The Menlo women’s wrestling team is leaving the NAIA in style. 

Head coach Michael Ayala wanted his team to win 10 individual titles, but his message was clear when that didn’t happen: get the next best thing. Tavia Heidelberg-Tillitson (191) was the lone individual champion, but the Oaks had 10 All-Americans, including four third-place finishers. 

“I’m really happy with our performance because one of the things I preach here is trying to win the consolation bracket the same way we want to win the championship bracket,” Ayala said. “We take pride in taking the best thing in front of us when we get on the consolation side of the bracket. We only had one champ but we had 10 All-Americans so we had nine kids on the back side. 

“Before the tournament, everyone wants to be the national champion. We want to get in through the front door, but there’s a lot of pride in getting in through the back door.”

The Oaks will remain in the NAIA for the remainder of the 2023-24 season, which means this is the final time Ayala will coach his team at this tournament. In 2024-25, Menlo will compete as a member of the Pacific West (PacWest) Conference during a provisional season and will compete in the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships for the first time in either 2026 or 2027. 

Menlo will compete in open tournaments during the transitional period.

The Atherton, California-based program has consistently been among the best women’s teams in the country. Menlo won WCWA and NAIA Invitational titles in 2019, before winning a sanctioned NAIA championship this season. 

“I’m ecstatic about (the transition),” Ayala said. “Menlo has a chance to be the only institution to win a WCWA championship, an NAIA championship, and now an NCAA championship. I am extremely excited to get an opportunity to do that. 

“There is so much good competition on the NCAA side. I’m excited for the opportunity as a coach to get to compete with the best of the best. There’s a lot of good competition in the NAIA, and I love the NAIA, but now that we’re out of the NAIA I’m completely shifting toward the NCAA.”

Menlo's 10 All-Americans

Life University finished second for the third time in four years. The Running Eagles sent four to the finals with Jamilah McBryde winning the 143-pound crown. 

Southern Oregon finished third with two champions after winning the inaugural sanctioned NAIA Championships last season. Carolina Moreno won the 130-pound crown following two titles at 123 pounds, while Caitlyn Davis won at 155. 

William Penn finished fourth but had the most individual champions. Mia Palumbo (109), Adaugo Nwachukwu (136), and Ashley Lekas (170) won titles for the Statesmen. Nwachukwu will seek her fourth NAIA championship next season. 

Top 10 Team Scores

1. Menlo — 172
2. Life — 138
3. Southern Oregon — 134
4. William Penn — 111.5
5. Grand View — 106
6. Texas Wesleyan — 98.5
7. Providence — 90.5
8. Missouri Baptist — 87.5
9. Campbellsville — 54
10. Cumberlands — 53

NAIA Invitational Team Champions
2019: Menlo
2020: Cancelled (COVID)
2021: Campbellsville
2022: Campbellsville

NAIA Champions
2023: Southern Oregon
2024: Menlo

Finals Results

101: Stefana Jelacic (Lourdes (Ohio)) VPO1 Erin Hikiji (Providence (Mont.)), 12-3
109: Mia Palumbo (William Penn (Iowa)) VPO1 Jasmine Howard (Texas Wesleyan), 3-1
116: Juliana Diaz (Missouri Baptist) VPO1 Camille Fournier (Texas Wesleyan), 7-6
123: Cristelle Rodriguez (Doane (Neb.)) VSU Maya Davis (Grand View (Iowa)), 10-0 1:38
130: Carolina Moreno (Southern Oregon) VSU Sarah Savidge (Life (Ga.)), 11-0 4:07
136: Adaugo Nwachukwu (William Penn (Iowa)) VFA Zaynah Mcbryde (Life (Ga.)), 9-2 2:16
143: Jamilah Mcbryde (Life (Ga.)) VSU Emma Walker (Campbellsville (Ky.)), 10-0 2:50
155: Caitlyn Davis (Southern Oregon) VPO1 Latifah Mcbryde (Life (Ga.)), 4-2
170: Ashley Lekas (William Penn (Iowa)) VPO1 Abby Mcintyre (Grand View (Iowa)), 4-2
191: Tavia Heidelberg-Tillitson (Menlo (Calif.)) VPO1 Joanna Hendricks (Waldorf (Iowa)), 4-3

