Photo by Kendall Snoke/IAwrestle: The Iowa Central women's wrestling team celebrates their NJCAA national dual tournament championship on Saturday in Richfield, Utah.

RICHFIELD, Utah — The Iowa Central women’s wrestling team made the long trip west for the third annual NJCAA Women’s Coaches Duals a successful one, claiming the national championship in a thriller.

Wins by Erica Pastoriza, Asia Jahangir, Annabelle Petsinger, Delise Villa, Valerie Hamilton and Allie Grow gave the third-ranked Tritons the needed tiebreaker criteria after finishing tied at 25-all with second-rated Southeast.

“Words can’t express how proud I am of our whole team,” ICCC head coach Zak Hensley said. “To accomplish this, everyone involved in our program was needed.

“This team can do anything they set their hearts to. I love being their coach.”

In the final match, Southeast scored a technical fall from Martha Hinneh over Harmoni Callins, which left the match all-square. Pastoriza, Jahangir, Petsinger, Villa, Hamilton and Grow had all earned victories earlier in the dual, as Southeast recorded five wins.

Pastoriza and Jahangir each had pins, Hamilton won by technical fall and both Petsinger and Villa picked up decisions in the finale. Pastoriza, Jahangir, Petsinger, Villa and Hamilton all finished 3-0, as Jahangir earned three falls.

The loss for Callins was her only one of the day.

“Really impressed with Val Hamilton, as she stepped up, bumped up and got a big win and a bonus point for our team,” Hensley said. “Erica coming through with the fall at 103 was huge. There were so many big moments that swung the dual but Allie Grow stepping up for the fall and getting us a four-point lead was needed.

“Asia had one of the most impressive wins of our season with a first period fall over the No. 1 ranked wrestler at 117.”

Iowa Central reached the finals with convincing wins over eighth-ranked Southwestern Oregon (45-6) and No. 9 Snow (38-14) after earning the No. 1 seed with wins over Murray State (38-16) and Big Bend (44-14) in pool action.

For the tournament, the Tritons recorded 22 pins and eight technical falls — both of which ranked second among all teams.