KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) released the fifth Women's Wrestling Coaches' Top 20 Poll of the 2025-26 season on Thursday. The Campbellsville University women's wrestling team moved up three spots to #17, gathering 54 points in the national rating.
- The Lady Tigers have climbed to #17 in the latest NAIA Coaches' Top 20 Poll, moving up from their previous #20 ranking after a strong showing at the National Duals.
- Six Lady Tigers are currently ranked in their respective weight classes, led by three top-15 individuals.
- Sophomore Kylee Tait checks in at #13 at 160 lbs, solidifying her status as a national contender.
- Junior Gaby Perez holds the #10 spot at 145 lbs, the highest individual ranking on the team, following consistent performances against elite competition.
- Freshman Desi Lee breaks into the national rankings at #19 in the 180 lb weight class, highlighting the immediate impact of the team's young talent.
- The Lady Tigers return to action on Saturday, January 17, for Senior Night. They will host Mid-South Conference rival Lindsey Wilson at 6:30 p.m. ET inside the Hord Wrestling Facility.
The upward movement comes after a gritty performance at the NWCA/USMC National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where the Tigers battled through a gauntlet of ranked opponents to finish 15th as a team.
Six Lady Tigers are featured in the individual national rankings, led by junior
Gaby Perez. Perez sits at #10 in the 145-pound weight class with 38 points. She has been a consistent force for Campbellsville, recently picking up key bonus-point wins at the National Duals.
Sophomore
Kylee Tait is ranked #13 at 160 pounds. Tait has proven herself against the nation's best, holding her own in a weight class loaded with talent.
At 110 pounds, freshman
Makennah Craft continues to impress, earning the #6 ranking. Craft has been a standout for the Tigers, consistently scoring points and securing victories in crucial dual meet moments.
Junior
Olivia Messerly is ranked #17 at 131 pounds. She is joined in the rankings by her sister, junior
Addison Messerly, who checks in at #17 in the 124-pound division. Both Messerlys have been mainstays in the Tiger lineup, providing veteran leadership and scoring punch.
Rounding out the ranked Tigers is freshman
Desi Lee, who enters the poll at #19 in the 180-pound weight class. Lee's emergence gives Campbellsville a formidable presence in the upper weights as they head into the heart of conference competition.
Campbellsville Individuals in NAIA Poll #5:
| TREND |
RANK |
LAST TIME |
INSTITUTION |
POINTS |
| ● |
1 |
1 |
Life (Ga.) |
224 |
| ▲ |
2 |
3 |
Grand View (Iowa) |
191 |
| ▲ |
3 |
4 |
William Penn (Iowa) |
179 |
| ▼ |
4 |
2 |
Providence (Mont.) |
177 |
| ● |
5 |
5 |
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) |
145 |
| ▲ |
6 |
10 |
Cumberlands (Ky.) |
130 |
| ▼ |
7 |
6 |
Wayland Baptist (Texas) |
119 |
| ▼ |
8 |
7 |
Indiana Tech |
110 |
| ● |
9 |
9 |
Texas Wesleyan |
99 |
| ▲ |
10 |
12 |
Missouri Valley |
94 |
| ▼ |
11 |
8 |
Doane (Neb.) |
92 |
| ▼ |
12 |
11 |
Southern Oregon |
82 |
| ● |
13 |
13 |
Ottawa (Kan.) |
76 |
| ▲ |
14 |
15 |
Oklahoma City |
74 |
| ▼ |
15 |
14 |
Evergreen State (Wash.) |
68 |
| ▲ |
16 |
17 |
Hastings (Neb.) |
59 |
| ▲ |
17 |
20 |
Campbellsville (Ky.) |
54 |
| ▼ |
18 |
16 |
Central Methodist (Mo.) |
53 |
| ▼ |
19 |
18 |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
47 |
| ▼ |
20 |
19 |
Baker (Kan.) |
40 |
| Dropped from Top 20: N/A |
| Receiving Votes: Missouri Baptist 34; Friends (Kan.) 26; Midland (Neb.) 22; Saint Mary (Kan.) 21; Avila (Mo.) 20; Waldorf (Iowa) 17; Eastern Oregon 16; Westcliff (Calif.) 14; William Woods (Mo.) 13; Montreat (N.C.) 10; Rio Grande (Ohio)3; Lourdes (Ohio) 2 |