All-Americans

101 pounds
1. Stefana Jelacic (Lourdes)
2. Erin Hikiji (Providence)
3. Mayla Mckinley-Johnson (Menlo)
4. Esther Walker (Midland)
5. Liana Ferreira (Southern Oregon)
6. Audalie Cruz (Wayland Baptist)
7. Makayla Young (Indiana Tech)+
8. Devyn Gomez (Life)

109 pounds
1. Mia Palumbo (William Penn)
2. Jasmine Howard (Texas Wesleyan)
3. Emma Baertlein (Southern Oregon)
4. Paige Morales (Providence)
5. Alexsys Jacquez (St. Mary)
6. Diana Gonzalez (Life)
7. Tehani Soares (Indiana Tech)
8. Tristan Nitta (Grand View)

116 pounds
1. Juliana Diaz (Missouri Baptist)
2. Camille Fournier (Texas Wesleyan)
3. Katherine Heath (Baker)
4. Ajayzee Zaballos (Menlo)
5. Icart Galumette (Campbellsville)
6. Avery Ashley (Oklahoma City)
7. Marissa Kurtz (Southern Oregon)
8. Ariana Martinez (Life)

123 pounds
1. Cristelle Rodriguez (Doane)
2. Maya Davis (Grand View)
3. Alana Vivas (Menlo)
4. Joanna Vanderwood (William Penn)
5. Sophia Smith (Oklahoma City)
6. Anna Krejsa (Life)
7. Haley Narahara (Menlo)
8. Catharine Campbell (Grand View)

130 pounds
1. Carolina Moreno (Southern Oregon)
2. Sarah Savidge (Life)
3. Devin Patton (William Penn)
4. Lillian Avalos (Vanguard)
5. Janiah Jones (Missouri Baptist)
6. Alyssa Randles (Providence)
7. Louisa Schwab (Menlo)
8. Elizabeth Duvall (Texas Wesleyan)

136 pounds
1. Adaugo Nwachukwu (William Penn)
2. Zaynah McBryde (Life)
3. Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp (Providence)
4. Tiyahna Askew (Missouri Baptist)
5. Gianna Moreno (Friends)
6. Andrea Schlabach (Grand View)
7. Stephanie Chavez (Menlo)
8. River Todd (Vanguard)

143 pounds
1. Jamilah McBryde (Life)
2. Emma Walker (Campbellsville)
3. Bella Amaro (Southern Oregon)
4. Madison Diaz (Grand View)
5. Mea Mohler (Texas Wesleyan)
6. Alexandra Lopez (Menlo)
7. Reagen Gallaway (Hastings)
8. Serenity De La Garza (Missouri Valley)

155 pounds
1. Caitlyn Davis (Southern Oregon)
2. Latifah McBryde (Life)
3. Shannon Workinger (Menlo)
4. Josette Partney (Missouri Baptist)
5. Liv Wieber (Eastern Oregon)
6. Flo Parker-Borrero (Evergreen)
7. Sadie Antoque (Providence)
8. Kendra Thompson (Campbellsville)

170 pounds
1. Ashley Lekas (William Penn)
2. Abby McIntyre (Grand View)
3. Kalila Shrive (Menlo)
4. Shenita Lawson (Southern Oregon)
5. Bo Geibe (Siena Heights)
6. Chamira Cooper (Cumberlands)
7. Aalyah Villarreal (Texas Wesleyan)
8. Faith Macharia (Missouri Baptist)

191 pounds
1. Tavia Heidelberg-Tillitson (Menlo)
2. Joanna Hendricks (Waldorf)
3. Olivia Brown (Grand View)
4. Maquoia Bernabe (Cumberlands)
5. Naomi Duenas (Cumberlands)
6. Lessly Sandoval (St. Mary)
7. Jannell Avila (Baker)
8. Elisa Robinson (Baker)