Taina Fernandez Makes Maryland Wrestling History, Becomes First Female MIAA Champion
Ranked nationally among girls and boys, Fernandez’s dramatic 5-4 championship win powered Spalding to a team title and etched her name alongside Maryland wrestling legends.
Billy Buckheit | Feb 12, 2026
Taina Fernandez discusses strategy with coach Brian Leitzel at the MIAA Championships, where she made history as the tournament’s first female champion. / Trini Navia
Archbishop Spalding’s Taina Fernandez achieved another history making milestone by becoming the first female to win a MIAA Wrestling Tournament Title.
A Historic Night in the Toughest Conference
Traditionally the toughest conference in Maryland. The MIAA is a premier collection of private schools that have a monopoly on the Legacy Wrestling State Rankings with six of the state’s top ranked teams doing their work out the MIAA “A” Conference. “Once I reached the finals, knowing that I would make history if I won, I just tried to block that thought from my mind,” revealed Fernandez. “Although it would sneak its way into my head every now and then, I just keep reminding myself that I’m going to go out there and wrestle to the very best of my ability, just like I do in every other match. “There was extra pressure from that (potential to be first girls champ), especially at first, as I thought about it the days leading up to the tournament. However, I think once the day of the tournament came, I just knew I was going to do my best, regardless of whether it resulted in a win or a loss. Most importantly, I just kept reminding myself of how grateful I was to be able to compete at all, and that I knew my team and coaches had my back through it all.”
Taina Fernandez shows off her Outstanding Wrestler Award and championship Gold Medal after becoming the first female champion at the MIAA Wrestling Tournament. / Trini Navia
More Than a Milestone — A Team Difference-Maker
Fernandez’s Spalding conglomerate is ranked number one in Maryland as is Taina amongst the 140-pound girls in the state and nationally as well for High School on SI. Fernandez is ranked third on the boys list at 138 pounds by Legacy Wrestling in Maryland. The junior’s title winning efforts last Saturday at the Gilman School aided her Cavaliers’ title defense over Mount Saint Joseph, 274.5-266.
Fernandez taking down a St. Joe foe in the finals helped the cause as without that win, the Cavaliers would have fallen to the Gaels, 270.5-270. It was trending towards the top-seeded Fernandez finally suffering a defeat to a boy that was not a teammate as the Cavalier trailed 4-2 with 25 seconds left on the clock. … more at … https://www.si.com/high-school/maryland/taina-fernandez-makes-maryland-wrestling-history-becomes-first-female-miaa-champion-01kh92zjs75w
At the end of the regular season, Union Pines leads boys dual-team wrestling statewide top 25
The top 10 at the end of the regular season: Union Pines, Uwharrie Charter, Trinity, New Bern, Lumberton, Davie County, Northwest Guilford, Cardinal Gibbons, Hough, and Pisgah.
Union Pines remains the No. 1 team in HighSchoolOT’s statewide high school boys dual-team wrestling rankings at the end of the regular season.
Three Triangle teams joined the rankings since midseason: Millbrook, Apex, and Athens Drive.
New Bern made the biggest move up the rankings from midseason and now sits at No. 4.
HighSchoolOT Boys Dual-Team Wrestling Statewide Top 25
End-of-Regular-Season Rankings
Union Pines (37-1)
Uwharrie Charter (33-0)
Trinity (28-0)
New Bern (32-1)
Lumberton (21-0)
Davie County (23-2)
Northwest Guilford (22-1)
Cardinal Gibbons (15-4)
Hough (27-5)
Pisgah (23-1)
St. Stephens (35-2)
Dudley (30-0)
Eastern Guilford (58-1)
Pinecrest (23-4)
Jacksonville (23-2)
Topsail (15-3)
West Rowan (13-1)
White Oak (15-2)
Laney (33-8) … more at … https://www.highschoolot.com/story/boys-dual-team-wrestling-2025-26-statewide-rankings/22240735/
Conference boys wrestling standings at the end of the regular season
Dual-team playoff teams have an asterisk next to them. Conference and co-conference champions have a circumflex (^) above them.
Below are the NCHSAA boys wrestling conference standings for the 2025-26 season. Playoff teams will have an asterisk (*) next to them. Conference and co-conference champions have a circumflex (^) next to them.
