Menlo College

• Menlo Open Champions
• West Coast Tournament of Champions Champs
• NWCA National Duals Runner-Up
• an undefeated home dual season
• 4 CCC Wrestler of the Week honors
• 3 CCC Team of the Week honors
• 2 NAIA Wrestler of the Week honors
• 12 CCC Academic All-Conference
• 4 NAIA Daktronics Scholar-Athletes

After a successful regular-season, the Oaks hosted the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship Tournament inside Haynes-Prim Pavilion where Menlo rightfully earned the Conference Championship title. 12 Oak wrestlers punched their tickets for the NAIA Championship Tournament, including 4 Conference Champions. Fast forward a couple weeks to the NAIA National Championship Tournament where Menlo placed 10 All-Americans, including an individual champion in Tavia Heidelberg-Tillotson (191), to clinch the Championship Title before the Championship rounds even began. Despite bringing in a young group of women to begin his role, Coach Mike has managed to guide 18 Oaks to All-American status, 6 of them earning that title more than once during his time. At the end of the 2023-24 season, Coach Ayala was named NWCA, Cascade Collegiate Conference, NAIA, and Menlo Athletics Bud Presley Coach of the Year award honors.

Michael Ayala joined the Menlo College Women’s Wrestling Coaching staff for the 2020-21 season following a stint as the Head Coach at Eastern Oregon University. Prior to his time as a coach of the EOU women’s team, Ayala served as an assistant coach of the men’s team at his alma mater, University of Providence. 

Ayala obtained his Bachelor's degree in Psychology from University of Great Falls (now named University of Providence), and has a Master's degree in Clinical Counseling. He is a USA Wrestling Bronze certified coach and has years of experience coaching both free and folk style.