CORALVILLE, Iowa — The West Liberty University women's wrestling team competed Friday at the inaugural 2026 NCAA Women's Wrestling National Championships at Xtream Arena, with Cassia Zammit highlighting the day by advancing to Saturday's final rounds and securing All-America honors with a guaranteed top-eight finish at 131 pounds.

Zammit turned in a strong opening day performance to reach the championship quarterfinals. She opened the tournament with an 11-4 decision over Mackenzie Childers (Wartburg) before adding a 3-0 victory against Janida Garcia (Emmanuel) in the first round of the championship bracket.

In the quarterfinals, Zammit battled in one of the tightest matches of the round, falling 3-2 to Aubre Krazer (Lehigh). She responded in the consolation bracket with an impressive technical fall over Madeline Barton (Quincy), 12-1, to clinch a spot in the final eight and guarantee All-America status.

Zammit will continue her tournament run Saturday on day two, competing for placement on the national podium.

At 124 pounds, Mariah Mills recorded two wins during the opening day of competition. She began the tournament with a 6-2 decision over Sophie Bowers (Wartburg) in the preliminary round.

After dropping into the consolation bracket following her championship bout, Mills bounced back with a 12-7 decision over Lauren Nguyen (Sacred Heart) before concluding her tournament run later in the consolation rounds.

At 117 pounds, Trinity Howard faced a challenging draw in the championship bracket. Howard dropped her opening-round bout before returning to the mat in the consolation round, where she was eliminated after a hard-fought match.

At 207 pounds, Jamie Shapton also battled through the bracket on opening day. After falling in her first match, Shapton stayed alive with a medical forfeit victory over Katianna Martinez (Marymount) in the consolation round before being eliminated later in the bracket.

 Zammit still in contention for a third-place finish after already securing All-America honors, will return to the mat Saturday.



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.