Walker Leads Warriors at NAIA Championships

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Midland University wrapped up its season over the weekend with three wrestlers competing in the 2024 NAIA Women's Wrestling National Championships. The Warriors joined the top grapplers from around the country inside Harold Newman Arena in Jamestown on Friday and Saturday. Emily Paulino and Zoe Omura represented the Warriors well, advancing to the quarterfinals, while Esther Walker wrapped up her stellar career, earning All-American status once again.

Walker and Omura both wrestled in the 101-pound weight class. Walker, the number four seed, received a first-round bye, then defeated Devyn Gomez of Life University, by technical fall, 13-3, at 4:00. In the quarterfinals, Walker outlasted fifth-seeded Alyssa Quezaire of Missouri Baptist University, 3-1, to earn All-American status, and advance to the semifinals. Walker took on the top seed Erin Hikiji of the University of Providence and suffered a 10-0 loss by technical fall, at 1:03. In the consolation semifinals, Walker defeated number-eight seed Audalie Cruz of Wayland Baptist University, 12-7, to advance to the third-place match. In a close battle, third-seeded Kayla Mckinley-Johnson of Menlo University recorded a victory over Walker, by fall, at 5:03, handing her a fourth-place finish.

Also, at 101, Zoe Omura batted for MU. After an opening-round bye, Omura defeated the number-six seed, Makayla Young of Indiana Tech, 11-10. In the quarterfinals, Omura suffered a loss to the third-seeded McKinley-Johnson of Menlo, dropping her into the consolation bracket. Omura bowed out of the competition when she was defeated by Cruz of Wayland Baptist, by fall, at 4:31.

Emily Paulino entered the 123-pound weight class as the number-six overall seed. In the first round, Paulino defeated Josie Davis of Campbellsville University, by fall, at 2:10. In round two, Paulino earned a 14-9 decision over Paige Chafin of Eastern Oregon University, to get to the quarterfinals. Paulino suffered her first loss when she lost to number-three seed Maya Davis of Grand View University, 8-4. Paulino's day ended in the consolation third round when she lost, by fall, to Haley Narahara of Menlo, at 5:15.

The Warriors scored a total of 20 points in the national championship meet, placing 21st as a team. Esther Walker leaves the Midland program as the school's all-time winningest wrestler and as a two-time NAIA All-American. Omura and Paulino will look to lead a talented young group of Warriors, heading into their senior seasons next year.