Avila Women’s Wrestling

Joya Hodge is officially committed to Avila University Women’s Wrestling!

Coming from Freedom High School (TA), Joya brings excellence both on the mat and in the classroom. She is a 2x Hillsborough County Champion, District Champion, Regional Placer, and State Qualifier—consistently proving herself as a top competitor.

Her hard work goes beyond wrestling. Joya earned the Academic Excellence Award for maintaining a 4.0 GPA throughout her wrestling season and was named MVP, showing her dedication, leadership, and commitment to success.

Joya plans to major in nursing as she continues her journey at the next level.

A driven student-athlete and strong leader, we’re excited to see the impact she’ll make at Avila!

“ I can’t wait for what Avila has in store for me” - Joya

We’re proud of you, Joya 💜!

The 2025-2026 season has been one for the history books to say the least 📚
What a joy it has been to watch each of these athletes develop their own unique technique and style throughout this season, here’s to many more records made, records broken, and history that is yet to be written! 🦅💜
These girls aren’t done, not by a long shot🔥

HERstory made, tipping our cap to Haley Ward✍️

-First National Runner-Up in program history
-Best record in program history (23-4)
-Highest National placement in program history (2nd)
-Second Conference Champion in program history
-Season Team Point Leader (117)
-Highest MoVal Open Placer in program history (5th)
-Season tech-fall leader (12)

Congratulations on an amazing season Haley!
We are extremely proud of the hard work, dedication, and commitment you have displayed this year! You truly show what it means to Honor The A and Earn Your Wings 💜

HALEY WARD IS A NAIA NATIONAL RUNNER UP👏
💜Congratulations Haley!!💜

🦅With this monumental 4-1 National Championship performance, .ward11 has embedded herself in Avila Women’s Wrestling Program history again as the highest national placer! 🦅

🥇THE FINAL MATCH🥇

We are incredibly proud of our girl and all of her success! Rooting, whooping, and hollering til our voices are gone for this one 🙂‍↕️

With a tournament record of 4-0, Ward will take on 1 seed Lillian Gradillas-Flores from Southern Oregon in the 2026 NAIA Women’s Wrestling Championship🤼‍♀️

We will be live on Facebook and Instagram for the final match! Don’t forget to turn on our post notifications!

🇺🇸ALL AMERICAN HONORS🇺🇸
Haley Ward gained the right to call herself an NAIA All American by going 3-0 on day one of the 2026 NAIA Women’s Wrestling Championship 🦅
With a season record of 20-3 she has cemented her name in Avila Women’s Wrestling history with best performance in program history thus far!
As the second ever All American our program has produced, Ward is on her way semi finals today! Stay tuned for the greatness!
Wrestling starts NOW!
Live stream through FloWrestling (linked on story)

💪 The action starts today! 💪
Haley Ward represents Avila University Women’s Wrestling at the 2026 NAIA Women’s Wrestling Championship as a junior at the 207 division 🦅
If you can’t be in Park City, catch all the action on FloWrestling! (Linked on story!)

Today we prepare, tomorrow we battle 🦅

Wrestling starts at 10am!

To the women who came before us and to the women who are building a new legacy, thank you.
To the women who support us from the stands and the women who have cheered from a far, thank you.
To the women who break records, take up space, and make a lot of noise, thank you.
Today is for you, Happy International Women’s Day!
🤼‍♀️💜🦅💜🏋️‍♀️

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is pleased to announce the Haley Ward as a national qualifier for the 2026 NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Championships hosted by Visit Wichita at Heartland Credit Union in Park City, Kan.
Nationals will be held March, Friday 13th and Saturday 14th.

🏅 CHAMPION OF CHARACTER 🏅

Rihanna Ricks, a returning sophomore, received the prestigious honors of being named a 2026 Champion of Character. A KCAC Champion of Character is a student-athlete who best represents the values and mission of the NAIA Champions of Character program. These athletes are recognized for keeping the five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership at the heart of the athletics experience. The Champions of Character program empowers participants to change the culture of sport.

A nursing major currently working as a CNA, Ricks carries a 3.4 career GPA, is a three-time Dean’s List honoree, and was recently named an Academic All-American. Now in her fourth year of wrestling, she continues to balance excellence in the classroom, in her career preparation, and on the mat. Following graduation, Ricks aspires to become a Certified Nursing Midwife and Certified Professional Midwife, with hopes of serving families in a birthing center setting — a calling that reflects her heart for care and service.

“I am beyond thankful to have received this honor. Of course it means a lot to me to be recognized for successes within wrestling, but to be recognized for the person I am means a lot more. I have been inspired by so many of those around me to just, be better, so I hope that I am able to be an inspiration to others as well,” Ricks said. “I’m excited to see where and who I am going to be this time my senior year. I feel like I’m just getting started, thank you to all those who have helped me get to where I am today!”

The program is proud of you and proud to have you Ri! Keep up the great work and continue to be a champion! 💜