Dual team wrestling playoff projections for the 2026 postseason
Conferences with at least one 8A or 7A school
Big Carolina (7A/6A)
^*New Bern 32-1 (5-0)
*Jacksonville 23-2 (4-1)
*White Oak 15-2 (3-2)
D.H. Conley 9-15 (2-3)
South Central 8-15 (1-4)
J.H. Rose 4-13 (0-5) … more at … https://www.highschoolot.com/story/nchsaa-boys-wrestling-conference-standings-for-the-2025-26-season-/22309084/
Trojans Split Matches Against Emmanuel and Bluefield State
MOUNT OLIVE, NC – The University of Mount Olive women’s wrestling program defeated Bluefield State, who was scheduled, but forfeited their match, before falling to Emmanuel University, 37-9, on Friday afternoon in Conference Carolinas action at Kornegay Arena. Emmanuel secured bonus points in eight bouts, while Mount Olive earned victories at 110 and 138 pounds in the league dual.
Emmanuel opened the match with a technical fall at 103 before Lilian Prendergast answered for the Trojans with a decision at 110 pounds. The Lions regained momentum with a series of bonus-point victories through the middle of the lineup before Kalyse Hill recorded a first-period fall at 138 to account for Mount Olive’s second win of the afternoon.
Emmanuel closed the dual with three straight falls in the upper weights to secure the 37-9 decision.
Match Results
- 103: Rebekah Jean-Baptiste (Emmanuel) def. Aspen Cook (Mount Olive), TF 16-1 (2:12)
- 110: Lilian Prendergast (Mount Olive) def. Haley Zinninger (Emmanuel), Dec. 5-2
- 117: Karissa Turnwall (Emmanuel) def. Katie Simmons (Mount Olive), TF 15-0 (0:27) … more at … https://umotrojans.com/news/2026/2/12/womens-wrestling-trojans-compete-against-emmanuel-in-league-action.aspx
Runnin’ Bulldogs Score Road SoCon Win at Presbyterian, 31-10
CLINTON, S.C. – The Gardner-Webb wrestling team made it back to back Southern Conference victories on Thursday night, winning 31-10 at Presbyterian
On Thursday night, the Runnin’ Bulldogs jumped out to a 23-3 lead and never really looked back. Gardner-Webb opened the match by winning five of the first six bouts, eventually cruising to a 31-10 win. Highlights from the Runnin’ Bulldogs second consecutive Southern Conference win include senior Josh McCutchen, who again wrestling up a class at 285 pounds, easily defeated Morvens Saint Jean by 7-2 decision. Nationally ranked redshirt sophomore T.K. Davis also impressed, running his individual record to 17-1 and a perfect 5-0 in the SoCon with a 17-2 tech fall over Dallas Canoyer at 133 pounds
UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb is back in action for Senior Day on Sunday, February 15th to host VMI
FULL RESULTS
184 – Andrew Wilson (GW) def. Kyser Kostoff (PC) by Dec., 8-5
197 – Reed Douglass (PC) def. Hadyn Danals (GW) by Dec., 8-6
285 – Josh McCutchen (GW) def. Morvens Saint Jean (PC) by Dec., 7-2
125 – Tyson Lane (GW) def. Fernando Dominguez (PC) by Fall, 2:15
133 – T.K. Davis (GW) def. Dallas Canoyer (PC) by TF, 17-2
141 – Dominic DiTullio (GW) def. Jayden Morris (PC) by Fall, 2:49
149 – Joseph Morris (PC) def. Charlie Sly (GW) by Dec., 5-4
157 – Joseph Giordano (GW) def. Phil Cuttino (PC) by MD, 18-4
165 – Ryan Mann (PC) def. Gunter Gerstenacker (GW) by MD, 8-0 … more at … https://gwusports.com/news/2026/2/13/wrestling-runnin-bulldogs-score-road-socon-win-at-presbyterian-31-10.aspx
And …
Men’s Wrestling Foiled by Runnin’ Bulldogs
CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College men’s wrestling team was unsuccessful in the penultimate dual of the regular season, winning three singular matches but falling to Gardner-Webb on Thursday night by a 31-10 count.
