Avila Earns All-America Honors as Warriors Wrap Season at Nationals

PARK CITY, Kan. – Three Midland University wrestlers competed at the 2026 NAIA Women's Wrestling National Championships at Heartland Credit Union Arena on Friday and Saturday. The Warriors scored 15.5 points and finished 23rd in the team standings.

Taylor Hood represented Midland at 117 pounds. After receiving an opening-round bye, the No. 11 seed dropped her first bout to sixth-seeded Grace Lashinsky of Lindsey Wilson by technical fall, 10-0, at 4:09. In the consolation round, Hood was defeated by 19th-seeded Angelica Vicente Gonzalez of Doane by fall at 1:01. Hood finished the season with a 19-12 record.

Maci Avila earned All-American honors with a fourth-place finish in the 138-pound bracket. Following an opening-round bye, the No. 6 seed defeated 11th-seeded Natalia Posada of Oklahoma City by technical fall, 10-0, at 1:21. Avila then fell to third-seeded Samantha Barragan of Texas Wesleyan by fall at 2:26 in the quarterfinals. She rebounded in the consolation bracket with a technical fall victory over 31st-seeded Ruth Jimenez of the Cumberlands, 10-0, at 4:55. Avila secured All-American status with an 11-4 decision over seventh-seeded Reagan Gallaway of Hastings, then added a 13-6 decision against 21st-seeded Aileen Lester of Ottawa in the consolation semifinals. In the third-place match, Avila suffered her second loss to Barragan, falling by technical fall, 12-2, at 2:01. She concluded the season with a 25-9 record.

Ja'Nya Banks competed in the 160-pound bracket. After an opening-round bye, the No. 12 seed lost to fifth-seeded Aspen Dodge of Providence by fall at 4:32. Banks was then defeated in the consolation round by 19th-seeded Sierra Mefford of the Cumberlands by a 9-1 decision. She wrapped up the season with a 12-11 record.