By Molly Ann Howell
Managing Editor
For years, women faced limited opportunities in a sport seen as male-dominated, but on March 6 and 7, women’s wrestling became the NCAA’s 91st championship sport.
And Gallup had some representation at this first championship.
Lorianna Piestewa had a successful high school wrestling career, in which she won the state championship title four times.
Now, she’s taken that success into her college career as well. During the 2026 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championship, Piestewa placed fourth in the 124-pound weight class. She also won an All-American title, which is a prestigious honor awarded to wrestlers who finish in the top eight of their respective weight classes in the NCAA national tournament
She’s currently in the middle of her sophomore year at Colorado Mesa University. In an interview with the Sun, she said competing at the collegiate level has been fun so far, but it’s also completely different from what she was doing in high school.
Lorianna said she felt as if things started to “fall into place” when she started at CMU.
“I felt like my moves were starting to click, I found my certain takedowns,” she said. “I feel like I sort of found myself in wrestling in college.”
Loriana’s father, Adam Piestewa, has been along for the ride at every step of his daughter’s wrestling career. In a previous interview with the Sun, Lorianna said she actually started wrestling because she saw what her father and older brothers were doing with the sport.
Adams said he “couldn’t be prouder” of his daughter as she’s found success at the collegiate level.
“She’s adapted to [competing at the college level] so well,” he said. “She’s been fighting injuries from last year, and this year there were minor injuries that she had to overcome, including a concussion she got during nationals. But she did very well; she wrestled as hard as she usually does, and she didn’t give up.”
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Lorianna said she’s going to spend the summer resting and healing, so she can return to the mat stronger and better than ever.
As for what’s next after college, Lorianna sees gold in her future. She hopes to qualify for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“I want to wrestle at 100% at the Olympic trials because if I do that I know I can do way better than I can now,” she said. ““With God by my side I can make it.”