On an evening where eight Blue Hose seniors were recognized in a pre-match ceremony, PC fell victim to a 23-0 run by the visitors from Boiling Springs.
Reed Douglass – wrestling a weight class higher than his normal category of 184 – still managed to stay undefeated in SoCon events as he outlasted Hadyn Danals with an 8-6 decision. He is now 6-0 in league contests this winter.
The Scotsmen finally stopped G-W’s scoring spree with a 5-4 victory from Joseph Morris in the 149-lb. match. True freshman Ryan Mann also snagged an 8-0 MD in the second-to-last bout over Gunter Gerstenacker.
Those recognized for Senior Night festivities: Brayden Adams, Fernando Dominguez, Trenton Donahue, George Hopkins, Brandon Jacoby, Ryan Luna, Morvens Saint Jean, and Joshua Williams. … more at … https://gobluehose.com/news/2026/2/12/mens-wrestling-mens-wrestling-foiled-by-runnin-bulldogs.aspx
NCHSAA dual team wrestling championship sites announced
While the 8A and 1A brackets are down to just four teams and will host both East and West regional finals, all other classifications will host quarterfinals, semifinals, and championships on Tuesday.
By J. Mike Blake , HighSchoolOT Senior Contributor
The N.C. High School Athletic Association’s dual-team wrestling championships have their new host sites.
While the 8A and 1A brackets are down to just four teams and will host both East and West regional finals, all other classifications will host quarterfinals, semifinals, and championships.
The championships were all originally scheduled for the Greensboro Fieldhouse, with all the earlier rounds at high schools, but due to two snowstorms that hit North Carolina, the entire postseason had to shift.
All championships will be on Tuesday. Tickets are $15.
These are the host sites:
1A — South Davidson
8A — Northwest Guilford
7A — Athens Drive (Cardinal Gibbons is the “host”)
6A — Union Pines
5A — Cedar Ridge
4A — Uwharrie Charter
3A — Wheatmore
2A — East Wilkes … more at … https://www.highschoolot.com/story/nchsaa-dual-team-wrestling-playoff-results-and-scores-2026/22319931/
App. State Tops The Citadel, Gains Sole Possession of 1st in SoCon
BOONE, N.C. — App State Wrestling gained sole possession of first place in the SoCon by claiming six of the first seven matches in a 23-13 home victory Sunday against The Citadel, which also took the mat in Varsity Gym with no league losses.
With competition starting at 184 pounds, App State (8-5, 5-0) jumped out to a 23-3 lead over the Bulldogs (8-7, 4-1) in a matchup of teams that finished first and second in the SoCon Championship tournament last season.
Bonus-point victories from Stephan Monchery (six team points via a third-period pin at heavyweight) and Aldo Hernandez (five team points via a 22-7 tech fall at 141 pounds) were key outcomes in creating separation during the strong start, as were some dramatic wins, including 197-pound starter Logan Eller’s 7-6 decision in which he responded to Adam Ortega’s go-ahead takedown with 30 seconds left by producing a go-ahead reversal in the final 15 seconds.
Hernandez followed Jarvis Little’s 4-2 decision at 133 with a dominant victory, giving the Mountaineers a 20-3 lead with The Citadel set to send consecutive ranked wrestlers out at 149, 157 and 165 pounds prior to the 174 finale. In a ranked showdown that served as a rematch of the 2025 SoCon final at 149, No. 30 Kaden Keiser from App State clinched the dual with a 3-2 overtime decision over No. 33 Carson DesRosier.
The match was tied at 1-all through three periods and a two-minute Sudden Victory overtime period. … more at … https://appstatesports.com/news/2026/2/8/wrestling-tops-the-citadel-gains-sole-possession-of-1st-in-socon.aspx
Wrestling notches first win over Campbell with 31-9 victory on Friday night
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the first time in program history, the Bellarmine University wrestling team has won a dual over Southern Conference foe Campbell, defeating the Camels 31-9 on Friday night in Knights Hall.
An annually tough match on the Knights schedule, Bellarmine finally put together the winning recipe to take down Campbell. The victory is a nice bounce back for BU after falling to Appalachian State 30-6 on Monday. At 4-1 in SoCon matches, Bellarmine is one win away from tying the program record for most conference wins in a season in the Division I era (5, 2024-25).
