NEW YORK, N.Y. – Quincy University women's wrestling standout Xochitl Mota-Pettis continued to establish herself among the nation's elite wrestlers on Friday (Nov. 6), earning a runner-up finish in the 57-kilogram women's freestyle division at the prestigious 2026 Bill Farrell Memorial International, held at the New York Athletic Club in New York City.
Competing against some of the top senior-level wrestlers in the United States and internationally, Mota-Pettis finished with a 2-1 record, recording a technical fall and a pin before narrowly falling 7-6 to United States National Team member Amanda Martinez in the championship match.
The silver medal carried significance beyond the podium, as Mota-Pettis secured automatic qualification for the 2027 World Team Trials Tournament, bringing her another step closer to an opportunity to represent the United States at the Senior World Championships.
Competing on the International Stage
The Bill Farrell Memorial International is one of North America's established senior-level wrestling competitions, with a history spanning more than six decades. Traditionally hosted by the New York Athletic Club and sanctioned by United World Wrestling (UWW), the tournament attracts accomplished wrestlers from across the globe competing in women's freestyle, men's freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.
More than 400 athletes representing 31 countries registered for the 2026 edition, including Olympic champions, World Championship medalists, U.S. National Team members and some of the nation's top collegiate wrestlers.
Unlike traditional NCAA competition, which brings together collegiate student-athletes competing for individual and team national championships, the Bill Farrell Memorial features senior-level international competition under UWW rules, providing athletes an opportunity to test themselves against experienced wrestlers competing on the world stage.
For American competitors, the stakes were even higher, as a top-three finish secured automatic qualification for the 2027 World Team Trials Tournament, held in conjunction with the U.S. Open Championships in April in Las Vegas, Nevada.
USA Wrestling has announced that the 2027 Senior World Teams at Olympic weight classes will be determined at the U.S. Open Championships, making the tournament an important opportunity for athletes pursuing a spot on the international stage.
Dominant Opening Victories
Entering the 57-kilogram bracket as the No. 3 pre-seed, Mota-Pettis began her tournament against Zorina Johnson of Lehigh University, a highly accomplished newcomer to the collegiate wrestling ranks.
Johnson entered her freshman season at Lehigh following a decorated high school career in Oregon, where she captured three state championships and compiled a remarkable 108-1 career record. She also claimed a 2025 Junior National folkstyle championship and finished as the national runner-up in junior freestyle competition.
Johnson had already enjoyed success in her collegiate debut, winning the 131-pound championship at the ESU Open on November 1.
Despite Johnson's impressive credentials, Mota-Pettis controlled the opening bout from start to finish, rolling to a commanding 12-0 technical fall victory in just 3:17 to advance to the semifinals.
Awaiting her was fourth-seeded Karoline Stephanie Ortiz Rosado of Puerto Rico, an experienced international competitor with multiple appearances representing her country at major international championships.
Ortiz Rosado competed at three consecutive U23 World Championships from 2022-24 and has also represented Puerto Rico at the Senior Pan American Championships. Most recently, she earned a silver medal at the 2026 Pat Shaw Memorial in Guatemala and finished fifth at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games.
Mota-Pettis needed just 1:13 to dispatch the Puerto Rican international, securing a first-period pin to punch her ticket to the championship match.
Narrowly Missing Gold Against a National Team Standout
Standing between Mota-Pettis and another international championship was top-seeded Amanda Martinez, one of the United States' most accomplished senior-level competitors at 57 kilograms.
Martinez entered the tournament ranked No. 2 on the 2026-27 United States National Team at 57 kilograms and brought an extensive résumé to the championship bout.
A four-time U.S. National Team member, Martinez captured gold at the 2026 Senior Pan American Championships in May and followed with another international title at the Poland Open in August. Her career accomplishments also include two U.S. Open championships, two collegiate All-American honors and multiple medals at United World Wrestling Ranking Series events.
Despite facing one of the country's top-ranked wrestlers, Mota-Pettis delivered an impressive championship performance and put herself in position to capture the title.
Holding a 6-3 advantage with less than 90 seconds remaining, Mota-Pettis appeared poised to secure the gold medal before Martinez executed a four-point throw to take a 7-6 lead. The narrow advantage held through the closing moments, giving Martinez the championship and Mota-Pettis the silver medal.
The one-point defeat capped a strong showing for Mota-Pettis, who came within moments of defeating a reigning Pan American champion and one of the country's top senior-level wrestlers.
Adding to an Already Historic Résumé
The runner-up finish marked another significant accomplishment for the Humble, Texas, native, who has enjoyed considerable success on the international wrestling circuit throughout her career.
Mota-Pettis is no stranger to the Bill Farrell Memorial, having previously captured tournament championships in 2022 and 2024. She also earned silver in 2023 and bronze in 2025, making her latest result a fifth podium finish at the event and her fourth consecutive November edition with a medal.
Her success extends well beyond the annual international competition. Mota-Pettis captured gold at the 2023 Senior Pan American Championships, won the 2023 U.S. Open and represented the United States at the 2023 U23 World Championships and Pan American Games.
She also competed in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, entering the challenge tournament as the top seed at 57 kilograms and gaining experience against some of the nation's top wrestlers.
While her international accomplishments have established her as a formidable competitor on the senior circuit, Mota-Pettis has also made an immediate and historic impact on Quincy University's women's wrestling program.
After joining the Hawks midway through the 2025-26 season, she compiled an impressive 11-1 collegiate record and captured the 124-pound regional championship before advancing to the inaugural NCAA Women's Wrestling Championships in Coralville, Iowa.
At the national tournament, Mota-Pettis went a perfect 4-0, defeating three nationally ranked opponents on her way to claiming the 124-pound national championship.
The historic performance made her the first individual national champion in Quincy women's wrestling history and just the second individual national champion across all Quincy University athletics. Her efforts also helped the Hawks secure a ninth-place finish among 54 teams in just the fourth season of the women's wrestling program under head coach Jeffrey Haley.
A Continued Pursuit of International Success
With her silver-medal performance in New York, Mota-Pettis has secured her place in the 2027 World Team Trials Tournament, where she will have an opportunity to compete for a position on the United States Senior World Team.
The achievement represents another significant step in her pursuit of international success, as she continues to build on an already decorated career at both the collegiate and senior levels.
For Quincy University, the accomplishment further highlights the continued development of its women's wrestling program, with an NCAA national champion now earning another opportunity to compete against the country's elite for a place on the international stage.
Already one of the most accomplished wrestlers in program history, Mota-Pettis continues to demonstrate that her success extends well beyond the collegiate mat, adding another international silver medal to an impressive collection of career accolades.
