Competing for a Championship is something every athlete strives for and a pair of area athletes had that opportunity this year in the 2016 NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Championship with MidAmerica Nazarene University and Baker University taking each other on for the National Title in Independence, Missouri at the Silvestein Eye Centers Arena. 

Each team features an athlete from the area as Tristin Wicks of Marysville is a sophomore at MidAmerica Nazarene and Macy Wallisch of Holton is a senior at Baker. Both gals have been key pieces for both their teams and each started the National Championship game. 

The Pioneers of MidAmerica Nazarene came out on top in the NAIA National Championship game winning 49-35 over Baker and Wicks posted eight points, seven rebounds and three blocks in the contest. While, Wallisch in the loss tied for the team high for Baker with eight points and grabbed nine rebounds along with two assists. 

Wicks on the season helped guide MidAmerica Nazarene to a 32-5 record and helped the Pioneers to become the first Kansas team to win a women's NAIA DI National Championship since 1991 when former-member Fort Hays State won a title. Tristin ranked third on the team in scoring with 9.4 points per game this year, while recording 6.2 rebounds per game and one block per game. 

Wallisch closed out her college career with Baker by helping the Wildcats to a school record mark of 28-9 on the year and National runner-up finish. Macy averaged 10 points per game which was tied for third best on the team and averaged 8.4 rebounds per game and 3.1 blocks per game. The Baker women became the first team in Baker's history since 1986 to compete for an NAIA National title (football team competed for title in 1986).