Wrestlers · Career complete
Tamyra Mensah-Stock
2020 Tokyo Olympic champion at 68 kg; 2x world champion; 2x Texas UIL and 2x WCWA champion
Katy, TX · Morton Ranch HS · Wayland Baptist
By Joe Spisak, Pennsylvania state champion and 4x NCAA qualifier at Virginia · Published September 3, 2026
Tamyra Mensah-Stock, then Tamyra Mensah, grew up in Katy, Texas, and wrestled at Morton Ranch High School, joining the team as a sophomore after competing in track and field. At the 2009 UIL girls' state tournament she lost the 148-pound final 5-1 to Daffney Barbosa of Amarillo Caprock. She won the 138-pound state title in 2010, pinning China Saucedo of Hereford in 1:58, and repeated in 2011, pinning Anna McAleavey of Cypress Creek in 3:24.
She enrolled at Wayland Baptist in 2011. Mensah-Stock placed fourth at 143 pounds at WCWA nationals as a freshman and third as a sophomore, then won the 2014 WCWA title at 143 pounds with an 8-0 final. She won the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, but the United States had not earned a Rio berth at her weight, so she did not go. She closed her college career with a second WCWA title at 155 pounds in 2017 and a degree in exercise and sport science.
She placed ninth at the 2017 World Championships at 69 kg. In 2018 she won World bronze at 68 kg in Budapest. In 2019 she won the world title in Nur-Sultan, beating Jenny Fransson of Sweden 8-2 in the final, and also won Pan American Championships and Pan American Games gold. At the 2021 Olympic Trials in Fort Worth she beat Kennedy Blades 12-4 and 8-1. In Tokyo she won gold at 68 kg, beating Blessing Oborududu of Nigeria 4-1 in the final. She took bronze at the 2021 World Championships in Oslo after a 21-second semifinal loss to Rin Miyaji of Japan. She regained the title in Belgrade in 2022, pinning Ami Ishii of Japan in 2:11.
She signed with WWE in May 2023 and wrestled as Tyra Mae Steele until her release on April 24, 2026. Her Tokyo gold made her the first Black woman to win an Olympic wrestling title.
She wrestled for WWE as Tyra Mae Steele from 2023 until April 2026. Her next move has not been announced.
Results
| Season | Level | Event | Weight | Place | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | High school | UIL Girls State Championships | 148 lb | 2nd | lost final 5-1 to Daffney Barbosa, Amarillo Caprock |
| 2010 | High school | UIL Girls State Championships | 138 lb | 1st | pinned China Saucedo, Hereford, 1:58 in final |
| 2011 | High school | UIL Girls State Championships | 138 lb | 1st | pinned Anna McAleavey, Cypress Creek, 3:24 in final; twin sister Tarkyia won 128 |
| 2011-12 | College | WCWA National Championships | 143 lb | 4th | freshman season at Wayland Baptist |
| 2013-14 | College | WCWA National Championships | 143 lb | 1st | won final 8-0; first national champion in Wayland Baptist program history |
| 2016 | Senior | U.S. Olympic Team Trials | 1st | weight class not qualified for Rio; went as training partner | |
| 2016-17 | College | WCWA National Championships | 155 lb | 1st | undefeated season; Most Outstanding Wrestler |
| 2017 | Senior | World Championships, Paris | 69 kg | 9th | |
| 2018 | Senior | World Championships, Budapest | 68 kg | 3rd | |
| 2019 | Senior | World Championships, Nur-Sultan | 68 kg | 1st | def. Jenny Fransson (SWE) 8-2 in final; qualified USA for Tokyo |
| 2021 | Senior | U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Fort Worth | 68 kg | 1st | def. Kennedy Blades 12-4, 8-1 |
| 2021 | Senior | Olympic Games, Tokyo | 68 kg | 1st | def. Blessing Oborududu (NGR) 4-1 in final; tech falls over Dosho and Zhou, 10-4 over Cherkasova |
| 2021 | Senior | World Championships, Oslo | 68 kg | 3rd | pinned by Rin Miyaji (JPN) in 0:21 in semifinal; def. Adela Hanzlickova (CZE) 10-1 for bronze |
| 2022 | Senior | World Championships, Belgrade | 68 kg | 1st | def. Ami Ishii (JPN) by fall 2:11; outscored opponents 36-0 |
What we could not confirm
Anything not on this page, a high school record, a final score, a season, was left out because no primary source stated it when this was written. If you have a bracket, a program, or a clipping, send it and the page gets the number.