“I’m proud of the team as a whole on the way they wrestled tonight, aggressive and pushing the pace,” said head coach Ned Shuck. “We had some hard-fought wins and that’s what it’s going to take to finish the season. I’m excited for us to get back in action at home again for military appreciation day on Sunday! Let’s Go Knights!”
Redshirt sophomore Gavin Ricketts got the ball rolling at 184 pounds. Ricketts used a 10-point first period to propel himself to an 11-2 major decision win. From there, the Knights kept picking up win after win, accumulating seven consecutive victories for a 25-0 lead.
Fellow redshirt sophomore Andrew Liber (197) forced overtime with an escape in the third period before spinning his way around Conor Maslanek for a takedown to win 4-1 in SV-1.
Grad student Daulton Mayer battled through a third period injury … more at … https://athletics.bellarmine.edu/news/2026/2/6/wrestling-notches-first-win-over-campbell-with-31-9-victory-on-friday-night.aspx
Runnin’ Bulldogs Use Final Bout Win to Topple Bellarmine, 19-18
LOUISVILLE, KY – The Gardner-Webb wrestling team picked up its most exciting win of the season on Sunday afternoon, using a last bout win in 285 to defeat Bellarmine in Southern Conference action, 19-18
The Runnin’ Bulldogs started strong on Sunday, with three lower-weights win to jump out to a 16-3 lead. Tyson Lane, Dominic DiTullio and nationally ranked T.K. Davis by fall in just 52 seconds set the tone early for the Dawgs but Josh McCutchen would steal the headlines. After a Bellarmine rally through the middle-weights, McCutchen defeated Thadd Huff by an 8-2 decision in the final bout at 285 pounds. With McCutchen’s win, the Runnin’ Bulldogs picked up the team victory, 19-18
FULL RESULTS
125 – Tyson Lane (GW) def. Damion Ryan (BU) by DEC, 5-1
133 – #15 T.K. Davis (GW) def. Trayce Eckman (BU) by Fall, 0:52
141 – Dominic DiTullio (GW) def. AJ Rallo (BU) by DEC, 7-5
149 – Nate Higley (BU) def. Charlie Sly (BU) by TF, 19-3
157 – Joseph Giordano (GW) def. Jeb Prechtel (BU) by MD, 12-3
165 – Noah Hall (BU) def. Luke Murray (GW) by DEC, 4-1
174 – Grant O’Dell (BU) def. Isaiah Guerrero (GW) by MD, 11-3 … more at … https://gwusports.com/news/2026/2/8/wrestling-runnin-bulldogs-use-final-bout-win-to-topple-bellarmine-19-18.aspx
Oklahoma State Wrestling on pace to Crush Attendance Record
Last year, in David Taylor’s first season as head coach at Oklahoma State, the Cowboys set a season average attendance record of 7,597 attendees. This year, they’re currently on pace to crush that record. OSU is averaging 8,585 attendees per dual with only arch-rival Iowa left on the home schedule.
The Cowboys will only need 2,655 attendees to break the 7,597 mark. The last time the Hawkeyes came to Stillwater, in 2024, OSU had 13,721 fans in attendance. This also helped OSU set a season record in that year with 5,871. This makes three years in a row that OSU will set a season average record attendance mark with 5,871 in 2023-24, 7,597 in 2024-25, and a number to be determined in 2025-26.
OSU wrestles Iowa on February 22nd at 5 PM in Gallagher-Iba Arena. The dual will be televised nationally on ESPN. … more at … https://owrestle.com/oklahoma-state-wrestling-on-pace-to-crush-attendance-record/
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After 20 seasons of publicizing wrestling The TakeDown Report’s (TDR) focus has changed to the collecting of college coaching records from North America since 1903. We will continue to recognize and reward successful wrestlers in eastern North Carolina (east of Raleigh & Fayetteville), assist with schools in starting or re-starting a team and this blog. Join us on our FaceBook Page – “The TakeDown Report” for photos and news. Please send results, stories, links and news to pass along. E-mail us at takedownreport@gmail.com
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