KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) released the third Women's Wrestling Coaches' Top 20 Poll of the 2025-26 season on Thursday. The Campbellsville University women's wrestling team continues to prove its mettle against the nation's best, featuring five student-athletes in the individual national rankings.
The new rankings come on the heels of a demanding competitive stretch for the Lady Tigers, who recently tested themselves at the massive Missouri Valley Open and the Patriot Duals.
Leading the charge for Campbellsville is sophomore
Kylee Tait, who sits at No. 8 in the 160-pound weight class. Tait has been a force in recent weeks, most notably securing a 4-3 decision victory over Indiana Tech's then-No. 6 Bo Geibe at the Patriot Duals.
Junior
Olivia Messerly solidified her status as a top-tier competitor, ranking No. 10 at 131 pounds. Messerly recently delivered a highlight-reel performance in Williamsburg, pinning the University of the Cumberlands' No. 12 Presley Anderson in the first period.
At 145 pounds, junior
Gaby Perez checks in at No. 12. Despite a slight slide in the numerical rankings, Perez has wrestled an elite schedule, placing 8th at the Missouri Valley Open and earning two wins over top-10 opponents at the Patriot Duals, including a technical fall over Indiana Tech's Hayden Newberg.
Senior
Cameron Ortiz is ranked No. 14 at 131 pounds, giving the Tigers a formidable one-two punch in that weight class alongside Messerly. Ortiz collected three pins at the Missouri Valley Open in late November.
Rounding out the ranked Tigers is junior
Addison Messerly, who holds the No. 18 spot at 124 pounds. Messerly was instrumental in the team's recent dual victories over Lindsey Wilson and Montreat.
#18
Addison Messerly (124 lbs.)
#10
Olivia Messerly (131 lbs.)
#14
Cameron Ortiz (131 lbs.)
#12
Gaby Perez (145 lbs.)
#8
Kylee Tait (160 lbs.)
The Lady Tigers will now take a hiatus from competition for finals and the holiday break. They return to the mat on Friday, January 9, to compete at the prestigious NWCA National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
| TREND |
RANK |
LAST TIME |
INSTITUTION |
POINTS |
| ● |
1 |
1 |
Life (Ga.) |
203 |
| ▲ |
2 |
4 |
Providence (Mont.) |
190 |
| ▼ |
3 |
2 |
Grand View (Iowa) |
184 |
| ▼ |
4 |
3 |
William Penn (Iowa) |
156 |
| ▲ |
5 |
9 |
Wayland Baptist (Texas) |
137 |
| ▲ |
5 |
6 |
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) |
137 |
| ▼ |
7 |
5 |
Indiana Tech |
111 |
| ▼ |
8 |
7 |
Doane (Neb.) |
107 |
| ▲ |
9 |
10 |
Texas Wesleyan |
103 |
| ▼ |
10 |
8 |
Cumberlands (Ky.) |
98 |
| ● |
11 |
11 |
Southern Oregon |
87 |
| ▲ |
12 |
13 |
Oklahoma City |
78 |
| ● |
13 |
13 |
Ottawa (Kan.) |
77 |
| ▲ |
14 |
18 |
Missouri Valley |
74 |
| ● |
15 |
15 |
Evergreen State (Wash.) |
73 |
| ▼ |
16 |
12 |
Central Methodist (Mo.) |
61 |
| ● |
16 |
16 |
Hastings (Neb.) |
61 |
| ▲ |
18 |
20 |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
59 |
| ▲ |
19 |
RV |
Baker (Kan.) |
56 |
| ▼ |
20 |
19 |
Campbellsville (Ky.) |
48 |
| Dropped from Top 20: Saint Mary (Kan.) |
| Receiving Votes: Missouri Baptist 35; Saint Mary (Kan.) 33; Eastern Oregon 27; Montreat (N.C.) 23; Midland (Neb.) 23; Friends (Kan.) 20; Avila (Mo.) 18; Westcliff (Calif.) 17; York (Neb.) 11; Arizona Christian 5; Waldorf (Iowa) 4; Midway (Ky.) 4 |
