The wait is over for the Menlo women’s wrestling team. The Oaks are transitioning from NAIA to NCAA Division II, but the process was longer than expected.
Menlo last competed in the postseason at the 2024 NAIA Championships, winning the title by 38 points over Life University. After a nearly three-year wait, head coach Michael Ayala will lead his team at the 2027 NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championships in Coralville, Iowa, on March 5-6.
“I’m excited we get the opportunity, but this doesn’t guarantee anything for our team,” Ayala said. “We know we have to earn the opportunity to represent Menlo at the national championship. We will continue to work hard and get what we earn.”
Menlo has a deep women’s wrestling tradition, highlighted by three team championships (2019 WCWA & NAIA and 2024 NAIA), 15 individual national titles across three divisions, and the first women’s college national champion, Sara Fulp-Allen (2004).
Menlo’s Individual National Champions
Below is the full NCAA release.
The NCAA Division II Management Council Subcommittee has overturned the Division II Membership Committee’s decision to deny a waiver request from Menlo, advancing the college to active Division II membership status, effective Sept. 11.
Menlo originally had been approved by the Division II Membership Committee to advance to the third year of the membership process, rather than active membership. After an appeal by the college, the Management Council Subcommittee reviewed the waiver request and voted to reverse the committee’s decision, granting Menlo active Division II status.
The action adds Menlo to the list of schools set to become active Division II members, joining the University of Jamestown, Point Park, Roosevelt, Sul Ross State, UT Dallas and the University of California, Merced, which were approved by the Division II Membership Committee after successfully completing the provisional membership process.
With the decision, Menlo is a full Division II member and eligible for NCAA championships and governance opportunities available to active members beginning with the 2026-27 academic year.
