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North Carolina women delivered a milestone performance at the 2025 NHSCA Nationals, earning seven All-America honors and finishing fourth nationally. The total more than doubled the state's three placers from 2024, and Faith Bane and Taylor Williams became its first pair of champions at the same NHSCA Nationals.
Two national champions
Seven All-Americans
Faith Bane
Champion145 lbs · New Bern · 5–0
Bane completed a perfect tournament, pinned No. 7 Maddie Cooper in the quarterfinals and won the championship by fall.
Taylor Williams
Champion152 lbs · Kernersville · 4–0
Williams produced the tournament's biggest upset by pinning top-seeded Angelinah DeLeon in the semifinals before a dominant finals performance.
Isabella Hernandez
4th132 lbs · Fayetteville · 7–1
Hernandez recorded the most wins by a North Carolina woman and defeated No. 4 Kimber Alford, 6–2.
Sara Warren
6th100 lbs · Raeford · 4–3
Warren opened with a fall over No. 6 Esperanza Gallegos and battled through the bracket to the podium.
Kaylah Evans
6th152 lbs · Catawba · 2–3
Evans earned two early victories and became one of three North Carolina All-Americans at 152 pounds.
Daniella Jenkins
7th235 lbs · Harrisburg · 3–1
Jenkins pinned No. 6 Ayanna Omollo and recorded multiple quick falls, including one in 45 seconds.
Stephanie Diaz Mendoza
8th152 lbs · Haw River · 4–1
Diaz Mendoza completed North Carolina's three-wrestler All-America showing at 152 pounds.
Depth beyond the podium
Khiry Reese finished 5–2 at 107, Waylan Collins went 4–2 at 120, Zainab Hijawi posted a 4–1 record at 107 and Emma Yopp finished 3–2 at 165. Avery Daley added a major upset at 235 by pinning the No. 2 seed.
Ten wins over seeded opponents
A breakthrough year
North Carolina rose from 14th nationally in 2024 to fourth in 2025, behind only Florida, California and Georgia. The state tied California, Florida and Virginia for the most individual champions, despite entering fewer wrestlers than many larger states.
Placers spanning 100 through 235 pounds demonstrated growing depth across the state and marked a turning point for North Carolina women's wrestling.