Northern Michigan University’s Sophia Bassino, front, lifts Alma's Camille Mitchell in an attempt to get her in a pinning position during the Northern Duals women’s wrestling meet held at the Vandament Arena in Marquette on Dec. 19. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — The women’s wrestling team at Northern Michigan University is in the midst of its NCAA regional qualifying meet in Ohio that could send a number of its athletes to the national championships in Iowa in two weeks time.

The Wildcats are at the Heminger Center at Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio, for the Region 4 qualifier that began Friday and wraps up today. Wrestling was scheduled to start at 11 a.m. each day.

NMU is among 18 teams vying to send wrestlers to the nationals at the Xstream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, on Friday and Saturday, March 6-7.

Fans can the action today @nmu_wrestling on Instagram for updates, or check the NMU athletics website at nmuwildcats.com and look under the women’s wrestling schedule for links to live video, live results and a preview.

Northern was ranked No. 18 in the nation at tournaments and No. 19 in duals in the latest poll taken by The Open Mat.

Top Wildcats wrestlers include Alissa Caltagirone ranked No. 6 nationally at 145 pounds, Abbie Miles No. 7 at 180 and Sophia Bassino No. 8 at 160.

During the regular season that ran from Nov. 1 to the end of January, first-year head coach Adam Wilson led NMU to a 10-4 record, including a four-match sweep of their lone home meet at Vandament Arena on Dec. 19.

The Wildcats also placed ninth among 40 teams at the Adrian Open in the Lower Peninsula on Nov. 9 and seventh out of 29 squads at the North Central Invitational in Naperville, Illinois, on Dec. 14.

And Northern finished in third place in its first season in the Great Lakes Valley Conference that was newly formed for women’s wrestling.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release previewing the meet. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.