Plainview, Texas – Wayland Baptist sophomore women’s wrestler Mercy Adekuoroye has had a unique journey to Plainview, but that hasn’t stopped her from achieving greatness and developing into one of the best wrestlers in the two countries.

A native of Ondo State, Nigeria, Adekuoroye has been on an incredible run in 2026. Adekuoroye clinched the 2026 NAIA National Championship in the 160lb division, a run that featured last-second victories over the #1 and #2 ranked wrestlers in her division. Her incredible performance in Wichita, Kansas, earned All-American honors.

Even though she reached the top of the mountain in the NAIA competition, Adekuoroye wasn’t finished yet.

Adekuoroye earned the gold medal in the 160lb division at the 2026 Nigerian National Championships, which earned her a qualifying bid for the upcoming Senior African Championships set to take place in Egypt.
“Recently, by the grace of God, I won the NAIA National Championship for Wayland Baptist. Right after that victory, I traveled back home to Nigeria to compete in the National Championships, where I was also able to win. In a few weeks, I will again have the honor of representing my country at the Senior African Championships in Egypt,” says Adekuoroye.

What’s fueled this Adekuoroye on this incredible run? The answer is her relationship with God and the love she has for competition.

“Coming from Nigeria to study and compete in the United States has been both challenging and rewarding,” says Adekuoroye. “Wrestling has always been my passion, and having the opportunity to continue my journey at Wayland Baptist means a lot to me.”

Adekuoroye continued, “When I first arrived, I had to adjust to a new environment, a new culture, and a different level of competition. With the help from God, my coaches, and my teammates, the transition became easier.

In 2025, Adekuoroye put her name on the map at Wayland Baptist. She finished in 3^rd place at the 2025 NAIA Women’s Wrestling Championships, but her relentless competitive spirit and unmatched development helped her achieve her goals in 2026.

“One thing that has really helped my development here is the opportunity to compete often. Back home in Nigeria, competitions do not happen frequently, but here in the United States we compete almost every week,” Adekuoroye expressed.

“For me personally, that has been very helpful because I believe the more I compete, the more experience I gain and the closer I get to achieving my goals.”

Despite her incredible run in 2026, Adekuoroye has bigger aspirations she’s looking to achieve, and they are looking more promising by the day.

“My dream is to compete at the World Championships and the Olympic Games one day and represent Nigeria on that stage. I have already had the privilege of being part of the Nigerian National Team and representing my country in competitions, but I am still very hungry for more. I want to keep pushing myself, wrestling at my very best, and continue growing until I reach the highest level of the sport.”