COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - Iowa Western's Ferny Hernandez took home the national title in the women's 155 lb weight class at the inaugural NJCAA Women's National Invitational.  The 5th ranked freshman from Homestead, FL defeated Carl Albert State's Ana Barnoski by fall in the 2nd round to give Hernandez the championship.

Hernandez opened her tournament with a 10-0 victory over NIACC's Gabriella Segre.  She then took down Indian Hills' Nolani Snagg 11-2.  That set up a match with top-ranked Tiyanna Leal of Umpqua.  Hernandez needed 2 minutes to defeat Leal 12-2 to advance her to the finals match.

The victory is the 2nd for the women's wrestling program and the 1st as an NJCAA-sanctioned sport.  The program's first title came last season as Yarissa Gallo took home the title at the Junior College National Championships in Oregon.