NIACC's Lienhard is top seed at nationals

COUNCIL BLUFFS - NIACC's Laken Lienhard is the top seed in the 143-pound bracket at this weekend's NJCAA Women's Wrestling Invitational at the Mid-America Center.

Lienhard, who has been ranked No. 1 all season at 143 pounds and is 7-3, received a first-round bye and will face either Indian Hills' Lexi Adams or Umpqua's eighth-ranked Avery Shinkle in her quarterfinal round match.

NIACC's 109-pounder Tatiana Hernandez (7-2) enters the national invitational as the No. 2 seed. Hernandez faces seventh-ranked Natalie Duran of Iowa Western in her first-round match.

At 101 pounds, NIACC's Chiara Barbieri, who is ranked fifth and is 6-1, faces fourth-ranked Chelsey Mendoza of Northwest Kansas Tech in her first-round match.

At 116 pounds, NIACC's Sara Arrojo (1-5) takes on top-ranked Shammilka Miranda of Indian Hills in her first-round match.

At 123 pounds, NIACC's Chloe Williamson (1-9) faces Southwestern Oregon's Victoriana Kim, who is ranked fourth, in her opening round contest.

At 130 pounds, NIACC's Paige Baker (3-8) matches up against Umpqua's top-ranked Zainab Ibrahim in her opening round match.

At 136 pounds, NIACC's Essie McCleish (0-10)faces eighth-ranked Sophia Miller of Snow in the first round.

At 155 pounds, NIACC's Gabriella Segre (3-9) takes on fifth-ranked Ferny Hernandez of Iowa Western in the first round.

At 170 pounds, NIACC's Ravyn Krachey, who is ranked seventh and is 3-6, takes on Iowa Western's second-ranked Larissa Gallo in her first round matchup.

At 235 pounds, NIACC's Valerie Smith, who is ranked fourth and is 4-2, faces fifth-ranked Umpqua's Leilani Holley in the opening round.

The tournament starts Friday morning at 9 a.m. with the finals being set for Saturday at 6 p.m.

NJCAA WOMEN'S WRESTLING INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE

Friday, March 3

9 a.m. - Women will wrestle up to the championship semifinals. Women's consolation round wrestlers will compete up to the consolation semifinals.

Saturday, March 4

9:30 a.m. - Women's semifinals.

11 a.m. - Consolation semifinals.

12:15 p.m. - Consolation finals (Third/fourth and fifth/sixth place matches)

5:30 p.m. - Opening ceremonies.

5:50 p.m. - Parade of All-Americans.

6 p.m. - Championship finals.