Life University coach Ashley Flavin visited the zoo after her team won the 2025 NAIA Women’s Freestyle Wrestling Championships on March 15. It wasn’t a literal visit, but rather a figurative one. 

Flavin had to return a monkey since it had been on her back for nearly a decade. The Running Eagles couldn’t put their talons into an end-of-year tournament title despite National Duals victories in three of the past four seasons. 

Not winning was getting old, and, for the Flavins (her husband, Christian, is the associate head coach), it felt more like a 500-pound gorilla instead of a monkey. 

2020 WCWA Championships: 2nd to Campbellsville

2021 NAIA Invitational Championships: 2nd to Campbellsville.

2022 NAIA Invitational Championships: 4th behind Campbellsville, Southern Oregon, and Menlo.

2023 NAIA Championships: 2nd to Southern Oregon.

2024 NAIA Championships: 2nd to Menlo.

All the pieces were in place for 2025 to be their year. All they had to do was pull a Happy Gilmore and tap it in. 

A team filled with proven stars and fresh talent made Life the NAIA team to beat, and that’s what they were all season. The Running Eagles bagged a National Duals crown by winning 36 of 40 individual matches, and scored a record 190.5 points at the NAIA Championships, 70 points ahead of runner-up Grand View.

Flavin had 10 All-Americans, including three champs and three runners-up. 

“It was a relief,” Flavin said during her interview with FloWrestling’s Andy Hamilton at the NWCA Coaches Convention. “It was a big weight and a big relief. 

“I was so grateful for the girls because they work so hard and put so much in. To see how excited they were and how they were doing it together was really awesome.” 

It could be more of the same in 2026.

Anaya Falcon, a national finalist at 110 pounds, won’t be on the mat for this college season, but the rest of the team is intact. 

National champions Zaynah McBryde, Jamilah McBryde, Latifah McBryde, and Savannah Isaac return, as do two-time finalists Sarah Savidge and Salyna Shotwell. The Flavins have 12 All-Americans in the line-up as they pursue back-to-back titles. 

No more monkeys. No more gorillas. Just Life.

2025-26 Life Overview

Head coach: Ashley Flavin (ninth season)

Associate head coach: Christian Flavin

2025 NAIA tournament finish: 1st

2025 NAIA tournament record: 42-17

2025 NAIA tournament points: 190.5

2025 dual record: 14-1

Returning All-Americans: 12 (Diana Gonzalez, Ariana Martinez, Salyna Shotwell, Anna Krejsa, Olivia Mottley, Sarah Savidge, Zaynah McBryde, Jamilah McBryde, Latifah McBryde, Yasmine Oliveira, Reka Busa, Savannah Isaac)

Last college national champion: Zaynah McBryde, Latifah McBryde, Savannah Issac (2025)

Highest national tournament finish: 1st (2025)

Highest national team finish under Flavin: 1st (2025)

Most national placers in a season under Flavin: 10 (2019, 2021, 2025)

Prospective Line-up (national placings in parentheses)

103 Pounds
Kat Hernandez
Alyssa Quezaire
Alicia Serratos

110 Pounds
Diana Gonzalez (6th)
Ariana Martinez (8th, 8th)

117 Pounds
Salyna Shotwell (2nd, 2nd)

124 Pounds
Anna Krejsa (6th)
Kennedy Russell

131 Pounds
Olivia Mottley (5th)
Sarah Savidge (2nd, 2nd, 6th)
Ty Mack

138 Pounds
Zaynah McBryde (2nd, 1st)
Netavia Wickson
Lexy Pabon

145 Pounds
Jamilah McBryde (3rd, 1st, 2nd)
Amelia Fawcett

160 Pounds
Latifah McBryde (2nd, 2nd, 1st)
Yasmine Oliveira (6th)
Ugochi Anunobi 

180 Pounds
Reka Busa (7th)

207 Pounds
Savannah Isaac (1st)
Maddy Welch