As far as predictions are concerned, it’s a safe bet that Menlo and Grand View will be in the mix for the team title at the 2024 NAIA Championships in Jamestown, North Dakota, on March 8-9. 

Only one team can win, of course, but both these teams show up when it counts. 

The Vikings return from a program-high third-place finish thanks to eight All-Americans and a finals appearance by Alexis Gomez at 143 pounds. A handful of freshmen will bolster the line-up as Grand View charges toward its first women’s wrestling championship.

Progress is the name of the game for the Vikings as the team enters its fifth season. The NAIA Championships were canceled in 2020 but head coach Angelo Crinzi has built a team that gets better every year, with championship finishes of eight, sixth, and third.

“We’re in season five right now and it’s crazy to think we just started,” Grand View assistant Arelys Valles said. “We have a really good group with a big freshmen class and a bunch of returners coming back, and we have six All-Americans returning. We’re really excited for this year.” 

Grand View And Menlo At The NAIA Championships

Menlo won the inaugural NAIA Invitational Championships in 2019 but didn’t return to the tournament until 2022 since the 2020 championship was canceled and the school banned competition due to COVID in 2021. 

The Oaks have eight returning All-Americans and are the early-season favorite to take the title. 

Below are prospective line-ups for both teams along with interviews with Grand View’s Cailin and Catie Campbell. 

Prospective Grand View Line-up

101 pounds
Jalen Bets

109 pounds
Eva Diaz

116 pounds
Cailin Campbell

123 pounds
Maya Davis (2023 AA 3rd)
Catie Campbell (2023 AA 6th)

130 pounds
Adrienna Turner (2022 AA 6th)

136 pounds
Andrea Schlabach (3x AA 3rd, 3rd, 6th)

143 pounds
Madison Diaz (2x AA 5th, 8th)

155 pound
Mahealani Ramirez

170 pounds
Abby McIntyre (2x AA 7th, 3rd)

191 pounds
Olivia Brown (AA 5th)
Natalie Villegas (2022 AA 6th)

Prospective Menlo Line-up

101 pounds
Kayla Mckinley-Johnson (AA 5th)
Tianna Fernandez (2x AA 8th, 7th)

109 pounds
Hayden Fry
Micaela Correa
Nalani Kirkman

116 pounds
Ajayzee Zaballos

123 pounds
Alana Vivas (2x AA 3rd, 2nd)
Haley Narahara (AA 4th)

130 pounds
Louisa Schwab (AA 7th)

136 pounds
Stephanie Chavez
Sam Carragan (AA 8th)

143 pounds
Desiree Jones (AA 8th)

155 pounds
Shannon Workinger (AA 5th)
Alexandra Lopez

170 pounds
Alia Abushi (AA 8th)
Kalila Shrive

191 pounds
Tavia Heidelberg-Tillotson (3x AA 2nd, 2nd, 4th)

Hear from Grand View 116-pounder Cailin Campbell above and her twin sister, Catie, below