OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The Evergreen State College women's wrestling team was ranked #20 in the final NAIA Women's Wrestling Top 20 Poll for the 2025-26 season released on Feb. 18. Four Evergreen wrestlers were listed in the individual national rankings for their respective weight classes.
Evergreen is in its third season of intercollegiate competition in women's wrestling. This is the first season that Evergreen has been ranked in the Top 20 in the final poll. Last year, the Geoducks received votes in the final poll but were not in the Top 20.
Life University (Ga.) ended this year's regular season ranked #1 in the NAIA Poll with 224 points. Grand View University (Iowa) maintained the #2 ranking with 186 points. The #3 team was University of Providence, from the Cascade Collegiate Conference, with 177 points. William Penn University (Iowa) advanced one spot to #4 in the final poll at 166 points. Lindsey Wilson University (Ky.) dropped one position to #5 with 145 points.
Evergreen and Providence were joined in the NAIA Poll by fellow CCC member Southern Oregon University at #10. Eastern Oregon University and Westcliff University (Calif.), also from the CCC, each received votes but were not in the Top 20.
The four wrestlers from Evergreen listed in the final NAIA individual rankings were
Shannon Workinger (Jr.) in the 160-pound weight class,
Haley Le (Fr.) in the 138-pound weight class,
Ellabelle Taylor (Jr.) in the 124-pound weight class, and
Nizhoni Tallman (Sr.) in the 110-pound weight class.
Workinger continued to be ranked #4 in the 160-pound weight class. Latifah McBryde from Life University held the #1 ranking. Allyssa Johnson from Central Methodist University (Mo.) was ranked #2, and Mercy Adekuoroye of Wayland Baptist was included at #3. Just behind Workinger in the rankings was Aspen Dodge from Providence at #5.
Taylor moved up one position to #8 in the rankings for the 124-pound weight class. Cristelle Rodriguez from Doane University (Neb.) remained #1, while Rose Kaplan of Indiana Tech stayed in the #2 spot. Anna Krejsa of Life moved into the #3 rankings, and Kamilah Brooks from Lindsey Wilson slipped one spot to #4.
Haley Le was jumped up six positions to #7 in the final rankings at 138 pounds. Esther Kolawole from William Penn advanced one spot to grab the #1 ranking in the weight class. Zaynah McBryde of Life dropped from #1 to #2. Samantha Barragan of Texas Wesleyan University remained at #3.
Tallman ended the regular season ranked #17 in 110-pound weight class. Mia Palumbo from William Penn held the #1 ranking, and Avery Ashley from Oklahoma City University was ranked #2. Paige Morales of Providence was listed at #3.
The Geoducks will return to action on Sunday, March 1 at the 2026 Cascade Collegiate Conference Women's Wrestling Championships. The tournament will be hosted by Southern Oregon University at Riehm Arena in Ashland, Oregon.
