JAMESTOWN, ND. – Menlo Women's Wrestling completed their season inside Harold Newman Arena on Saturday where 10 Oaks placed at the National Championships to take home 1st place and the Red Banner! Menlo led the tournament with 172 team points which included a National Champion, four 3rd place finishers, a 4th place finisher, a 6th place finisher, and three 7th place finishers. Across the two day tournament, Menlo was able to total up 16 pins and 8 tech falls to earn bonus points and clinch the Championship title before the Championship rounds even began. Tavia Heidelberg-Tilltoson becomes Menlo College's most star-studded athlete after winning the 191-National Champion to suitably send a farewell to her college Wrestling career. 
 

Head Coach Michael Ayala led the Women's program to their second ever National title in his first year at the helm. After the Championship celebration, Coach Mike said, "today is a special day. I have never taken home a red banner before, I have never been a part of a team to take home a red banner, so this is a first for me. I have a young group so to get it done and bring it back to the Bay, it's special". After his first season, Ayala was named Cascade Collegiate Conference, NWCA, and NAIA Coach of the year for his unconditional leadership. What a way to begin a legacy!        
 

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National Champion Status

Tavia Heidelberg-Tillotson - 191-National Champion
Tavia Heidelberg-Tillotson will go down in Menlo College Athletics history books as a 5x All-American and 2024 National Champion all earned with an undefeated 24-0 record. On day one, Tavia had an 8-2 win by decision, a 13-0 tech fall, and a 5-1 decision to earn All-American status and advance into the semifinals. There, she faced Maquoia Bernabe (Cumberlands) and totaled up a 3-0 lead in the first period which would be enough to win by decision and earn her spot at the Championship Match. Tavia was well prepared to leave everything on the mat in order to win the title. Joanna Hendricks (Waldorf) was able to earn 3 points on the board and Tavia responded with a 2-point takedown before the first period ended, leaving the score at 2-3. The second period was all about defense as Hendricks attempted multiple shots at Heidelberg, leading to the perfect opportunity to counter and get her on the floor for 2-points and ultimately the National title!           

 

Oak All-Americans

Kayla McKinley-Johnson (101) - 3rd place

Kayla returned to the National stage as a sophomore this year after placing 2nd at the CCC Championships. The #3 seeded Oak did not allow a point against in her first two matches and won with 10-0 tech falls to advance to the quarterfinals. A tough loss sent McKinley-Johnson to the back side where she would win out. The 3rd place match was against Esther Walker (Midland) and built up a slight 5-4 lead going into the second period. Walker went up after two takedowns with time expiring to under a minute. Kayla burned what was left in the gas tank to pin Walker and earn a 3rd place finish and become a 2x All-American!       

 

Alana Vivas (123) - 3rd place

Alana is now a 4x All-American after placing 3rd at the NAIA Championships. Vivas was National Runner-Up last season and had the opportunity to send off her senior season with a bang. A first round bye and a 6-2 decision victory would send Alana to the quarterfinals. The tight matchup ended in a 10-11 loss to be sent to the back side of the bracket. Alana brought everything out to end day one with a 10-0 tech fall. Day two began with a 4-1 decision to advance to the consolation semifinals. It was a low scoring match against Sophia Smith (OCU) with Smith taking a 0-1 lead. Alana earned a two-point takedown early in the second period and was able to hold off anymore scoring to secure her 3rd place finish.        

 

Shannon Workinger (155) - 3rd place

This is Shannon's second appearance at an NAIA National Championship Tournament as a sophomore and she was ready to battle! No points were scored against Workinger in her first two matches with an 11-0 tech fall and a 7-0 decision. The quarterfinal match was another tight match up and ended in a 2-3 decision to go to the Consolation bracket. Duckie would go on to earn All-American status after a 6-0 decision win in the blood round. Day two went smoothly for Workinger after two more victories would earn her spot in the 3rd place match. To cap off another tremendous season for Shannon, the Oak was able to get the pin and win out on the back side to take 3rd place!       

 

Kalila Shrive (170) - 3rd place

Kalila would become the only freshman to qualify to the National Tournament for the Oaks this season after a 3rd place finish at the CCC Championships. Shrive became an All-American after going undefeated on day one with a 10-0 tech fall and two 8-0 decisions. The semifinal match fell in favor of Abby McIntyre (Grand View) to send Kalila to the consolation semifinals. There she would add up a 9-6 victory to punch her ticket to the 3rd place match. Shenita Lawson (SOU) would stand in the way of the 3rd place podium spot but that did not phase the freshman one bit. Kalila began the match with a takedown before Lawson got back with two points to even up the score. Another early takedown would be enough to earn Shrive the win and 3rd place finish. Kalila still has so much to offer in her Oak career and has capped off a successful first year with a National placement!        

 

Ajayzee Zaballos (116) - 4th place

Ajayzee has now qualified twice for the NAIA Championship Tournament and has not found a placement until this year! A first round bye and a 10-0 tech fall earned her a spot in the quarterfinals. Ajayzee fought from behind but could not overcome a 6-7 decision to get sent to the back side of the bracket. Zaballos got her groove back and ended day one with a 10-0 tech fall to earn All-American status. Day two began with two victories to earn a chance at 3rd place. In the end, Ajayzee earned a 4th place finish in her junior year with an overall record of 29-6!       

 

Alexandra Lopez (143) - 6th place

Similar to Zaballos, Alexandra Lopez is a 2x National qualifier as a sophomore and has found a National placement this time around! A 9-3 and 6-0 victories to kick off the tournament sent Lopez to the quarterfinals. A 1-6 loss sent Ale to the Consolation bracket to battle back and earn a spot on the podium. The Oak brought out every move she had to come from behind and earn a 10-8 decision win in the blood round and earn her first All-American title. 

     

Haley Narahara (123) - 7th place

Returning All-American, Haley Narahara, showed what true grit means at the NAIA National Championship Tournament. Despite battling what others may see as a season-ending injury, Haley pushed through and earned All-American status and a 7th place finish. An early loss meant that Haley battled back from the beginning. Two more victories on day one in the consolation brackets meant an All-American title and a spot on the podium. Narahara's final match of the tournament ended in a 10-6 decision after going-ahead with two takedowns in the final minutes. This National placement could not have been done without Haley's strength, determination, and courage to leave everything on the mat for her team.   

Louisa Schwab (130) - 7th place

Louisa's second and potentially final NAIA National Appearance as an Oak was one to celebrate! Schwab would land in the quarterfinals after a first round bye and a 6-1 decision victory. A tight loss by a score of 2-4 sent Louisa to the back of the bracket to battle for a National placement. Louisa was determined to advance through the blood rounds and into All-American status by pulling off an 11-0 tech fall. Day two began with a loss which meant a fight for 7th place between Schwab and Elizabeth Duvall (Texas Wesleyan). Duvall earned a slight 4-6 lead over the Oak going into the second period. Louisa first earned a takedown before ultimately laying down the pin and winning the 7th place match. If this is Louisa's final hoorah, she most certainly finished her career on a high note!       

 

Stephanie Chavez (136) - 7th place

Shephanie is only a sophomore and has already qualified for the National tournament twice as an Oak. Chavez started off strong with 7-0 and 6-0 wins by decision to make it to the quarterfinals. A loss sent Stephanie to fight it out between another fellow Oak for All-American status. Chavez would win in a 7-2 decision to advance to day two. In the 7th place round, Stephanie took a 3-0 lead before finding the perfect opportunity to flip the Vanguard Lion on her back and earn the pin for a 7th place finish!