NIACC women's wrestling team ranked 8th in initial poll

MASON CITY - The NIACC women's wrestling team is ranked eighth in the first-ever NJCAA national poll released on Wednesday.

NIACC, which is in its first season of women's wrestling, had three placewinners at the Simpson College Luther Hill Open last Saturday. Tatiana Hernandez was the 109-pound champion, Chiara Barbieri was sixth at 109 pounds and Laken Lienhard was sixth at 143 pounds.

The Trojans' dropped their first-ever dual meet to defending national champion Indian Hills on Tuesday.

Hernandez was selected as the ICCAC women's wrestler of the week for the week of Oct. 31-Nov. 6.

Indian Hills is ranked first in the initial poll. Iowa Western is ranked third, Iowa Central is ranked sixth and Ellsworth is ranked 10th.

NIACC returns to action Saturday at the Luther College Open.

NJCAA women's wrestling rankings (Nov. 9 poll) - Indian Hills, Umpqua, Iowa Western, Southwestern Oregon, Snow, Iowa Central, Carl Albert State, NIACC, Northwest Kansas Tech, Ellsworth.