Four NIACC women move to semifinals at nationals

NIACC's Valerie Smith pins Umpqua's Leilani Holley in their 235-pound quarterfinal match at the national tournament Friday.
NIACC's Valerie Smith pins Umpqua's Leilani Holley in their 235-pound quarterfinal match at the national tournament Friday.
March 3, 2023

COUNCIL BLUFFS - Four NIACC women's wrestlers moved to the semifinals with quarterfinal wins Friday at the NJCAA national invitational at the Mid-America Center.

Chiara Barbieri (101), Tatiana Hernandez (109), Laken Lienhard (143) and Valerie Smith (235) all picked up falls in their quarterfinal round victories.

At 101 pounds, Barbieri pinned Northwest Kansas Tech's Chelsey Mendoza in 2:49 becoming the first NIACC women's wrestler to win a match at the national tournament.

At 109 pounds, Hernandez stuck Iowa Western's Natalie Duran in 5:09.

At 143 pounds, Lienhard pinned Indian Hills' Lexi Adams in 5:30.

At 235 pounds, Smith moved to the final four with a :39 pin of Umpqua's Leilani Holley.

NIACC's Sara Arrojo (116) and Paige Baker (130) picked up wins in the consolation bracket before being eliminated from the tournament on Friday.

Arrojo pinned Carl Albert State's Rylie O'Steen in 2:02 in the consolation round.

Baker stuck Snow's Cheyenne Cummings in 5:02 in the consolation round.