By: Riley J. Siason
ATHERTON, CA - The Menlo College Men's and Women's Wrestling programs celebrated a historic night inside of Haynes-Prim Pavilion with a championship ring ceremony. The night consisted of celebrating the 12 individual national champions from 2017 all the way up Menlo's last year in the NAIA in 2024, highlighting the incredible achievements the wrestler's contributed to the legacy of excellence at Menlo College.
Men's Wrestling National Champions
Troy Lakin (2017) - First to be recognized was the 125-pound 2017 NAIA National Champion in Troy Lakin. Lakin is also a two time All-American and helped lay the foundation for the Menlo Men's Wrestling program for success, setting the bar high for future champions and All-Americans.
Anthony Orozco (2019, 2020) - Next champion to be recognized was Anthony Orozco, a two time-NAIA National Champion at the 184-pounds weight class. Orozco won the 2019 and 2020 titles and made history as the first ever Menlo Men's Wrestler to win the NAIA Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament and became the program's first-ever four-time All-American.
Blaysen Terukina (2020) - The ceremony continued with Blaysen Terukina, who made history as Menlo Wrestling's first ever four-time Conference Champion. Terukina earned his first All-American honors in 2019 before climbing to the top of the podium in 2020 to cap off his Menlo career.
Gulomjon Abdullaev (2023) - The next wrestler honored was the 133-pound 2023 NAIA National Champion, Gulomjon Abdullaev. Although unable to attend the event, Abdullaev was able to crown himself as champion with ease, also earning the NAIA Wrestler of the Year.
Rysan Leong (2023) - Another champion celebrated was Rysan Leong, who captured the 165-pound title his junior year. A native of Kailua, Hawaii, Leong went on to earn back-to-back All-American honors and finished his career with a third-place finish at last season's National Tournament. On top of his athletic accomplishments, Leong was also a two time Cascade COllegiate COnference Academic All-Conference honoree and an NWCA Academic All-American.
Jovan Garcia (2024) - The final men's honoree of the night was Jovan Garcia, who competed in the 133-pound weight class. Before Menlo, Jovan was an NCWA National Finalist and the 2022 NJCAA National Champion out of Southwestern Oregon Community College. Garcia was also able to obtain All-American honors in his first season with the Oaks, and in his senior year in 2024, captured the top of the podium to become the last Menlo men's wrestler to obtain an NAIA National Title.
Women's Wrestling National Champions
Alleida Martinez (2019, 2022) - Alleida is one of the One of the most decorated wrestlers in Menlo history and is one of two national champions that came from powerhouse Selma High School. Martinez is a three time All-American and three time National Champion in 2019 (NWCA & NAIA), and 2022 (NAIA), and is the first Oak to earn a national title out of the ring ceremony group. Although Martinez was unable to attend the ceremony, her career helped pave the way for future wrestlers to build.
Gracie Figueroa (2019) - The next national champion that was recognized is another Selma High School native in Gracie Figueroa. Despite being unable to attend the ceremony, Gracie is a two-time All-American and a 2019 NWCA National Champion. Figueroa also reached the 2022 NAIA National Finals, showcasing her talent and resilience throughout her outstanding Menlo career.
Tiana Jackson (2019) - The first wrestler to be honored during the ceremony was the 2019 National Champion at 124-pounds, Tiana Jackson. A two-time All-American, Jackson's leadership and experience helped form the foundation of the Menlo Women's Wrestling program in the powerhouse it is today.
Solin Pearcy (2019) - A three-time All-American and two-time National Champion (NAIA & NCWA), Solin stood atop the podium twice in 2019, proving her dominance at the national level. Her legacy continues to inspire those who step onto the mat today.
Marilyn Garcia (2019) - Another dominant performer on the 2019 team is Marilyn Garcia. Although unable to attend, Marilyn was able to capture the 143 NAIA title with ease, proving that she is a force to be reckoned with. Garcia is a 2x All-American one in NAIA and an NWCA Honorary All-American.
Iman Kazem (2019) - The last Oak to earn a national title on the dominant 2019 team was Iman Kazem. Despite being unable to attend the ceremony, Iman is a 4x All-American (1x NAIA, 3x NWCA) and took gold in the NWCA National Championships her senior year. Kazem's career and dedication for greatness has inspired the program to be what it is today.
Tavia Heildelberg-Tillotsen (2024) - The final individual national champion was Tavia Heidelberg-Tillosten. Tavia was last season's 191-pound champion at the NAIA National Championship and is one of the very few wrestlers to be named a 4x All-American in NAIA Women's Wrestling. Tavia is also Menlo's last ever All-American and national champion to compete at the NAIA level.
2024 NAIA Women's Wrestling National Champions
In addition to these remarkable individual accomplishments, the Oaks also celebrated a team milestone, as the Women's Wrestling team captured last season's 2024 NAIA National Championship team title, further cementing their status as one of the most prestigious wrestling programs in the nation. The athletes, coaches, and staff that were honored from last season's historic team were…
The Menlo men's and women's wrestling programs continue to uphold a championship culture, with their success serving as a testament to the talent, dedication, and hard work of their student-athletes and staff.
