Redshirt sophomore Adriana Gomez battled for the 110 pound RMAC title against Chadron State’s Rylee Balcazar. The match came to a close finish with a 7-7 criteria victory on the Air Force Academy’s mats on Jan. 31. Two other Mavericks claimed conference titles over the weekend, signaling both individual excellence and the strength of a rapidly rising women’s wrestling program.
This is the women’s wrestling team’s most impressive conference performance to date. They landed second place as a whole with 247 team points.
Sophomore Sophia Cornish faced off against teammate Sophomore Jojo McDaniel for the 117 pound title win. Cornish came out on top with a 5-4 decision victory.
207 pound redshirt senior Jayleen Sekona powered through the heavyweight bracket with an assertive style that left little doubt about her championship form. She won her RMAC title after an injury default win against Simon Fraser’s Julia Richey; Sekona was leading the match 6-0 before her opponent’s apparent injury.
Gomez said she avoided getting caught up in the championship talk, choosing instead to stay locked in on each match.
“I just take it one match at a time and focus on what’s in front of me,” Gomez said; she added that trusting her preparation helped keep competition nerves manageable.
She said “preparation sets champions apart from the rest.” It extends beyond scheduled practices—they put in extra work independently. Gomez journals regularly to track her progress, which helps maintain consistency even on difficult days.
While the RMAC championship is a major athletic accomplishment, Gomez said the win carries deeper personal meaning.
“I grew up with my parents being teen parents, and they worked incredibly hard to give me the opportunities I have today. Honestly, I don’t know how they did it,” she said. “Going through those experiences and learning how to overcome some of the lowest moments of my life makes this win so much more meaningful not just in wrestling, but in everything I do.”
Gomez expressed gratitude for her parents, that her experiences and appreciation for her hardships strengthened her determination.
Even with an individual championship, Gomez stressed that the victory represents the entire program, including teammates, coaches, and supporters.
”Putting on the CMU women’s singlet means I’m representing something bigger than myself,” she said.
CMU is currently ranked in the top-five of the NCAA. She added that although the program is nationally respected, the team still embraces an underdog mentality. That mindset fuels a culture built on accountability, mutual support and shared goals.
“We take a lot of pride in representing CMU, and we want to set the standard for the future of this program and inspire the next generation of women wrestlers,” Gomez said.
Sekona, Cornish and Gomez’s achievements signal an exciting future for the program. With national competition approaching in early March, the Mavericks appear well positioned to build on their conference success.