Sources
- https://www.uiltexas.org/wrestling/state-results/2008-2009-girls-wrestling-state-results · 2009 UIL state runner-up at 148, lost 5-1 to Daffney Barbosa
- https://www.uiltexas.org/wrestling/state-results/2009-2010-girls-wrestling-state-results · 2010 UIL state champion at 138, pin 1:58 over China Saucedo
- https://www.uiltexas.org/wrestling/state-results/2010-2011-girls-wrestling-state-results · 2011 UIL state champion at 138, pin 3:24 over Anna McAleavey; Tarkyia Mensah won 128
- https://wbuathletics.com/sports/womens-wrestling/roster/tamyra-mensah/4081 · Katy, TX; Morton Ranch HS; lettered 2008-11; state runner-up 2009, champion 2010 and 2011; WCWA champion 2014; 2016 Olympic Trials winner
- https://www.katymagazineonline.com/post/morton-ranch-grad-tamyra-mensah-stock-celebrates-olympic-gold-medal-plans-to-buy-mom-a-food-truck · Started wrestling as a sophomore after track and field; coach Mark Balser; twin sister Tarkyia
- https://wrestlingtexas.com/texas-mat-talk-tamyra-mensah-stock/ · Two UIL state titles 2010 and 2011; did not wrestle until sophomore year
- https://www.vype.com/Texas/a-heart-of-gold · Morton Ranch class of 2011
- https://wbuathletics.com/news/2022/10/24/womens-wrestling-mensah-stock-captured-hearts-at-wayland-then-the-world.aspx · Arrived at Wayland 2011 with twin sister; WCWA 4th at 143 as freshman, 3rd as sophomore; WCWA titles 2014 (143, undefeated) and 2017 (155, undefeated, Most Outstanding Wrestler); exercise and sport science degree 2017; won 2016 Olympic Trials but weight not qualified
- https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame/bio/14366 · 2014 and 2017 WCWA Nationals champion; 2018 and 2021 World bronze; 2019 World champion; 2020 Olympic champion; Pan Am champion 2019-21; Yarygin champion 2017-19
- https://uww.org/athletes/stock-mensah-tamyra-mariama · 2017 Worlds 9th (69 kg); 2018 Worlds 3rd; 2019 Worlds 1st; 2019 Pan Am Games 1st; 2020 and 2021 Pan Am Championships 1st; 2021 Olympics 1st; 2021 Worlds 3rd; 2022 Worlds 1st
- https://www.themat.com/news/2019/september/03/womens-68-kg-world-preview · 2017 Worlds 9th at 69 kg; 2019 Pan American Championships and Pan American Games gold; No. 2 seed at 2019 Worlds
- https://wbuathletics.com/news/2019/9/20/womens-wrestling-mensah-stock-claims-gold-at-world-championships.aspx · 2019 World final def. Jenny Fransson (SWE) 8-2 at 68 kg on Sept. 20, 2019 in Nur-Sultan; qualified USA for Tokyo; 2018 World bronze
- https://nwhof.org/news/gray-maroulis-return-to-olympics-hildebrandt-mensah-stock-miracle-and-winchester-qualify-for-first-games · 2021 Olympic Trials, Fort Worth: def. Kennedy Blades 12-4 and 8-1 at 68 kg; Titan Mercury WC
- https://nwhof.org/news/mensah-stock-becomes-second-ever-u-s-women-s-gold-medalist · Tokyo 68 kg gold: 10-0 over Dosho, 10-0 over Zhou, 10-4 over Cherkasova, 4-1 over Oborududu
- https://www.teamusa.com/news/2021/august/03/tamyra-mensah-stock-wins-second-us-womens-wrestling-gold-medal-in-history · Tokyo final 4-1 over Blessing Oborududu; path to final; 2016 Trials win with unqualified weight; Katy, Texas
- https://uww.org/article/wrestleoslo-miyaji-stuns-olympic-champ-mensah-stock-japan-rolls · 2021 Oslo semifinal: pinned by Rin Miyaji in 21 seconds at 68 kg
- https://uww.org/article/wrestleoslo-maroulis-regains-world-title-japan-goes-1-3-ww-finals · 2021 Oslo bronze: def. Adela Hanzlickova (CZE) 10-1 at 68 kg
- https://uww.org/article/sakurai-stuns-maroulis-57kg-title-us-wins-2-golds · 2022 Belgrade final: def. Ami Ishii (JPN) by fall 2:11, 6-0; outscored opponents 36-0
- https://www.teamusa.com/news/2022/september/15/tamyra-mensah-stock-amit-elor-capture-gold-medals-at-wrestling-world-championships · 2022 Belgrade gold Sept. 15, 2022; fourth world medal; second world title
- https://abcnews.com/Sports/olympic-wrestling-champion-tamyra-mensah-stock-signs-wwe/story?id=99047374 · Signed with WWE, announced May 3, 2023; reported to WWE Performance Center in Orlando
- https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/12697184-tamyra-mensah-stock-makes-wwe-debut-on-nxts-level-up · WWE ring name Tyra Mae Steele; NXT Level Up debut vs. Wren Sinclair (July 2024); WCWA champion 2014 and 2017
- https://www.wwe.com/superstars/tyra-mae-steele · Won season one of WWE LFG under The Undertaker; NXT contract; WWE profile lists hometown Katy, TX
- https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wwe-clarifies-tamyra-mensah-stock-162819255.html · March 12, 2026: WWE confirmed she was still under contract; release post was about a dream
- https://www.postwrestling.com/2026/04/24/olympic-gold-medalist-tamyra-mensah-stock-andre-chase-malik-blade-among-nxt-cuts/ · Released by WWE (NXT) on April 24, 2026
- https://www.wrestlinginc.com/2156784/wwe-releases-tyra-mae-steele-developmental-departures/ · Tyra Mae Steele among eight developmental releases April 24, 2026; signed 2023; won WWE LFG season one in 2025
- https://wbuathletics.com/story.aspx?filename=WWREST_0125144012&file_date=1-25-2014 · 2014 WCWA National Championships, St. Louis: Mensah won the 143-pound title, semifinal 12-2 and final 8-0; first national champion in Wayland Baptist program history
- https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wwe-clarifies-tamyra-mensah-stock-162819255.html · First Black woman to win an Olympic gold medal in wrestling (Tokyo 2020, 68 kg)
- https://nwhof.org/news/mensah-stock-becomes-second-ever-u-s-women-s-gold-medalist · Won the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials but did not compete in Rio because the U.S. had not qualified her weight class
Your turn
Every program in the country that has a women's team, with the coach's published email, is in the college directory.
The newsletter
One email. The rules, the gear, the college path.
For wrestlers, parents, and coaches. Same standard as the site: every number sourced, no filler, unsubscribe any time.