The Life University Women’s Wrestling team won its second straight NAIA title — but it took a monster consolation round to do it.
The Running Eagles bested runner-up William Penn by 11.5 points, but the Statesmen applied pressure throughout. Life clinched the title entering the finals with a 27.5-point lead, but William Penn proved why it's dangerous by going four-for-four in the finals, including two falls and a tech.
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Mia Palumbo (110), Christianah Ogunsanya (117), Esther Kolawole (138), and Piper Fowler (180) won titles for the Statesmen.
Life also sent four to the finals, but Jamilah McBryde’s 145-pound win was the only individual title for the team champions. Salyna Shotwell (117), Olivia Mottley (131), and Zaynah McBryde (138) finished second.
Flavins For Life: National Tournament Results
YearTournamentPlace2018WCWA Championships13th2019All-Division National Duals7th2019WCWA Championships12th2019NAIA Championships7th2020NAIA National Duals3rd2020WCWA Championships2nd2021NAIA Championships2nd2022NAIA National Duals1st2022NAIA Championships4th2023NAIA National Duals3rd2023NAIA Championships2nd2024NAIA National Duals1st2024NAIA Championships2nd2025NAIA National Duals1st2025NAIA Championships1st2026NAIA National Duals1st2026NAIA Championships1stTournament Highlights
— The finals started at 110 and ended at 103 through a random draw.
— Erin Hikiji of Providence (103) and Mia Palumbo (110) concluded their college careers as four-time NAIA finalists, finishing 2nd, 2nd, 1st, 1st.
— Nigeria crowned four champions: Ogunsanya and Kolawole, Jumoke Adekoye of Dickinson State (131), and Mercy Adekuoroye of Wayland Baptist (160). It was the second title won by Ogunsanya, Kolawole, and Adekoye. Adekuoroye won her first title after finishing third in 2025. Ogunsanya and Kolawole were 2024 Olympians for Nigeria.
— Fowler pinned her way through the tournament.
— Doane’s Cristelle Rodriguez won her third NAIA title after finishing third as a freshman. Rodriguez is a 2024 U20 World champion and 2025 Senior World Teamer.
— Identical twins Cailin (4th) and Catie (7th) of Grand View were All-Americans for the first time together. Catie was a four-time All-American (6th, 8th, 4th, 7th).
— The McBrydes end their careers as, arguably, the most prolific family in women’s college wrestling. They combined for 11 top-three finishes, nine finals appearances, and four NAIA titles.
Zaynah: 2nd, 1st, 2nd
Jamilah: 3rd, 1st 2nd, 1st
Latifah: 2nd, 2nd, 1st, 3rd
— Salyna Shotwell is a three-time national finalist: 2nd in 2022, 2nd in 2025, and 2nd in 2026.
— Lillian Gradillas-Flores (Southern Oregon) won her first NAIA title after finishing sixth in 2025.
Top 10 Teams
Life — 169.0
William Penn — 158.5
Grand View — 145.5
Providence — 101.0
Wayland Baptist — 90.5
Southern Oregon — 88.0
Indiana Tech — 81.5
Lindsey Wilson — 76.0
Ottawa — 68.0
Texas Wesleyan — 55.0
103 Pounds
1st: Erin Hikiji (Providence) won by tech fall over Zoey Haney (Indiana Tech) (TF 11-0)
3rd: Makennah Craft (Campbellsville) won by tech fall over Alexsys Jacquez (Saint Mary) (TF 11-0)
5th: Lita Cruz (Grand View) won by decision over Alexis Miller (Oklahoma City) (Dec 8-4)
7th: Aynsley Fink (Ottawa) won by tech fall over Isabelle Apple (Grand View) (TF 11-0)
110 Pounds
1st: Mia Palumbo (William Penn) won by tech fall over Avery Ashley (Oklahoma City) (TF 10-0)
