Life University adds NCAA All-American Garcia
Life University women's wrestling has added NCAA All-American Janida Garcia to its roster.
Garcia placed sixth at 131 pounds at the inaugural NCAA Women's Wrestling Championships in March at the Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, competing for Emmanuel University. After dropping her opening match, she won three consecutive bouts to earn All-America honors, capping the run of victories with a 3-2 victory over Iowa's Karlee Brooks.
Garcia entered the national tournament as the Region III champion and earned First-Team All-Conference Carolinas honors during the regular season. She also won the Eagle Madness Open and placed second at the Blue Hose Challenge.
She began her college career at Tiffin University in 2023-24 before transferring to Emmanuel, where she became a national title contender in her first season with the Lions.
Garcia's high school credentials are equally strong. The California native is a two-time Who's Number One winner, a Fargo national champion, a Preseason Nationals champion, High School Showcase champion and an NHSCA national champion.
She joins a Life University program that has won back-to-back NAIA Women's Wrestling Championships and figures to contend for another title in 2026-27. Her addition follows the signing of NAIA All-American Grace Lachinsky, who transferred to Life U after earning All-America honors at Lindsey Wilson.