North Carolina Women Shine at 2025 NHSCA Nationals
North Carolina women delivered a milestone performance at the 2025 NHSCA Nationals, finishing with seven All-Americans and ranking fourth in the country. The result more than doubled last year’s total of three All-Americans and marked the first time the state crowned multiple national champions at the event.
This improvement signals a shift in the national landscape, with North Carolina joining the ranks of traditional powerhouses such as California, Florida, and Virginia — the only states to produce multiple champions in 2025.
National Champion Faith Bane
National Champion Taylor Williams
2025 NHSCA All- Americans
National Champion Faith Bane (145 lbs) – New Bern
Faith Bane (New Bern) claimed the NHSCA national title at 145 lbs with a perfect 5-0 tournament record. She defeated #7 seed Maddie Cooper (CT) by fall in the quarterfinals and secured the championship with a fall in the finals. Bane is the first NC women’s champion at NHSCA in this weight class.
National Champion Taylor Williams (152 lbs) – Kernersville
Taylor Williams (Kernersville) went 4-0 at 152 lbs to earn a national title and cement her status as one of the country’s elite competitors. She recorded the tournament’s biggest upset by pinning #1 seed Angelinah DeLeon (CA) in the semifinals, followed by a dominant performance in the finals.
4th Place Finisher Isabella Hernandez (132 lbs) – Fayetteville
Isabella Hernandez (Fayetteville) finished 4th at 132 lbs with an outstanding 7-1 record, the most wins by any NC female wrestler at the tournament. She defeated #4 seed Kimber Alford (AL) by decision, 6-2, in the consolation semifinals and displayed consistency throughout a deep bracket.
6th Place Finisher Sara Warren (100 lbs) – Raeford
Sara Warren (Raeford) posted a 4-3 record at 100 lbs to place 6th and earn All-American honors. She opened her tournament with a fall over #6 seed Esperanza Gallegos (NM) in the round of 64 and battled through a tough bracket to reach the podium.
6th Place Finisher Kaylah Evans (152 lbs) – Catawba
Kaylah Evans (Catawba) went 2-3 in one of the tournament’s most competitive brackets, finishing 6th at 152 lbs. She reached the quarterfinals after two strong wins and was part of a dominant performance by NC in the 152-pound weight class.
7th Place Finisher Daniella Jenkins (235 lbs) – Harrisburg
Daniella Jenkins (Harrisburg) placed 7th at 235 lbs with a 3-1 record. She pinned #6 seed Ayanna Omollo (TN) in the consolation round of 8 and notched quick falls throughout the event, including a 45-second pin.
8th Place Finisher Stephanie Diaz Mendoza (152 lbs) – Haw River
Stephanie Diaz Mendoza (Haw River) earned 8th place at 152 lbs with a 4-1 record. She was one of three NC wrestlers to reach All-American status in the 152-pound division, showcasing consistent performances throughout the bracket.
Notable Performances
Khiry Reese (107 lbs) – La Grange
Khiry Reese (La Grange) posted a 5-2 tournament record at 107 lbs and narrowly missed All-American status. She recorded multiple wins by fall, including a 3:35 pin in the round of 64.
Waylan Collins (120 lbs) – Cleveland
Waylan Collins (Cleveland) went 4-2 at 120 lbs with a strong showing in a competitive weight class. She defeated #7 seed Samantha Maestas (CO) by decision, 8-6.
Zainab Hijawi (107 lbs) – Winterville
Zainab Hijawi (Winterville) finished 4-1 at 107 lbs and defeated multiple quality opponents throughout the bracket. She showed tremendous potential for future tournaments.
Emma Yopp (165 lbs) – Bolivia
Emma Yopp (Bolivia) posted a 3-2 record at 165 lbs and earned two impressive wins over seeded opponents. She pinned #6 seed Alexandra Lubczenko (NY) in the round of 32 and #7 seed Maddox Zuniga (MD) in the consolation round.
Avery Daley (235 lbs) – New Bern
Avery Daley (New Bern) scored one of the tournament’s biggest upsets by pinning #2 seed Chykiya Miller (MS) in the round of 16. Her performance highlighted the depth and quality of North Carolina’s heavyweight division.
Big Wins: North Carolina women scored 10 victories over seeded opponents
- Taylor Williams over #1 seed Angelinah Deleon (CA)
- Avery Daley over #2 seed Chykiya Miller (MS)
- Isabella Hernandez over #4 seed Kimber Alford (AL)
- Madelyn Korvink over #5 seed Olivia Byington (UT)
- Sara Warren over #6 seed Esperanza Gallegos (NM)
- Emma Yopp over #6 seed Alexandra Lubczenko (NY)
- Daniella Jenkins over #6 seed Ayanna Omollo (TN)
- Waylan Collins over #7 seed Samantha Maestas (CO)
- Emma Yopp over #7 seed Maddox Zuniga (MD)
- Faith Bane over #7 seed Maddie Cooper (CT)
A Historic Year for NC Women’s Wrestling
The 2025 performance marked a dramatic improvement from 2024, where North Carolina had just 3 All-Americans and no champions. The state jumped from 14th nationally to 4th, trailing only traditional powerhouses Florida (13), California (12), and Georgia (6).
Most impressively, North Carolina tied with California, Florida, and Virginia for the most national champions with 2, despite having significantly fewer entries than many larger states. This achievement represents a watershed moment for North Carolina women’s wrestling, firmly establishing the state as an emerging national power.
The balanced distribution across weight classes—from 100 pounds to 235 pounds—demonstrates the growing depth and breadth of women’s wrestling in North Carolina. With strong performances across multiple weight classes and two national champions leading the way, the 2025 NHSCA Nationals represents a turning point for North Carolina women’s wrestling on the national stage.
When combined with the state’s outstanding performances in the boys’ divisions, where NC seniors led the nation with 9 All-Americans, the 2025 NHSCA Nationals represents a watershed moment for North Carolina wrestling, with both the men’s and women’s programs establishing themselves among the nation’s elite.
