Women's Wrestling 3/14/2021 11:11:00 AM CU Athletics

Head coach Lee Miracle named NWCA NAIA Women's Wrestling Coach of the Year for second time

JAMESTOWN, N.D. — For the second time in his career, head coach Lee Miracle has been named the National Wrestling Coaches' Association NAIA Women's Coach of the Year, officials announced at the national championship virtual banquet.

Coach Miracle is in his eighth season as head coach and his achievements this season include an 8-0 dual meet record capped by a Mid-South Conference regular season championship, a third MSC Tournament title with seven finalists, five individual conference champions, and 12 athletes qualified for the NAIA Championship.

In addition to the regular season achievements, the Lady Tigers won their first NAIA Invitational Championship by dominating the field. CU finished with 10 of the 12 Lady Tigers competing in fourth place or higher including four national runner-ups and McKayla Campbell winning a national championship. Campbell won a crazy final, where it went to the final seconds before she beat 2019 NAIA national champion Asia Ray of Wayland Baptist, 16-14. Ray, a past Junior World medalist, was attempting to become the first two-time NAIA individual national champion. Campbell competed on two U.S. Junior World Teams. The NAIA Team Championship is the first in program history for Campbellsville University.

The award is presented to the coach that has demonstrated outstanding effort throughout the season in developing and elevating their program on campus and in the community.

"It's an honor to recognize Coach Lee Miracle as the National Coach of the Year," Said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "What Lee has been able to build at Campbellsville is absolutely amazing. His athletes continue to simply find ways to win and can't ever be counted out."

In his career, Campbellsville has won two WCWA National Championships and the program has 14 WCWA individual national champions.

In addition to the national champions, this event was a qualifier for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, set for Fort Worth, Texas, April 2-3. The top placewinner at each weight class who had not already qualified earn the berth at the Olympic Trials. All 10 of the champions became Olympic Trials qualifiers.

Two of the finalists, Julia Vidallon of Life and Castillo of Campbellsville, had already qualified for the Olympic Trials with titles at the 2019 WCWA Nationals. Both were defeated in the finals.

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Players Mentioned

McKayla Campbell: 5' 0"; Senior; Wauseon, Ohio

Players Mentioned

McKayla Campbell
: 5' 0"; Senior; Wauseon, Ohio