Before the Quincy University women’s wrestling team faced another opponent this season, the Hawks faced each other.

Quincy held its annual intersquad Oct. 20, splitting 18 wrestlers into Gold and Brown teams for nine matches. The dual-style event opens each season and helps coaches decide who starts at each weight class when the Hawks compete in duals.

Three days later, the National Wrestling Coaches Association ranked Quincy No. 9 in its preseason coaches poll.

The ranking follows the best season in program history. In March, Quincy finished ninth of 54 teams at the first NCAA Women’s Wrestling Championship. The Hawks left Coralville, Iowa, with two All-Americans and the program’s first national champion.

The intersquad matchups were:

• 103 pounds: sophomore Abby Mendoza (Gold) vs. freshman Grace Loutzenhiser (Brown)
• 110 pounds: freshman Alisa Carter (Gold) vs. junior Sasha Tchekounova (Brown)
• 124 pounds: senior Sereena Baca (Gold) vs. freshman Aviana Caceres (Brown)
• 131 pounds: sophomore Lauren Phillips (Gold) vs. junior Isabella Weiner (Brown)
• 138 pounds: senior Taylin Long (Gold) vs. senior Maddy Barton (Brown)
• 145 pounds: sophomore Dempsey Atkinson (Gold) vs. senior Siobhan Rogers (Brown)
• 160 pounds: sophomore Lillian Baynes (Gold) vs. junior Sophia Sosa (Brown)
• 180 pounds: junior Madisynn Crawford (Gold) vs. senior Alexa Valdez (Brown)
• 180 Ex: freshman Josie Bishop (Gold) vs. junior Trinity White (Brown)

Quincy’s starting lineup is Mendoza at 103 pounds, Tchekounova at 110, Baca at 124, Phillips at 131, Barton at 138, Atkinson at 145, Baynes at 160, Crawford at 180 and White at heavyweight. The 117-pound spot has not been filled.

The lineup mixes proven winners with new faces. Barton and former teammate Trinity Pendergrass, now an assistant Quincy coach, became the first wrestlers in program history to reach 100 career wins. Both passed the mark at last season’s national tournament.

Barton and Tchekounova each won two matches at nationals, and both open this season nationally ranked. Baca, Baynes and Crawford each won more than 20 matches last season.

The regional rankings show the same depth. Five Quincy starters appear in the NWCA’s Oct. 23 regional rankings: Mendoza, Tchekounova, Barton, Baynes and Crawford.

The lineup is not set for the season. Starting spots can change as wrestlers improve, cut weight or recover from injuries.

The Hawks open the season Nov. 1 at the Luther Hill Open in Indianola, Iowa. Their first dual is Nov. 4 at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis. Quincy’s first home dual is Dec. 18 against Northeastern State University at Pepsi Arena.