Wayland produced five all-Americans out of the 15 Pioneers that competed at the Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association National Tournament in St. Louis. Junior Tarkyia Mensah finished third in the 123-pound weight class, sophomore Vanessa Smith (101s) and freshman Nahiela Magee (170s) placed fourth, junior Kierra Boyce (191s) took sixth, and freshman Rizpah Umi (130s) finished eighth as they led the Pioneers to a seventh-place team finish in Aaron Meister’s first season as head coach. Twin sisters Tarkyia (121s) and Tamyra Mensah (152s) were crowned WBU’s first-ever national champions at the USAW University Nationals in Oklahoma City. As a team, the Pioneers finished the season with an 11-8-1 record and ranked No. 6. The Mensahs also competed at the U.S. World Team Trials in Madison, Wis., where Tamyra finished as runner-up.
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