Jamestown, N.D. – Menlo (Calif.) claims the program's first Battle For The Red Banner as they win the 2024 NAIA Women’s Wrestling Championship by 34 points. The Second Annual event concluded Saturday Night inside Harold Newman Arena and was hosted by the University of Jamestown (N.D.) on March 8^th and 9^th.

Menlo (Calif.) captured the first red banner in program history Saturday night during the second year of championship status of women’s wrestling. Along the way, they also had 10 wrestlers earn All-American status, along with head coach Michael Ayala earning National Coach of the Year honors.

Saturday’s schedule included Session III which saw the Fourth Round (Championship Semifinals, Fifth Round (Consolation Quarterfinals), Sixth Round (Consolation Semifinals), and Consolation Placement bouts (Third, Fifth, and Seventh Place). After the midday break for the facility to be switched over and the Parade of All-Americans, Session IV saw the Championship Finals completed.

Click HERE to see the full schedule and results page. Click HERE for the final team scores of the 2024 championship.

Session III Highlights:

• Fourth Round (Championship Semifinals), Fifth Round (Consolation Quarterfinals), Sixth Round (Consolation Semifinals), and Consolation Placements (Third, Fifth, and Seventh Place) Notes:
• 101 – Top-seeded Erin Hekiji of Providence (Mont.) is headed into the championship bout Saturday evening after a commanding 10-0 tech fall. Second-seeded Stefana Jelacic of Lourdes (Ohio) moves into the championship bout tonight after she secured a tech fall victory in Session III. Kayla Mckinley-Johnson of Menlo (Calif.) secured a third-place finish after a victory by fall over Esther Walker of Midland (Neb.). Liana Ferreira of Southern Oregon also won her placement match via fall over Audalie Cruz of Wayland Baptist (Texas) for fifth-place. Makayla Young of Indiana Tech posted a tech fall in her match picking up a seventh-place finish over Devyn Gomez of Life (Ga.).
• 109 – Top-seeded Mia Palumbo of William Penn (Iowa) will compete for a national title in the 109 bracket after pulling out the 10-6 decision victory over fourth-seeded Paige Morales of Providence (Mont.). Jasmine Howard of Texas Wesleyan is into the title match Saturday evening as well after an 8-0 decision win. Emma Beartlein of Southern Oregon collected a third-place finish thanks to a massive victory by fall in the second period over Paige Morales of Providence (Mont.). Alexsys Jacquez of St. Mary (Kan.) claimed fifth place by fall over Diana Gonzalez of Life (Ga.). Tehani Soares of Indiana Tech secured a seventh-place finish after a 5-2 decision.
• 116 – Juliana Diaz of Missouri Valley will compete for a national title Saturday evening after a 7-4 decision victory in Session III. Camille Fournier of Texas Wesleyan is headed to the title bout after besting second-seeded Avery Ashley of Oklahoma City by tech fall. Katherine Heath of Baker (Kan.) won via fall over Ajayzee Zaballos of Menlo (Calif.) for third place. Icart Galumette of Campbellsville (Ky.) placed fifth via injury default over Avery Ashley of Oklahoma City. Marissa Kurtz of Southern Oregon pinned her way into a seventh place finish against Ariana Martinez of Life (Ga.)
• 123 – Cristelle Rodriquez of Doane (Neb.) and Maya Davis of Grand View (Iowa) are both headed into the title bout Saturday evening after besting their opponents in the semifinals. Alana Vivas of Menlo (Calif.) claimed her third place finish via decision over Joanna Vanderwood of William Penn (Iowa). Sophia Smith of Oklahoma City bested Anna Krejsa of Life (Ga.) by tech fall for fifth place. Haley Narahara of Menlo (Calif.) was victorious via decision for seventh place over Catharine Campbell of Grand View (Iowa).
• 130 – Carolina Moreno of Southern Oregon will head to the championship bout after securing the 10-0 tech fall victory. Sarah Savidge of Life (Ga.) will also compete for the national title after besting her opponent by a 6-4 decision. Devin Patton of William Penn (Iowa) defeated Lilliam Avalos of Vanguard (Calif.) for third place. Janiah Jones of Missouri Baptist secured the tough 3-0 decision claiming fifth place over Alysaa Randles of Providence (Mont.). Louisa Schwab of Menlo (Calif.) wrestled her way into seventh place over Elizabeth Duvall via fall.
• 136 – Adaugo Nwachukwu of William Penn (Iowa) is headed into the championship bout after securing the victory by fall Saturday morning. Zaynah McBryde of Life (Ga.) captured the decisive 6-2 victory upsetting second-seeded Andrea Schlabach of Grand View (Iowa). Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp of Providence (Mont.) secured the third-place victory via fall over Tiyahna Askew of Missouri Baptist. Gianna Moreno of Friends (Kan.) defeated Andrea Schlabach of Grand View (Iowa) for fifth place. Stephanie Chavez of Menlo (Calif.) posted a victory via fall for seventh place over River Todd of Vanguard (Calif.)
• 143 – Jamilah McBryde of Life (Ga.) posted an 11-0 tech fall pushing her into the title bouts, while Emma Walker of Campbellsville (Ky.) secured her place in the final bout via a 6-2 decision. Bella Amaro of Southern Oregon picked up the 7-1 decision over Madison Diaz of Grand View (Iowa) for third place. Mea Mohler of Texas Wesleyan defeated Alexandra Lopez of Menlo (Calif.) by tech fall. Reagen Gallaway of Hastings (Neb.) posted a tech fall victory over Serenity De La Garza of Missouri Valley for seventh place.
• 155 – Latifah McBryde of Life (Ga.) earned a tech fall victory solidifying her place in the championship bout Saturday night, while top-seeded Caitlyn Davis of Southern Oregon moved into the title match with a tech fall win of her own. Shanon Workinger of Menlo (Calif.) pined Josette Partney of Missouri Baptist to claim third place. Liv Wieber of Eastern Oregon collected fifth place over Flor Parker-Borreo of Evergreen (Wash.) via injury default. Sadie Antoque of Providence (Mont.) was victorious over Kendra Thompson of Campbellsville (Ky.) 6-0.
• 170 – Abby Mclntyre of Grand View (Iowa) posted a tech fall victory in her semifinal match against Kalila Shrive of Menlo (Calif.). Kalila Shrive of Menlo (Calif.) battled to the 4-2 decision victory over Shenita Lawson of Southern Oregon for third place. Bo Geibe of Siena Heights (Mich.) claimed a fifth place finish over Chamira Cooper of Cumberlands (Ky.) by fall. Aalyah Villarreal of Texas Wesleyan grabbed seventh place over Faith Macharia of Missouri Baptist by fall.
• 191 – The top two seeds in the 191 bracket will battle it out for a national title Saturday evening after they both defeated their respective opponents by decision in Session III. Olivia Brown of Grand View (Iowa) defeated Maquoia Bernabe of Cumberland (Ky.) by a 4-1 fall for third place. Naomi Duenas of Cumberlands (Ky.) bested Lessly Sandoval of St. Mary (Kan.) by fall for fifth place. It was a Baker (Kan.) seventh-place match as Jannell Avila defeated her teammate Elisa Robinson.
• Menlo (Calif.) extended their lead during Session III, not leading by 35.5 points. Life (Ga.) sits in second with 132.5 points followed by Southern Oregon with 124.5, Grand View (Iowa) with 106, and Texas Wesleyan rounds out the Top 5

