The NAIA made waves on April 9 when it announced that women's wrestling was being added as its 28th championship sport. An NAIA Invitational has taken place since 2019 but this is the first time that women's wrestling will have an officially-sanctioned collegiate national championship at any level.

As such, the upcoming season will have added significance. This will be the first recognized women's collegiate wrestling championship, which means history will unfold at this year's national tournament held in Jamestown, North Dakota, on March 10-11.

Campbellsville has won the last two invitational tournaments (2021 and 2022) following Menlo's title in 2019. The 2020 championships were canceled due to COVID-19 a week after NCAA programs held a tournament in Adrian, Michigan. 

Each program can qualify up to 12 athletes for the tournament with a maximum of two per weight class.

Campbellsville returns a strong team led by 155-pound champion Kenya Sloan. Lee Miracle will lean on his seniors to make a push for this season's historic title. The Tigers have six returning national finalists and eight place winners. 

Southern Oregon is coming in hot for Gabby Weyrich's first season as head coach. She landed three McKendree transfers, which gives the Raiders 11 returning All-Americans across all championship divisions (WCWA, NAIA, NCWWC). This team has the right personnel to make a run at the 2023 team title.

Menlo appears to be in the midst of a rebuild but head coach Joey Bareng has a knack for building a strong team during the course of a season. The Oaks have four returning All-Americans but a handful of promising freshmen.

Life University won the National Duals last season and will be in contention, as well. Running Eagles coach Ashley Flavin has returning two-time champion Peyton Prussin along with three returning All-Americans in the line-up. The team received a boost over the summer with the addition of the McBryde sisters.

Texas Wesleyan and Grand View have line-ups that shouldn't be overlooked. The Vikings were ranked first at times last season thanks to a balanced line-up filled with point potential at every weight. 

Below are prospective line-ups for the top 10 teams from the 2022 NAIA Invitational Championships with national tournament placings in parenthesis. 

Campbellsville (Campbellsville, Kentucky)
Head coach: Lee Miracle
2022 finish: 1st

101: Mia Diaz, JR or Gabrielle Medeiros, JR
109: Torie Buchanon, FR or Shea Reisel, FR
116: Kelsey Bilz, SO or Anna Rusth, SR
123: Leilah Castro, JR (2) or Jackie Ghent, SR
130: Angie Vitiritti, SR (2) or Taylor Howell, JR
136: Randi Robison, SR (2-6) or JJ Baugher, JR
143: Emma Walker, JR (3-2) or Brelane Huber, JR
155: Kenya Sloan, SR (6-1) or Kendra Thompson, SR (3-6)
170: Cassie Smith, SR or Leilani Martinez, JR
191: Lilliana Vergara, SR (5) or Brianna Staebler, JR (4)

Southern Oregon (Ashland, Oregon)
Head coach: Gabby Weyrich
2022 finish: 2nd

101: Esthela Trevino, SR (1) or Emma Baertlein, SO (7)
109: Natalie Reyna, SR (7-3-4) or Macie Stewart, SR (3)
116: Glory Konecny, SR (7) or Marissa Kurtz JR
123: Carolina Moreno, SO (1)
130: Desinee Lopez, SO (7) or Jordynn Robson, SR
136: Bella Amaro, FR or Candice Corralejo, JR
143: Emily Se SR (3)
155: Bailey Dennis, SO (6)
170: Joye Levendusky, SR (7-4-2-2)
191: Grace Kristoff (3), SR or Karrah Smith, SR

Note: Reyna, Levendusky, and Kristoff transferred from McKendree. Trevino won a 2020 WCWA title for Umpqua Community College. 

