Women's Wrestling 1/10/2026 10:32:00 PM Maria Henriquez

Lady Tigers ring in New Year at NWCA National Duals

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa. – The #20 Campbellsville University women's wrestling team faced one of the toughest fields in the country this weekend at the 2026 NWCA/USMC Multi-Division National Dual Meet Championships. Battling through a bracket stacked with NAIA powerhouses, the Lady Tigers showed resilience in the consolation rounds, bouncing back from early setbacks to defeat #18 Dickinson State 29-14.

Campbellsville Tigers Story Banner 25-26

Campbellsville Tigers Story Banner 25-26

The Tigers completed the NWCA/USMC National Duals with a 2-3 dual record, navigating a gauntlet of ranked opponents.
Campbellsville capped the weekend with a dominant 29-14 victory over #18 Dickinson State, powered by four pins and two technical falls.
#12 Gaby Perez (145 lbs) went 2-2 on the weekend, delivering big points for the team with a 10-0 technical fall against Ottawa and a pin against Missouri Valley College.
#12 Olivia Messerly (131 lbs) and #8 Kylee Tait (160 lbs) recorded the team's fastest pins of the tournament, with Messerly sticking her Ottawa opponent in 29 seconds and Tait flattening her Dickinson State foe in 56 seconds.
The Tigers return to the Hord Wrestling Facility for Senior Night on January 17, hosting Mid-South Conference rival Lindsey Wilson at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Campbellsville (1-3 at the event) opened the tournament against #4 William Penn University. The Statesmen proved to be a formidable challenge, taking the dual 41-5. The lone bright spot for the Tigers came at 110 pounds, where Makennah Craft battled to a 6-2 decision victory over #7 Avy Perez, putting the Tigers on the board against a top-tier opponent.

Looking to regroup, the Tigers faced #13 Ottawa University in the consolation bracket. Campbellsville's offense came alive, but the team fell just short in a 25-19 defeat. Craft continued her strong start with a dominant 10-0 technical fall over Sydnee Baldwin at 110 pounds. #16 Addison Messerly added a forfeit victory at 124 pounds, and #12 Olivia Messerly provided the highlight of the dual at 131 pounds, needing just 29 seconds to pin Kaydence Bonewell. #12 Gaby Perez also shone at 145 pounds, cruising to a 10-0 technical fall over #19 Kaitlyn Thorn.

The Tigers' grit was on full display in the 13th-16th place semifinal against #12 Missouri Valley College. In a razor-thin contest decided by a single point, Campbellsville fell 25-24. The upper weights kept the Tigers in the hunt, with Rita Carey (138 lbs) securing a 16-5 technical fall over Trinity Rakestraw. Perez picked up another key victory with a fall over Toby Goertz at 145 pounds, and #8 Kylee Tait pinned Mya Willis at 160 pounds to give the Tigers a fighting chance late in the dual.

Determined to leave Iowa on a high note, Campbellsville unleashed a pinning barrage in the 15th-place match against #18 Dickinson State. The Tigers won 29-14, overwhelmed the Blue Hawks with bonus-point victories. #16 Addison Messerly started the run with a fall in 3:43 over Birta McCaskill at 124 pounds. #15 Cameron Ortiz followed suit at 131 pounds, pinning Makenzie Shaw in 2:55.

The momentum continued through the middle weights as Rita Carey dismantled Kaytlin McAnelly with a 12-0 technical fall at 138 pounds, and #12 Perez added a 10-0 technical fall over Izzabella Davis at 145. #8 Tait wasted no time at 160 pounds, earning a blistering 56-second fall over Paisley Jaeger. Freshman #18 Desi Lee put the exclamation point on the victory at 180 pounds, pinning Bridgette Price in 1:21.

The Lady Tigers will now return home to celebrate their graduating class. Campbellsville hosts Lindsey Wilson for Senior Night on Saturday, January 17, at 6:30 p.m. ET in the Hord Wrestling Facility.

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Players Mentioned

Rita Carey: Sophomore

Addison Messerly: Junior

Olivia Messerly: Junior

Cameron Ortiz: Senior

Gaby Perez: Junior

Kylee Tait: Sophomore

Makennah Craft: Freshman

Desi Lee: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Rita Carey
: Sophomore

Addison Messerly
: Junior

Olivia Messerly
: Junior

Cameron Ortiz
: Senior

Gaby Perez
: Junior

Kylee Tait
: Sophomore

Makennah Craft
: Freshman

Desi Lee
: Freshman