WICHITA, Kan. – Dickinson State concluded its season at the 2026 NAIA Women's Wrestling National Championships with a 16th-place team finish, highlighted by a second consecutive national title from Jumoke Adekoye at 131 pounds. The two-day tournament was held March 13–14 at Heartland Credit Union Arena.
The Blue Hawks totaled 31.5 team points to place 16th in the final team standings. Life University captured the team championship with 169.0 points, followed by William Penn (158.5) and Grand View (145.5).
Dickinson State head coach Tyson Springer said the team represented the program well throughout the national tournament.
"It was a very exciting weekend of wrestling," Springer said. "Jenna really set the tone knocking off the No. 5 seed right away and then Jumoke just got on a roll and couldn't be stopped."
Adekoye led the Dickinson State effort with a dominant performance throughout the 131-pound bracket. The defending national champion secured her second straight title with five victories, including four technical falls.
She opened the tournament with a 10-0 technical fall over Bryce White of Oklahoma City before defeating Lexie Garza of Eastern Oregon by technical fall in the second round. Adekoye continued her run in the quarterfinals with another 10-0 technical fall against Alexis Schneider of Bismarck State.
In the semifinal round, Adekoye earned a 6-3 decision over Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp of Providence to advance to the championship match. She capped the tournament with a 10-0 technical fall over Olivia Mottley of Life in the finals to claim her second consecutive NAIA national title.
"Jumoke is just on another level," Springer said. "When it comes to the big stage she really narrows in her focus and just shows everyone why she is the best in the NAIA."
The championship accounted for 26 of Dickinson State's 31.5 team points during the tournament.
The Blue Hawks qualified five wrestlers for the national championship event, with competitors in the 110-, 117-, 124-, and 131-pound weight classes.
At 124 pounds, Jazmine Turner contributed three team points. After dropping her opening-round match to Kamilah Brooks of Lindsey Wilson, Turner rebounded in the consolation bracket with a fall over Isla Baeza of Missouri Valley. Her run ended in the next round after a loss to Lola Barkby of Indiana Tech.
Myriam Riley competed at 110 pounds and scored 0.5 team points. Riley received a first-round bye before falling to Eliana Martinez of Grand View. She responded with a 19-14 decision over Raelynn O'Connor of Hastings in the consolation bracket before being eliminated in the following round.
Jenna Gerhardt also competed in the 110-pound bracket and recorded two team points. Gerhardt earned a 4-0 decision over Diana Gonzalez of Life before falling in the quarterfinals to Kayla McNatt of Arizona Christian. She later dropped a consolation-round match to Chloe Brewis of Hastings.
At 117 pounds, Mikayla Jardine competed in her final tournament appearance for Dickinson State. Jardine was defeated in the opening round by Salyna Shotwell of Life before falling in the consolation bracket to Callie Payton of Lindsey Wilson.
Gerhardt and Jardine both concluded their collegiate careers at the national championships.
"It's very bittersweet to be honest," Springer said. "They both had amazing senior seasons climbing the rankings all year long. It's hard to put in words how much we'll miss them on the mat. Though the tournament didn't finish the way they had dreamed it would, they will always be some of the best to put on a singlet for the Blue Hawks."
Riley and Turner both competed in their first NAIA national championships, gaining experience that Springer believes will benefit the program moving forward.
"It's huge to get to the national tournament early in your college career to just see what the goal is we push for all year," Springer said. "Once you get a taste of making the national tournament and winning matches there, you start to envision yourself winning more matches and putting yourself on the podium. I think it will motivate them to work even harder next year."
