WBU 4th in women's wrestling preseason poll

Wayland Baptist will enter the women's wrestling season ranked fourth in the NAIA, according to a preseason poll of head coaches.

The Pioneers, who finished sixth at last year's inaugural NAIA National Invitational in Jamestown, N.D., came in ranked behind Life, Ga., defending champion Menlo, Calif., and Cumberlands, Ky. Oklahoma City University, last year's national runner-up, is No. 7.

Wayland has seven wrestlers ranked among the top eight individuals in their respective weight classes, led by junior Nina Pham who is seen as No. 1 in the 101-pound class. Pham was national runner-up last season to junior teammate Asia Ray, who has plans to redshirt this season.

Other ranked Pioneers are Gabriela Ramos-Diaz, who placed third two years ago, and Amanda Alvarado, who are ranked second in 123s and 130s, respectively; Desiree Zavala, ranked third in 136s; Angelica Garcia and Kaylynn Albrecht, seventh in 116s and 155s, respectively; and Kayla Fitts, eighth in 116s. Zavala is a first-year transfer from Grays Harbor, Wash., where she was a national runner-up.

The Pioneers lost three of their five all-Americans from a year ago, including the overall outstanding wrestler at nationals, Jathiya Isaac-Thomas. Also gone are Paige Baynes, who gave Wayland a third national titlist besides Ray and Isaac-Thomas, and Breanna Dudoit-Vasquez, who placed seventh and was honorable mention all-American.

Top-ranked Life placed nine wrestlers in the top eight spots, while second-ranked Menlo has the most top-ranked individuals with six.

"I'm excited again for these girls and to see how much we can improve and how good we can become," head coach Aaron Meister said. "I know we have a good team with several who can contend for titles. What will make the difference is who will contend for all-American who are not ranked."

Wayland was ranked No. 1 entering last season.

"Last year we had a target on our back and didn't quite live up to it," Meister said. "Now we're the underdog, which I like a lot better."

This is the second year for women's wrestling as an NAIA invitational sport. Twenty-eight NAIA institutions will sponsor teams during the 2019-2020 season. Women's wrestling will be eligible for championship status once 40 institutions sponsor a varsity women's wrestling program.
 
Wayland opens the season Nov. 2 in Fort Worth against a first-year program in Texas Wesleyan. The Pioneers make their home debut at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9 against Colorado Mesa.
 

Place	School	League	Final Points
1	Life (Ga.)	Mid-South	163
2	Menlo (Calif.)	West	139
3	Cumberlands (Ky.)	Mid-South	133
4	Wayland Baptist (Texas)	Central	118
5	Jamestown (N.D.)	KCAC	114
6	Providence (Mont.)	West	109
7	Oklahoma City	Central	108
8	Lyon (Ark.)	Central	89
9	Southern Oregon	West	68
10	Campbellsville (Tenn.)	Mid-South	66
11	Missouri Valley	KCAC	43
12	Eastern Oregon	West	34
13	Midland (Neb.)	KCAC	30
14	Saint Mary (Kan.)	KCAC	28
15	York (Neb.)	KCAC	16
16	Missouri Baptist	Central	10