NIACC's Smith moves to semifinals

COUNCIL BLUFFS - NIACC's Valerie Smith is two wins away from making history.

Smith, who is seeking to become NIACC's first-ever women's national wrestling champion, moved to the NJCAA national invitational 235-pound semifinals Friday night with a 30 second fall over Iowa Central's Breanna Salgado.

It was the third time this season that Smith has pinned Salgado and all three falls were less than a minute. Smith pinned Salgado in :32 in this season's dual meet against Iowa Central and Smith stuck Salgado in :28 in the ICCAC championship match.

Smith, who is 11-0 with nine falls and ranked second, now faces Southeast's Southeast CC's top-ranked Kiara Boldridge in the national semifinals Saturday morning.

Boldridge moved to the semifinals with a 1:14 pin of Iowa Western's Yoseline Perez.

Indian Hills' Kennedi Washington and Carl Albert State's Gabby Watson meet in the other 235-pound national semifinal.

Smith owns falls over both Washington and Watson this season at the Grand View University Open on Feb.1. Smith pinned Washington in 5:35 and Watson in 1:25.

Smith, who placed fourth at 235 pounds in 2023, moved to Friday night's quarterfinals with a 1:10 second pin of Joliet's Fernanda Miranda.

Smith's career record is 17-4 with 15 falls.