NIACC women ranked 8th in preseason poll

MASON CITY - The NIACC women's wrestling team, which is in its second season of existence, is ranked in the preseason NJCAA poll, released Monday.

NIACC, which placed eighth at the 2023 national tournament, returns two all-Americans (Tatiana Hernandez and Valerie Smith) from its first-ever squad.

Hernandez, who placed sixth at 109 pounds at the national tournament in 2023, is ranked third at 109 pounds in the preseason rankings. Hernandez was 8-5 with 1 technical fall and four falls during her freshman campaign.

Smith, who placed fourth at 235 pounds at the national tournament in 2023, is ranked third at 235 pounds in the preseason rankings. Smith was 6-4 with six falls during her freshman season.

Indian Hills, the defending national champion, is ranked first in the preseason poll. Iowa Central is ranked second and Iowa Western is ranked sixth.

NIACC opens its season at the Simpson College Luther Hill Invitational on Saturday in Indianola. The tournament starts at 9 a.m.

2023-24 NJCAA Women's Wrestling preseason rankings (Oct. 30, 2023) - Indian Hills, Iowa Central, Umpqua, Snow, Carl Albert, Iowa Western, Southwestern Oregon, NIACC, Southeast CC (Neb.), Trinidad State.