Session IV Highlights:

• Championship Finals Notes:
• 101 – Top-seeded Erin Hikiji of Providence (Mont.) and second-seeded Stefana Jelacic of Lourdes (Ohio) battled in the first championship bout of Saturday evening. Jelacic led after the first period 10-2 over the No. 1 seeded wrestler in the bracket of Hikiji. Jelacic posted a big take down halfway through the second period, pushing her lead out to nine as Stefana Jelacic of Lourdes (Ohio) is your National Champion at 101.
• 109 – No. 1 seeded Mia Palumbo from William Penn (Iowa) enters the championship bout Saturday evening as the first finalist in the program's history. Her opponent, third-seeded Jasmine Howard of Texas Wesleyan. Palumbo secured two big points midway through the second period breaking the 1-1 tie which was all she needed to be the program's first national champion.
• 116 – Juliana Diaz of Missouri Baptist captured the national championship title after a 7-6 decision victory over Camille Fournier of Texas Wesleyan.
• 123 – Cristelle Rodriguez of Doane (Neb.) took care of business in her title bout, with a 10-0 tech fall victory in 1:38 over Maya Davis of Grand View (Iowa).
• 130 – Carolina Moreno of Southern Oregon secured her national championship in the 130 bracket after an 11-0 tech fall over Sarah Savidge of Life (Ga.).
• 136 – Adaugo Nwachukwu of William Penn (Iowa) picked up her fourth national title thanks to a victory via fall over Zaynah McBryde of Life (Ga.).
• 143 – Jamilah McBryde of Life (Ga.) earned her national championship with a 10-0 tech fall over Emma Walker of Campbellsville (Ky.).
• 155 – Caitlyn Davis of Southern Oregon defeated Latifah McBryde of Life (Ga.) by a 4-2 decision in the final minute of the match.
• 170 – Ashley Lekas of William Penn (Iowa) bested Abby Mclntyre of Grand View (Iowa) by a decision of 4-2.
• 191 – Tavia Heldelberg-Tillitson of Menlo (Calif.) defeated Joanna Hendricks of Waldorf (Iowa) by a 4-3 decision in what was a close bout from start to finish.
• Grand View (Iowa) concluded the tournament in fifth place with 106 points, William Penn (Iowa) was fourth with 111.5 points, Southern Oregon placed third with 134 points, Life (Ga.) was second with 138 points; and the 2024 NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Champions; is Menlo (Calif.) with 172 points.

National Championship Awards:

• Michael Ayala of Menlo (Calif.) wins Coach of the Year.
• Cristelle Rodriguez was named NAIA Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Year and NWCA-NAIA Outstanding Wrestler of the Championships.  
• Providence (Mont.) wins Team Sportsmanship recognition. 
• Click HERE for the full list of 2024 NAIA Women's Wrestling All-Americans.

All matches at the national championships for Sessions I through IV were streamed live via FloWrestling. Access to the live results and brackets can be found through Arena.FloWrestling.

For additional information on the 2024 NAIA Women's Wrestling National Championships, click HERE.