KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) released the Final Women's Wrestling Coaches' Top 20 Poll of the 2025-26 season on Wednesday. Following a weekend that saw three podium finishes at the Blue Raider Open, the Campbellsville University women's wrestling team checks in tied for #17, accumulating 53 points in the national rating.
- Following a strong showing at the Blue Raider Open, the Lady Tigers enter the postseason tied for #17 in the Final NAIA Women's Wrestling Coaches' Top 20 Poll, tallying 53 points.
- Freshman Makennah Craft maintains her spot as one of the nation's elite, remaining at #2 in the 103-pound weight class.
- Sophomore Kylee Tait capitalizes on her recent third-place finish at the Blue Raider Open, leaping into the top 10 to check in at #9 at 160 pounds.
- Junior Gabriella Perez holds steady at #9 at 145 pounds, while sisters Addison Messerly (124 lbs) and Olivia Messerly (131 lbs) round out the ranked Tigers at #17 and #20, respectively.
- Campbellsville boasts five nationally-ranked wrestlers in the final poll of the regular season, setting the stage for the upcoming Mid-South Conference Championship.
The Tigers share the 17th spot with Missouri Baptist and Baker (Kan.). Life (Ga.) continues to lead the national field heading into the postseason with 224 points, followed by Grand View (Iowa) and Providence (Mont.).
Five Lady Tigers are featured in the final individual national rankings as the team prepares for the Mid-South Conference Championship.
Leading the charge is freshman standout
Makennah Craft, who remains firmly planted at #2 in the 103-pound weight class with 62 points. Craft has been a dominant force all season and is primed for a deep postseason run.
Sophomore
Kylee Tait made the team's biggest jump in the final poll, moving up three spots to crack the top 10 at #9 in the 160-pound division with 40 points. Tait's rise comes on the heels of a resilient third-place showing at the Blue Raider Open, where she rattled off consecutive technical falls in the consolation bracket.
Junior
Gaby Perez gives the Tigers a third top-10 wrestler, checking in at #9 at 145 pounds with 41 points. Perez has been a steady, reliable scorer for Campbellsville all year against top-tier competition.
The Messerly sisters complete the ranked Tigers. After both secured podium finishes at the Blue Raider Open, junior
Addison Messerly is ranked #17 at 124 pounds with 14 points. Junior
Olivia Messerly, fresh off a dominant 131-pound championship at the Blue Raider Open, ranks #20 in her respective weight class with 8 points.
Campbellsville Individuals in Final NAIA Poll:
| TREND |
RANK |
LAST TIME |
INSTITUTION |
POINTS |
| ● |
1 |
1 |
Life (Ga.) |
224 |
| ● |
2 |
2 |
Grand View (Iowa) |
186 |
| ● |
3 |
3 |
Providence (Mont.) |
177 |
| ▲ |
4 |
5 |
William Penn (Iowa) |
166 |
| ▼ |
5 |
4 |
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) |
145 |
| ▲ |
6 |
7 |
Wayland Baptist (Texas) |
116 |
| ▲ |
7 |
8 |
Indiana Tech |
115 |
| ▲ |
8 |
10 |
Missouri Valley |
114 |
| ▲ |
9 |
11 |
Ottawa (Kan.) |
93 |
| ▼ |
10 |
9 |
Southern Oregon |
91 |
| ▲ |
11 |
12 |
Doane (Neb.) |
82 |
| ▼ |
12 |
6 |
Cumberlands (Ky.) |
77 |
| ● |
13 |
13 |
Texas Wesleyan |
75 |
| ● |
14 |
14 |
Hastings (Neb.) |
72 |
| ▲ |
15 |
17 |
Oklahoma City |
66 |
| ● |
16 |
16 |
Central Methodist (Mo.) |
56 |
| ▲ |
17 |
20 |
Missouri Baptist |
53 |
| ▼ |
17 |
15 |
Campbellsville (Ky.) |
53 |
| ▲ |
17 |
19 |
Baker (Kan.) |
53 |
| ▼ |
20 |
18 |
Evergreen State |
52 |
Key: RV - Receiving Votes | NR - Not Ranked | Climbed -▲ | Dropped -▼ | Steady - ●
Dropped from Top 20: N/A
Receiving Votes: Saint Mary 35, Dickinson State 31, Avila (Mo.) 24, Midland (Neb.) 23, Eastern Oregon 22, Waldorf (Iowa)17, Montreat 15, William Woods (Mo.) 15, Friends (Kan.) 13, Bismarck State 13, Westcliff (Calif.) 10, York (Neb.) 8, Georgetown (Ky.) 8.
