Shotwell (Life U (Georgia)), 12-0 6:00
3rd Tara Othman (Southern Oregon) dec. Ashley Gooman (University of Providence), 4-4
5th Camille Fournier (Texas Wesleyan) forfeit Mckayla Campbell (Campbellsville), 0-0
7th Carol Johnson (Southern Oregon) tech. fall Kendall Martin (Corban), 12-2 3:39
123 LBS
1st Caro Moreno (Southern Oregon) tech fall Leilah Castro (Campbellsville), 11-0 3:53
3rd Alana Vivas (Menlo College) dec. Macy Higa (Eastern Oregon), 9-0
5th Nichole Moore (Baker) tech. fall Adrienna Turner (Grand View University), 11-1 4:10
7th Devin Patton (Texas Wesleyan) pin Karoline Ortiz (Missouri Baptist University)
130 LBS
1st Lexie Basham (Texas Wesleyan) dec. Nanea Estrella (Menlo College), 3-2
3rd Andrea Schlabach (Grand View University) pin Allie Baudhuin (Jamestown), 2:02
5th Katlyn Pizzo (Campbellsville) forfeit Julia Vidallon (Life U (Georgia)), 0-0
7th Desinee Lopez (Southern Oregon) pin Kaylee Moore (Eastern Oregon), 1:10
136 LBS
1st Adaugo Nwachukwu (Iowa Wesleyan) pin Gracie Figueroa (Menlo College), 4:37
3rd Emily Se (Southern Oregon) pin Paige Respicio (University of Providence), 4:15
5th Diana Dzasezeva (Waldorf) dec. Randi Robison (Campbellsville), 2-0
7th Ellyana Kuzma (Indiana Tech) pin Samanatha Barragan (Life Pacific), 5:35
143 LBS
1st Destiny Lyng (Oklahoma City University) dec. Emma Walker (Campbellsville), 5-5
3rd Alexis Gomez (Grand View University) tech. fall Samantha Snow (Indiana Tech), 12-1 5:57
5th Madison Diaz (Grand View University) tech fall Maryellen Lafferty (Texas Wesleyan), 10-0 3:00
7th Josette Partney (Missouri Baptist University) tech. fall Morgan Shines (Eastern Oregon), 11-0 1:02
155 LBS
1st Kenya Sloan (Campbellsville) pin Kaylynn Albrecht (Baker), 2:18
3rd Sienna Ramirez (Southern Oregon) dec. Sadie Antoque (University of Providence), 4-1
5th Destinee Rivera (Life U (Georgia)) dec. Kendra Thompson (Campbellsville), 6-1
7th India Page (Brewton-Parker) dec. Alia Abushi (Menlo College), 9-1
170 LBS
1st Dymond Guilford (University of the Cumberlands) dec. Olivia Robinson (Eastern Oregon), 7-0
3rd Jordan Nelson (Life U (Georgia)) tech. fall Brittyn Corbishley (Texas Wesleyan), 10-0 4:25
5th Chamira Cooper (University of the Cumberlands) tech. fall Bailey Dennis (Southern Oregon), 10-0 4:05
7th Abby Mcintyre (Grand View University) pin Sierra Talmadge (Jamestown), 1:16
191 LBS
1st Kelani Corbett (Lyon College) pin Gabrielle Hamilton (Life U (Georgia)), 1:30
3rd Tavia Heildelberg-tilliston (Menlo College) tech. fall Jesse Kirby (University of the Cumberlands), 11-0 1:54
5th Lilliana Vergara (Campbellsville) tech. fall Natalia Villegas (Grand View University), 10-0 3:40
7th Elisa Robinson (Baker) pin Karrah Smith (Southern Oregon), 2:19
World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Qualifiers
101 champion - Nina Pham (Wayland Baptist)
101 runner-up - Ivy Navarro (University of Providence)
109 champion - Peyton Prussin (Life University)
109 runner-up - Mia Palumbo (Iowa Wesleyan),
116 champion - Allieda Martinez (Menlo College)
116 runner-up - Salyna Shotwell (Life University)
123 champion - Caro Moreno (Southern Oregon)
123 runner-up - Leilah Castro (Campbellsville)
130 champion - Lexie Basham (Texas Wesleyan)
130 runner-up - Nanea Estrella (Menlo College)
136 champion - Adaugo Nwachukwu (Iowa Wesleyan)
143 champion - Destiny Lyng (Oklahoma City University)
143 runner-up - Emma Walker (Campbellsville)
155 champion - Kenya Sloan (Campbellsville)
155 runner-up - Kaylynn Albrecht (Baker)
170 runner-up - Olivia Robinson (Eastern Oregon)
191 champion - Kelani Corbett (Lyon College)
191 runner-up - Gabrielle Hamilton (Life University)
Team Standings
1 Campbellsville 189
2 Southern Oregon 158.5
3 Menlo College 157
4 Life U (Georgia) 155.5
5 Texas Wesleyan 135.5
6 Grand View University 124
7 University of Providence 106
8 University of the Cumberlands 83
9 Wayland Baptist 77
10 Eastern Oregon 75.5
11 Indiana Tech 74.5
12 Baker 72.5
13 Iowa Wesleyan 68
14 Jamestown 54.5
15 Brewton-Parker 52.5
16 Lyon College 52
17 Missouri Baptist University 51
18 Oklahoma City University 50
19 Midland 41.5
20 Missouri Valley College 38.5
21 Waldorf 34
22 William Penn 21
23 Hastings 20.5
24 Central Methodist University 20
25 Corban 18.5
26 Life Pacific 18
27 Ottawa 15
27 York college 15
29 Avila 11.5
30 University of Saint Mary 11
31 St. Andrews 10
32 Lincoln 5
33 Simpson University 3.5