Depth brings in renewed energy for Mustangs

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — There are a lot more wrestlers filling the room for the Morningside women's wrestling team this season.

After bringing in nine freshmen, the Mustangs — ranked fifth in the GPAC preseason poll — are aiming to field a full lineup throughout the year. That depth has brought a new level of energy and confidence as they prepare to open the season at the Luther Hill Open, hosted by Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa.

"There's a significant difference between the girls we brought in Year 1 and the girls we brought in this year," head coach Jordan Cliff said. "That's no fault of the Year 1 roster — that's just the sport. The landscape of collegiate wrestling is evolving drastically. We're really looking forward to getting going this year with the roster we have."

The Mustangs return six juniors, and four of them appear in the GPAC preseason rankings. Adilene Delgadillo opens the season ranked seventh at 131 pounds, while Josie Biffar holds the No. 6 spot at 138. At the upper weights, Nevaeh Hast is ranked third at 180, and Melissa De La Torre comes in fourth at 207.

Delgadillo won eight matches last season wrestling at 123 pounds, while De La Torre earned six wins in a redshirt year. Hast picked up a victory at Morningside's first-ever home meet, and Biffar added two more.

"The returners who are back are looking good," Cliff said. "Some of the girls have stepped up and solidified themselves as leaders in our wrestling room. They understand what I expect now and the culture and values we hold."

That leadership has fueled noticeable improvement in preseason practices.

"With having to wrestle all those other people, we get to pick up different techniques and learn things we didn't get previously," Biffar said. "The wrestling room has gotten a lot more competitive, and the new talent is very good. We have to be looking to get better every day."