NIACC ranked 9th in preseason poll
MASON CITY - The NIACC wrestling team is tied for ninth in the preseason NJCAA Division I poll released by Intermat.
NIACC, which placed 12th at the 2020 national meet with 55.5 points, returns three wrestlers with national tournament experience for the 2021 season.
Iowa Western is ranked fourth, Iowa Central is ranked sixth, Iowa Lakes is ranked 13th and Indian Hills is ranked 22nd.
Returning national qualifiers for the Trojans are Clarence Lee-Green (125), Christian Minto (165) and Mason Carpenter (174). All three returners are ranked to start the 2021 season - Lee-Green is ranked third, Minto is ranked second and Carpenter is ranked seventh.
Lee-Green was 19-10 a year ago with five falls, one technical fall and four major decisions. Lee-Green placed fifth at the NJCAA Central District tournament and was 2-2 at the national tournament.
Minto was 22-1 as a freshman and placed second at the national tournament. Minto recorded four falls, three technical falls and four major decisions.
Minto dropped a 6-4 decision to Iowa Western's Isaiah Crosby in the 165-pound national title match in 2020. Crosby is ranked No. 1 at 165 pounds.
Carpenter, who has a career record of 11-8, redshirted last season after qualifying for the national tournament in 2019.
NIACC opens the 2021 season Feb. 10 in a dual meet at Iowa Lakes.
Intermat's NJCAA preseason rankings
1. Clackamas; 2. Western Wyoming; 3. RCTC; 4. Iowa Western; 5. Cowley; 6. Iowa Central; 6. Northeast Oklahoma; 8. Pratt; 9. NIACC; 9. North Idaho; 11. Neosho; 11. NW Kansas Tech; 13. Southwest Oregon; 13. Muskegon; 13. Iowa Lakes; 16. NW Wyoming; 17. Labette; 18. Triton; 19. Colby; 20. Minnesota West; 20. Cloud County; 22. Indian Hills; 23. Henry Ford; 23. Otero.
