Title image is Kenya Sloan at the Delaware State University. Photo courtesy of HBCUGameday.

We recognize Carter G. Woodson as the “father of Black history”, “Negro History Week (1926)”, & Black History Month (1970)… 

We also recognize the sacrifices that many Black American & African-Americans made so that these African-American Pioneers in Women’s Wrestling can exist and will contribute to this sport annually — by archiving history about pioneer female wrestling every February — as women’s wrestling continues to grow plus positively impact more & more diverse people in US colleges, high schools, & national teams.

Women’s wrestling at the Olympic Games (2004), in College (1994), & World Championships (1987) is a relatively new phenomenon. However, Black American and African-American women (and men) have been trailblazers in women’s wrestling from the start of USA fielding teams. This article recognizes many of those American black women (and men) who made senior world teams, coached women’s World or Olympic Teams, or coached women’s collegiate teams.

Kenya Sloan became the first African-American head women’s wrestling coach at a Historically Black College & University for NCAA DI Delaware State University in 2025.  Sloan also served as an assistant women’s wrestling coach for NCAA DI Sacred Heart in 2024-25.  She was a 2022 NAIA National Champion, a 2X NAIA All-American, a 2X WCWA All-American, & a 4X Academic All-American for Campbellsville University.  Sloan earned bachelor’s degrees in Exercise Science & Educational Ministries from Campbellsville University.  She became Tennessee’s first 4X female high school state champion with an undefeated record of 87-0 at Hardin Valley Academy.

Tamyra Mensah-Stock became the first female Black American Olympic Champion at the 2020 Tokyo Games and second African-American women wrestler to be crowned World Champion in 2019. She accomplished this feat at 68kg and also won another World Championships gold medal in 2022, a silver medal in 2021 and bronze medals in 2021, 2018.

In college, she was a 2X WCWA National Champion and 4X all-American for Wayland Baptist University. Mensah-Stock is from Texas (where high school girls wrestling has been sanctioned since 1999) and won 2 state titles while finishing as runner-up her sophomore year for Morton Ranch H.S.

Leia Kawaii was the first Black American World Championships medalist for Team USA women’s wrestling in 1989. The inaugural women’s world championships was held in 1987 and Team USA first fielded a women’s wrestling team in 1989.

Kawaii wrestled for Team USA at 2 World Championships winning a silver medal in 1989 at 70kg and placing 6th at the World Championships in 1991 at 75kg. During this time period, there were no national team stipends nor even a women’s national team coach. USA Wrestling hired their first full-time national team women’s coach in 2003. After her experiences at the Worlds, Kawaii took her talents into professional wrestling & bodybuilding to further her career.

Tocarra Montgomery was the first African-American Olympic wrestler at the inaugural Olympic Games for women’s wrestling in 2004 at 72kg. Montgomery also won 2 silver medals at World Championships in 2001 at 68kg & 2003 at 72kg. For her accomplishments as an athlete, Montgomery was named FILA International Female Wrestler of the Year in 2001. She is the first black American woman wrestler to receive this honor (first American female too) and just the third American to win that honor. Montgomery was also the first African-American female head women’s wrestling coach (third American Women) as she led Lindenwood University from 2010-2016.

Randi Miller became the first Black American female Olympic Medalist by winning a Bronze Medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at 63kg. Also in 2008 she was named U.S. Olympic Committee Female Wrestler of the Year & USA Wrestling Female Wrestler of the Year. After coming out of retirement, Miller wrestled for the Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) and was a World Military Champion in 2012 while also representing Team USA at the 2014 World Championships.

Miller was also the first black woman wrestler to become a resident athlete at the former U.S. Olympic Education Center on the campus of Northern Michigan University. At the USOEC, she placed 5th at the 2005 World University Championships at 63kg. For her wrestling accomplishments, Miller was named to the Texas Wrestling Hall of Fame.

In 2021, Miller became the first African-American female head coach to lead Texas Women’s University women’s wrestling team. Iris Smith was the first African-American female wrestler to win a World Championship (2005) gold medal and first black woman to win a world wrestling title for the WCAP — where she was also a Military World Champion (2010). Smith won her gold medals & world championships for Team USA & WCAP at 72kg and was also part of 2 other world championships teams. She was on USA Wrestling National Teams (top 3 per weight class) for 13 years which is a record for African-American women wrestlers. Currently, Smith is a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army and an assistant coach of WCAP.

Tina George became the first African-American multi World Championships medalist in 2002 & 2003 by winning silver medals in back to back years at 55kg. George made 7 World Teams in total and she also won a Pan American Games gold medal plus won 2 silver medals at the Pan American Championships. (The Pan American Games is similar to the Olympic Games and is a multisport championship for countries of North, South, & Central Americas.) George was part of the Army WCAP and later retired due to injuries sustained in combat.

Kelsey Campbell became the third consecutive Black American, in as many Olympic Games, for women’s wrestling in 2012. She was a member of the 2011 World Team and won 5th place at the 2010 World Championships. Campbell was a silver medalist at the 2009 Pan American Championships. She was also the first African-American female wrestler for Arizona State University and won 2 Women’s College National Titles in 2007 & 2008. After graduating from ASU with a degree in Religious Studies, she completed an MBA degree for the Keller Graduate School of Management.

