West Liberty, W.Va. The brackets are set for the 2026 NCAA Women's Wrestling National Championships, and four wrestlers from West Liberty University now know their paths to the podium.
Trinity Howard (117), Mariah Mills (124), Cassia Zammit (131), and Jamie Shapton (207) will represent the Hilltoppers on the national stage as the inaugural NCAA National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships get underway March 6-7 in Coralville, Iowa.
Each Hilltopper faces a challenging draw in a bracket loaded with nationally ranked talent.
Howard opens her tournament against seventh-seeded Shea Reisel (22-2) of Dubuque in the championship first round.
Reisel enters with 22 wins and a top-eight seed, meaning Howard will immediately face one of the bracket's favorites. The top half of the 117-pound bracket is anchored by No. 1 seed Yu Sakamoto (McKendree), while second-seeded Karissa Turnwall (Emmanuel) sits on the opposite side.
A win would propel Howard into the quarterfinals against the winner of No. 2 Karissa Turnwall and Jenna Anderson (Presbyterian). If she drops to the consolation bracket, Howard would still have a path to the podium through wrestlebacks.
Mills draws Jayleah Pletz (30-11) of Lock Haven in the opening round at 124 pounds.
The bracket is headlined by No. 1 Sara Sterner (North Central) and No. 2 Virginia Foard (King), but Mills sits in a competitive quarter of the draw that includes third-seeded Xochitl Mota-Pettis (Quincy) and sixth-seeded Savannah Witt (Eastern).
A first-round victory would move Mills into a quarterfinal bout against the winner of No. 7 Lorianna Piestewa (Colorado Mesa) and Lauren Nguyen (Sacred Heart).
Zammit, who enters nationals with 29 wins, will face Agnia Krakovska (18-5) of Simon Fraser in her first-round matchup.
The 131-pound bracket features a loaded top side with No. 1 Cameron Guerin (McKendree) and No. 2 Aubre Krazer (Lehigh), both unbeaten entering the championship.
Should Zammit advance, she would meet the winner of No. 3 Alexis Janiak (Aurora) and Jazmene Molina (Western New England) in the quarterfinals.
At 207 pounds, Shapton will square off against Alivia Davey (3-1) of Illinois Wesleyan in the opening round.
The bracket's top seeds include No. 1 Tristan Kelly (McKendree) and No. 2 Sabrina Nauss (Grand Valley State), while third-seeded Caroline Ward (North Central) and fourth-seeded Rewa Chababo (Wartburg) round out a deep field.
A win would move Shapton into a quarterfinal matchup against the winner of No. 8 Maria Aiono (Presbyterian) and No. 5 Katja Osteen (Iowa).
West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students' aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.
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