Rodriguez Wins Third National Title
WICHITA, Kan. – The Doane Tigers women's wrestling capped the 2026 season with a 13th-place finish at the NAIA Women's Wrestling National Championships, scoring 37.5 team points and highlighted by a national championship from Cristelle Rodriguez.
Doane was one of four Great Plains Athletic Conference teams represented in the team standings, finishing ahead of several nationally ranked programs.
National Champion
At 124 pounds, Cristelle Rodriguez delivered a dominant performance throughout the tournament, claiming the national title with four technical falls. Rodriguez opened with a 10-0 technical fall over Myia Weiler of Southern Oregon before defeating Kaitlin Castro of Cumberlands by another 10-0 tech fall in the quarterfinals.
In the semifinals, Rodriguez shut out Vicky Baez-Dilone of William Penn with an 11-0 technical fall, advancing to the championship match. She closed the tournament with another emphatic victory, defeating Rose Kaplan of Indiana Tech 10-0 by technical fall to secure the NAIA national championship.
For her efforts in the tournament, she was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament, an award she also received in 2024.
On the season, Rodriguez finished 20-0 with all wins coming via tech fall or fall. She wrapped up her career with 59 straight victories and went 68-0 in the 123/124 lbs weight class and 85-2 overall.
Her final collegiate honor came with the announcement of the NAIA Women's Wrestler of the Year. She received the honor for the third straight season.
Rodriguez scored 26 team points for the Tigers with her title run.
All-American Finish
At 117 pounds, Angelica Vicente Gonzalez earned All-American honors with an eighth-place finish, scoring 8.5 team points.
After dropping her opening contested match to third-seeded Zao Estrada of Missouri Valley, Gonzalez battled through the consolation bracket. She recorded back-to-back pins, defeating Lakota Rogers of Bismarck State in 29 seconds and Midland's Taylor Hood in 1:01. Gonzalez then added a 7-3 decision over Addison Saporito of Ottawa to reach the placing rounds.
She ultimately finished eighth after falling to Carolina Rios of Texas Wesleyan and Joely Slyter of Providence in the seventh-place match.
Other Tiger Performances
103 – Karina Vang
Vang received a first-round bye before falling to Alexsys Jacquez of Saint Mary by technical fall. She later dropped a consolation match to Liana Ferreira of Southern Oregon.
103 – Kimberly Navarette
Navarette fell in the opening round to Calli Connally of Wayland Baptist before receiving a consolation bye. Her tournament ended with a loss to Southern Oregon's Liana Ferreira.
131 – Ashlee Palimo'o
Palimo'o advanced to the second round after a bye but was pinned by Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp of Providence. She later fell to Elizabeth Duvall of Texas Wesleyan in the consolation bracket.
145 – Bridgette Sotomayor
Sotomayor faced top-seeded Jordan Suarez of Wayland Baptist in the opening round and later dropped a consolation match to Maggie Ortmann of Missouri Baptist.
180 – Yazmin Belk
Belk's tournament included matches against Kathryn Hingano of Southern Oregon and Payton Sholander of Wayland Baptist.
207 – Jessica Rodriguez
Rodriguez earned a first-round pin over Skyler Bruno of Waldorf in 1:56, contributing three team points. She later fell to Kena Leonard of Ottawa and Hayeni Costa of Lindsey Wilson.
Team Standings
Doane finished 13th nationally with 37.5 points, while Life University captured the team title with 169 points.
The Tigers' performance was highlighted by one national champion and one All-American, continuing the program's presence on the national stage.
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