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Menlo College

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Julissa Taitano

Julissa Taitano

Julissa entered as Head Coach of Menlo’s inaugural NCWA Women’s Wrestling program in 2025. A proud Bay Area native of San Jose, CA, Taitano brings championship experience, academic achievement, and a burning passion for athlete development.

During her time at the helm,
  • Recorded a 5-2 dual meet record during 2025-26 season
  • First program dual victory over Ottawa University on November 1, 2025 (33-24)
  • 2026 California State Champions with 5 individual Champions
  • 2026 NCWA West Coast Conference Champions with 3 individual Champions
  • 2026 NCWA WCC Coach of the Year
  • National Runner-Ups and 8 earned All-American status at first NCWA National Championship appearance
  • Coached program's first-ever National Champion (Atlas Fritts) 

A standout competitor at Southern Oregon University (SOU), Taitano played a key role in the nationally ranked Raiders program, contributing to the team’s runner-up finish at the 2022 NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Championships. She recently earned her Master of Science in Education with a. concentration in Higher Education Leader from SOU in 2025, further strengthening her commitment to developing student-athletes both on and off the mat.

Taitano’s decorated athletic career includes:
  • NAIA All-American
  • Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Finalist
  • Junior Freestyle Fargo All-American
  • 4x Central Coast Section (CCS) Finalist
  • 2x CCS Champion
  • 3x California HS State Placer

With a strong foundation as a competitor and a mentor, Taitano is eager to build a culture of excellence, resilience, and growth with the program.
 
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