McKendree University etched its name in the history books by winning the inaugural NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships, edging out the University of Iowa 171 to 166 in a thrilling, down-to-the-wire team race. While the Bearcats celebrated their team trophy, wrestling fans in the Lone Star State had plenty to cheer about. Texas athletes delivered spectacular performances on the national stage, producing four All-Americans, a national champion, and the tournament’s top academic award winner.
Texas All-Americans Lead the Charge
Xochitl Mota-Pettis: 2026 NCAA Women’s National Championship: Champion
The highlight of the tournament for Texas came at 124 pounds, where Xochitl Mota-Pettis captured the national title for Quincy University. The Klein High School alum and former two-time Texas state champion was dominant throughout the bracket. She secured technical falls and pins on her way to the finals, where she capped off her run with a 10-0 technical fall over McKendree’s Shelby Moore in 5:49. Mota-Pettis finished the tournament scoring 25.5 team points.
Riley Rayome: 2026 NCAA Women’s National Championship: Runner-up
At 117 pounds, Riley Rayome made history as the first female wrestler from Texas to earn NCAA All-American honors. Wrestling for North Central College, the true freshman and The Woodlands High School graduate pinned and tech-falled her way to the championship match. In a hard-fought final, Rayome dropped a narrow 4-3 decision to McKendree’s Yu Sakamoto, a former U23 world champion. Rayome finished her spectacular freshman season with a 27-6 record and 18.5 team points.
Rewa Chababo (207 pounds): Representing Wartburg, the Mayde Creek High School graduate also earned a third-place finish. She edged out Iowa’s Katja Osteen in a tight 2-1 decision to secure her All-American status.
Excellence in the Classroom
The success of Texas women was not limited to the wrestling mat. Rockwall native Megan Edwards, a junior wrestling for Elmira College, was awarded the first-ever NCAA Women’s Wrestling Elite Scholar-Athlete award.
@ncaa Congratulations to Megan Edwards on winning the first-ever NC Women’s Wrestling #EliteScholar Athlete award! 📚 4.0 📖 History 🤼♀️ Elmira College Women’s Wrestling #NCAAWrestling ♬ original sound – NCAA
A History major boasting a perfect 4.0 GPA, Edwards exemplifies the ultimate student-athlete. She is a five-time Dean’s List honoree, a two-time NWCA Scholarship All-American, and even had her artwork featured in the George Waters Art Gallery. The Elite Scholar-Athlete award is presented to the competitor with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site, proving that Texas wrestlers are dominating in both athletics and academics.
Texas Competitors at the NCAA Championships
A strong contingent of Texas wrestlers qualified for the historic tournament. Here is a look at the known athletes who represented the state:
| Name | High School | College | Weight Class | Region (Place) |
| Riley Rayome | Woodlands | North Central | 117 | Region IV (1) |
| Xochitl Mota-Pettis | Klein | Quincy | 124 | Region V (1) |
| Annesley Day | Round Rock | Tiffin | 124 | Region IV (3) |
| Megan Edwards | Rockwall | Elmira | 124 | Region I (1) |
| Selena Sifuentes Shaffer | Smithson Valley | Sacred Heart | 145 | Region I (2) |
| Madeline Hodges | Midlothian | Sacred Heart | 180 | Region I (2) |
| Rewa Chababo | Mayde Creek | Wartburg | 207 | Region V (1) |
| Esther Peters | Allen | Chadron State | 207 | Region VI (3) |
| Elizabeth Stricklin | Winston Churchill | D’Youville | 207 | Region I (3) |
2026 NCAA Women’s National Championship Texas Results:
117 lbs: Riley Rayome (North Central, IL)
- Result: Placed 2nd (18.5 team points)
- Final Record: 27-6
- Champ. Round 1: Won by fall over Nohea Moniz (Sacred Heart), 0:49
- Quarterfinal: Won by decision over Abigail Cooper (Lehigh), 9-4
- Semifinal: Won by tech fall over Karissa Turnwall (Emmanuel, GA), 12-2
- 1st Place Match: Lost by decision to Yu Sakamoto (McKendree), 4-3
124 lbs: Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Quincy)
- Result: Placed 1st (25.5 team points)
- Final Record: 11-1
- Champ. Round 1: Won by tech fall over Laura Alcantar Soto (Simon Fraser), 12-1
- Quarterfinal: Won by fall over Savannah Witt (Eastern), 4:33
- Semifinal: Won by tech fall over Lorianna Piestewa (Colorado Mesa), 10-0
- 1st Place Match: Won by tech fall over Shelby Moore (McKendree), 10-0
124 lbs: Annesley Day (Tiffin)
- Result: Did Not Place (3.0 team points)
- Final Record: 41-9
- Prelim: Won by fall over Jayleah Pletz (Lock Haven), 4:38
- Champ. Round 1: Lost by tech fall to Alyssa Mahan (Presbyterian), 11-0
- Cons. Round 1: Lost by decision to Megan Edwards (Elmira), 16-10
124 lbs: Megan Edwards (Elmira)
- Result: Did Not Place (0.5 team points)
- Final Record: 39-8
- Champ. Round 1: Lost by tech fall to Sara Sterner (North Central, IL), 11-0
- Cons. Round 1: Won by decision over Annesley Day (Tiffin), 16-10
- Cons. Round 2: Lost by tech fall to Virginia Foard (King, TN), 10-0
145 lbs: Selena Sifuentes Shaffer (Sacred Heart)
- Result: Did Not Place (0.0 team points)
- Final Record: 16-15
- Prelim 1: Lost by tech fall to Cloe Charlesworth (Ursinus), 10-0
- Prelim 2: Lost by tech fall to Margaret Buurma (Grand Valley St.), 10-0
180 lbs: Madeline Hodges (Sacred Heart)
- Result: Did Not Place (0.5 team points)
- Final Record: 23-18
- Champ. Round 1: Lost by tech fall to Shenita Lawson (North Central, IL), 10-0
- Cons. Round 1: Won by decision over Journey Land (Mount Olive), 9-2
- Cons. Round 2: Lost by fall to Mia Gaetjens (Adrian), 1:09
207 lbs: Rewa Chababo (Wartburg)
- Result: Placed 3rd (12.5 team points)
- Final Record: 28-3
- Champ. Round 1: Won by decision over Esther Peters (Chadron St.), 2-1
- Quarterfinal: Won by decision over Katja Osteen (Iowa), 2-1
- Semifinal: Lost by tech fall to Tristan Kelly (McKendree), 11-0
- Cons. Semi: Won by decision over Jayleen Sekona (Colorado Mesa), 3-2
- 3rd Place Match: Won by decision over Katja Osteen (Iowa), 2-1
207 lbs: Esther Peters (Chadron St.)
- Result: Did Not Place (0.5 team points)
- Final Record: 19-8
- Champ. Round 1: Lost by decision to Rewa Chababo (Wartburg), 2-1
- Cons. Round 1: Won by decision over Talisha Lewis (Felician), 3-1
- Cons. Round 2: Lost by decision to Jayleen Sekona (Colorado Mesa), 10-5
207 lbs: Elizabeth Stricklin (D’Youville)
- Result: Did Not Place (0.5 team points)
- Final Record: 15-6
- Champ. Round 1: Lost by fall to Caroline Ward (North Central, IL), 1:21
- Cons. Round 1: Won by decision over Jamie Shapton (West Liberty), 3-1
- Cons. Round 2: Lost by fall to Katja Osteen (Iowa), 0:51