Leigh Jaynes was a 2015 World Championships bronze medalist at age 34 making her the oldest American woman to win a world medal.  She attributes most of her success in life to the lessons learned in the sport, her military service, & her determination to keep going despite extreme adversity. She also made 2 other World Teams (2007 & 2012) and was part of the Army WCAP. After 14 years in the Army, Jaynes became the head coach at Delaware Valley University which makes her the third female black head women’s wrestling coach.

Vicki Anthony made 2 World Teams for Team USA placing 5th in 2013 & 2017. She also was a 2X Jr. World Champion in 2009 & 2010. Anthony has been on the National Teams (top 3 in weight class) since 2012 or for seven years. After her success at Jr. Worlds, Anthony took her talents to Simon Fraser University (Canada) where she was a 4X WCWA Nationals champion (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014) — the first 4X National Champion in the history of women’s college wrestling.

Breonnah Neal became the first Black American female head women’s wrestling college coach at Frostburg State University in March of 2023. This is Neal’s third head coaching job and she also was the second African-American female head women’s wrestling college coach at Ferrum College in 2019. She coached at Gannon University in PA and was the first black American female head coach to lead that women’s wrestling team from 2021-23. During her college career, Neal was a 4X WCWA all-American winning a National Title for King University after transferring from Campbellsville University where she was a WCWA runner-up.

Tarkyia Mensah became the first Black American head women’s wrestling coach at Carthage College in 2025.  Mensah also the first African-American head women’s wrestling coach at Schreiner University in 2022. As a wrestler, Mensah, was a 2X WCWA National Champ for Wayland Baptist University. She was also a 3X WCWA All-American and a Texas State Champ.  Tarkyia, aka TK, is the twin sister of Olympic Champion Tamyra Mensah-Stock.

Roye Oliver was the first Black American to coach Team USA women’s wrestling at the World Championships and did so from 1993-1997. During that time period, he helped coach 1 World Champion & 8 women’s World Championships medalists. Oliver coached Treeva Cohee & D’Anya Bierria at the 1994 World Championships for Team USA at 50 kg & 65kg respectively. Cohee & Bierria placed 4th at Worlds in 1994 making them the first pair of African-American women wrestlers to place at Worlds in the same year.

Oliver also coached the Life Pacific women’s wrestling team from 2020-2022 and was the first black American head coach to do so.

Olympic Silver Medalist Townsend Saunders became the first African-American to coach Team USA at the inaugural Olympic Games for women’s wrestling in 2004 helping Team USA win 2 medals. In 2003, Saunders was part of the women’s coaching staff at the 2003 World Championships where Team USA took second place to Japan with 1 World Champion & 7 total medals.

Duane Martin is the first Black American coach of the Army World Class Athlete Program women’s team. Martin was an integral part of leading & coaching WCAP women wrestlers at numerous international & national tournaments.

Shon Lewis, head coach of WCAP, was in Iris Smith’s corner coach at the 2005 Worlds where Smith became the first black American to win a women’s world wrestling gold medal.

Brian Jackson became the first (or second — see below) African-American head women’s wrestling college coach in 2005 at Missouri Baptist University. Jackson’s “dual” tenure is the longest in history, to this day, and he was the first black American of “dual” coaching roles in wrestling. Jackson’s dual role includes coaching both the men & women wrestlers at MBU from 2005-2022.

Tyreece Gilder enters his 12th season as an African-American women’s head wrestling coach at Waldorf University. Gilder is also a USA Wrestling Bronze Level certified coach.

Amond Prater became the head coach at Missouri Baptist University in 2024.  He was also a Black American “dual” coach at Fontbonne University from 2019-2022 and was the inaugural coach for both the men’s & women’s programs a.

Kirwyn Adderley was women’s head wrestling coach at Missouri Baptist University in March of 2022-2023 after serving as assistant coach at MBU in 2021.

LeRoy Gardner is the third African-American “dual” coach being recognized here. He lead the University of the Ozarks women’s (and men’s) wrestling teams from season in 2015-2021. Gardner, who serves as an officer in the United States Navy, also served as a USA senior U23 women’s coach for United World Wrestling in 2018.

Devane Dodgens became the first head women’s wrestling coach at Linsdey Wilson College in January 2024. Dodgens also coached at Brewton-Parker College from 2020-2023.

Shannyn J. Gillespie is credited as the first (or second — see above & below) African-American head women’s wrestling college coach as he coached from 2004-2012 at Northern Michigan University via the USOEC. The NMU women’s wrestling team was also called the U.S. Olympic Education Center resident athlete program.

The USOEC women’s wrestling program was a partnership with USA Wrestling, NMU, & the U.S. Olympic Committee and existed from 2004-2012. The USOEC enrolled high school, college, & post-graduate students so Gillespie is either the first Black American women’s wrestling college coach or first African-American women’s wrestling U.S. Olympic Training Center coach (or both).

Coach Shannyn coached for Lakeland University (WI) Women’s Wrestling team from 2020-2026 and was also the first Black American to lead women’s wrestling in Lakeland’s history.

Gillespie is also an avid promoter of women’s wrestling penning articles for these websites: americanwomenswrestling.com, themat.com, coachshannyn.com.

Highlight media of all of the pioneers listed above can be found each February on Instagram @coachshannyntalks & Facebook facebook.com/coachshannyn