WICHITA, Kan. --- Wayland Baptist sophomore
Mercy Adekuoroye secured the national championship in the 160lb division. The Pioneers earned fifth place overall in the team standings.
A native of Akure, Nigeria, Adekuoroye displayed complete domination in the 160-pound division at the 2026 NAIA Women's Wrestling National Championships. Her national title run included a first round bye followed by four straight victories (one Technical Fall, one Fall, and two Decisions).
In her Semi-Final match, Adekuoroye defeated #1 ranked Latifah McBride (Life University) by scoring three points in the final seconds to secure the victory. In the finals, she defeated #2 Shannon Workinger (Evergreen St.) by decision by, once again, securing three critical points in the final minute. Adekuoroye cemented herself as an All-American with this championship run.
Jordan Suarez brought home 2
nd place in the 145lb class after cruising through her first four matches before falling in the finals by Decision. In her four wins, Suarez did not concede a point, earned two wins by way of Falls and two via Technical Falls. Suarez also received All-American honors.
Leilani Sanchez had an outstanding performance at the NAIA National Championships as she secured 3
rd place in the 207lb division. Sanchez went 6-1 during the tournament, only losing in the 3
rd round, while running the table in the consolation bracket. She picked up five wins by way of Falls and one via Decision. Sanchez was recognized as an All-American thanks to her performance.
As a team, the Pioneers earned 5
th place overall after securing 90.5 points throughout the tournament. Life (169 points), William Penn (158.5 points), Grand View (145.5 points), and Providence (101 points) were the four teams to finish better than the Pioneers.
Some other Pioneer results from the 2026 NAIA Women's Wrestling National Championships included:
- Calli Connally went 2-2 in the 103lb division (one win by Fall and one by Technical Fall)
- Faith Wooley received a first round bye in the 207lb class then went 0-2, falling to Sanchez in the consolation bracket
- Payton Sholander finished 1-2 in the 180lb class, picking up a win by way of a Fall in her first match in the consolation bracket
- Ambre Chevreau received a first round bye in the 180lb division and earned in round two win via Technical Fall before falling in her next two matches
- Mohagany Casel went 3-2 in the 160lb division with all three wins coming by way of Decisions
- Madison Pena went 1-2 in the 131lb division, receiving a Bye through the first round of the consolation bracket, then winning her next match by a Technical Fall
- Mariah Dillard went 0-2 in the 117lb class, dropping her opening round match and receiving a Bye in the first round of the consolation bracket before falling
- Tess Barnett went 0-2 in the 124lb class, dropping her opening round match and receiving a Bye in the first round of the consolation bracket before falling
The 2025-2026 season saw the Pioneers showed outstanding development for Head Coach
Stryder Davis, and the Pioneers featured many athletes with years of eligibility remaining. They will be looking to return to the NAIA National Championships next season with aspirations of winning a national championship.
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