NIACC's Hernandez claims Luther Hill title

NIACC's Tatiana Hernandez claimed the 109-pound title at the Luther Hill Invitational on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Simpson College.
NIACC's Tatiana Hernandez claimed the 109-pound title at the Luther Hill Invitational on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Simpson College.
November 5, 2022

INDIANOLA - History was made Saturday at the Simpson College Luther Hill Invitational.

Freshman Tatiana Hernandez became the first female in NIACC school history to win a wrestling match with her 15-8 decision over Grand View's Leandra Leal.

Hernandez pinned Simpson's Kylie Torres in 53 seconds in the semifinals and claimed the 109-pound title with a 57-second fall of Iowa Western's Natalie Duran in the championship match.

Also for the Trojans at their first-ever tournament, 101-pounder Chiara Barbieri placed sixth and 143-pounder Laken Lienhard also placed sixth.

Barbieri picked up a quarterfinal win over Grand View's Hannah Michael by technical fall, 10-0. Barbieri then fell in the semifinals and also dropped her consolation semifinal match and her fifth-place match.

Lienhard won her third-round consolation match by fall over William Penn's Ashleigh Denny (1:19). Lienhard then fell in her consolation semifinal match and her fifth-place match.

NIACC returns to action Tuesday at Indian Hills in its first-ever women's dual meet.