Menlo (Atherton, California)
Head coach: Joey Bareng
2022 finish: 3rd

101: Tianna Fernandez, SR (8)
109: Barbara Greenberg, SR or Karen Salais, FR
116: Lexy Beadles, FR or Haley Narahara, FR
123: Alana Vivas, SR (3)
130: Cindy Zepeda, SR or Sam Barragan, SO
136: Louisa Schwab, JR or Stephanie Chavez, FR
143: Desiree Jones, FR
155: Alia Abushi, JR (8) or Shannon Workinger, FR
170: Nikita Dhaliwal, SR
191: Tavia Heidelberg-Tillotson, SR (3) or Neila Fritts, FR

Life (Marietta, Georgia)
Head coach: Ashley Flavin
2022 finish: 4th
101: Devyn Gomez, JR (6)
109: Peyton Prussin, JR (1-1)
116: Kory Phillips, SR (8-8-7)
123: Anna Krejsa, FR
130: Zaynah McBryde, FR or Sarah Savidge, FR
136: Riley Dalrymple, JR
143: Jamilah McBryde, FR (Graduate Student)
155: Latifah McBryde, FR
170: Caitlin Cardenas, SR or Jessie Lee, SR
191: Gabby Hamilton, SR (4-2)

Note: Phillips placed eighth at the 2020 WCWA Championships.

Texas Wesleyan (Fort Worth, Texas)
Head coach: Jose Lazo
2022 finish: 5th

101: Madison Brown, SR (4-5) or Jolie Lucas, FR
109: Jasmine Sands, SO or Kaycie Tanimoto, FR
116: Camille Fournier, JR (4-5)
123: Devin Patton, SO (7) or Elizabeth Duvall, FR
130: Lexie Basham, JR (1)
136: Maryellen Lafferty, JR (6) or Shaili Davis, FR
143: Mea Mohler, JR (3) or Mattison Parker, FR
155: Leilani Hernandez, SO
170: Aalyah Villarreal, SO
191: Open

Grand View (Des Moines, Iowa)
Head coach: Angelo Crinzi
2022 finish: 6th

101: Emma Cochran, SR (5)
109: Chloe Krebsbach, SR
116: Open
123: Adrienna Turner, SO (6)
130: Andie Schlabach, JR (3-3)
136: Isabella Gonzalez, SR
143: Alex Gomez, SR (3)
155: Madison Diaz, SO (5)
170: Abby McIntyre, SO (7)
191: Natalie Villegas, SO (6) or Olivia Brown, SO

Providence (Great Falls, Montana)
Head coach: Matt Atwood
2022 finish: 7th

101: Ira Navarro, SR (5-6) or Erin Hikiji, FR
109: Nyla O'Brien, FR
116: Ashley Gooman, SR (4)
123: Alicia Frank, FR
130: Gabbie Parini, JR or Kaianna Sabagala, FR
136: Paige Respicio, JR (4)
143: Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp, JR
155: Sadie Antoque, SO or Dylan Huddy, SO
170: Jolette Miner-Ho, JR
191: Alexis Tupuola, JR

Cumberlands (Williamsburg, Kentucky)
Head coach: Donnie Stephens
2022 finish: 8th

101: Elizabeth Dosado, SO
109: Alexis Medina, SO (3)
116: Lena Taylor, FR
123: Sydney Dizon, FR
130: Ally Arrington, SO
136: Aliyah Yates, JR
143: Leah Brown, FR
155: Nile Jernigan, FR
170: Dymond Guilford, SR (4-1-1-1) or Chamira Cooper, SR (5-5)
191: Jesse Kirby, SR (6-6-4) or MaQuoia Bernabe, SO

Note: Guilford won a WCWA and an NAIA title in 2019 and Kirby placed sixth. 

Wayland Baptist (Plainview, Texas)
Head coach: Mich Napier
2022 finish: 9th

101: Malarie Dominguez, SO
109: Mia Arceneaux, JR
116: Leah Ford, FR or Addison Cronk, FR
123: Tess Barnett, SO
130: Aspen Deherrera, SO
136: Erron Grimes, SO
143: Jordan Suarez, JR (5)
155: Alexandria Hernandez, SO
170: Morgan Senior, FR or Olivia Ricci, SR
191: Anai Santiago, FR or Annalease Barraza, JR

Eastern Oregon (La Grande, Oregon)
Head coach: Mhar Caballa
2022 finish: 10th

101: Nayeli Flores Roque, JR
109: Stephanie Blankenship, JR
116: Irma Retano, SR or Sierra Gonzales, FR
123: Paige Chafin, FR
130: Kaylee Moore, SR (8)
136: Morgan Shines, SR (8) or Liv Wieber, FR
143: Erin Redford, SR (2)
155: Anna McDougal, FR
170: Olivia Robinson, JR (2)
191: Maeline Ramella, FR