3rd: Tristan Nitta (Grand View) won by fall over Kylie Robledo (Baker) (Fall 4:28)
5th: Kayla McNatt (Arizona Christian) won by injury default over Paige Morales (Providence) (Inj. 0:00)
7th: Avy Perez (William Penn) won by fall over Chloe Brewis (Hastings) (Fall 2:59)
117 Pounds
1st: Christianah Ogunsanya (William Penn) won by decision over Salyna Shotwell (Life) (Dec 5-0)
3rd: Zao Estrada (Missouri Valley) won by tech fall over Cailin Campbell (Grand View) (TF 10-0)
5th: Grace Lashinsky (Lindsey Wilson) won by fall over Carolina Rios (Texas Wesleyan) (Fall 4:13)
7th: Joely Slyter (Providence) won by tech fall over Angelica Vicente Gonzalez (Doane) (TF 12-1)
124 Pounds
1st: Cristelle Rodriguez (Doane) won by tech fall over Rose Kaplan (Indiana Tech) (TF 10-0)
3rd: Vicky Baez-Dilone (William Penn) won by fall over Rei Ogden (Bismarck State) (Fall 0:17)
5th: Kamilah Brooks (Lindsey Wilson) won by fall over Alyssa Randles (Providence) (Fall 5:21)
7th: Catherine Campbell (Grand View) won by tech fall over Lola Barkby (Indiana Tech) (TF 11-0)
131 Pounds
1st: Jumoke Adekoye (Dickinson State) won by tech fall over Olivia Mottley (Life) (TF 10-0)
3rd: Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp (Providence) won by fall over Sarah Savidge (Life) (Fall 0:33)
5th: Kendall Bostelman (William Penn) won by tech fall over Jeila Ramos (Lindsey Wilson) (TF 11-0)
7th: Alexis Schneider (Bismarck State) won by tech fall over Larissa Kaz (Hastings) (TF 14-4)
138 Pounds
1st: Esther Kolawole (William Penn) won by tech fall over Zaynah McBryde (Life) (TF 10-0)
3rd: Samantha Barragan (Texas Wesleyan) won by tech fall over Maci Avila (Midland) (TF 12-2)
5th: Haley Le (Evergreen State) won by tech fall over Aileen Lester (Ottawa) (TF 10-0)
7th: Reagen Gallaway (Hastings) won by decision over Skylur Lewis (Saint Mary) (Dec 2-2)
145 Pounds
1st: Jamilah McBryde (Life) won by decision over Jordan Suarez (Wayland Baptist) (Dec 9-6)
3rd: Kori Campbell (Lindsey Wilson) won by decision over Holland Wieber (Southern Oregon) (Dec 2-1)
5th: Madison Diaz (Grand View) won by decision over Brooke-Lynn Rush (Missouri Valley) (Dec 4-0)
7th: Hayden Newberg (Indiana Tech) won by tech fall over Maggie Ortmann (Missouri Baptist) (TF 16-4)
160 Pounds
1st: Mercy Adekuoroye (Wayland Baptist) won by decision over Shannon Workinger (Evergreen State) (Dec 6-3)
3rd: Latifah McBryde (Life) won by fall over Vida Boskovic (Southern Oregon) (Fall 2:44)
5th: Bo Geibe (Indiana Tech) won by decision over Hailey Sutton (Providence) (Dec 8-2)
7th: Micah Fisher-Miller (Cumberlands) won by fall over Darby Weidl (Ottawa) (Fall 2:00)
180 Pounds
1st: Piper Fowler (William Penn) won by fall over Andjela Prijovic (Grand View) (Fall 1:09)
3rd: Reka Busa (Life) won by decision over Kathryn Hingano (Southern Oregon) (Dec 6-0)
5th: Siara Arrington (Ottawa) won by decision over Hannah Jackson (Ottawa) (Dec 5-0)
7th: Saiheron Preciado-Meza (Cumberlands) won by fall over Autumn Perez (Missouri Valley) (Fall 1:38)
207 Pounds
1st: Lillian Gradillas-Flores (Southern Oregon) won by decision over Haley Ward (Avila) (Dec 2-1)
3rd: Leilani Sanchez (Wayland Baptist) won by fall over Carla Campos (Texas Wesleyan) (Fall 0:56)
5th: Selena Mares (Grand View) won by fall over Madeline Welch (Life) (Fall 3:33)
7th: Kylee Lindsley (Ottawa) won by fall over Hayeni Costa (Lindsey Wilson) (Fall 5:57)