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Short-handed Triton wrestlers open at home

Luke Moffitt can’t wait to see what his complete lineup looks like.

For now, though, the veteran Iowa Central wrestling coach will continue to tweak and shift to try his best and prepare the team for the postseason.

Competing for the first time at home Wednesday night, the sixth-ranked Tritons came up short against No. 20 Indian Hills, 27-15.

The Warriors (2-0 overall, 2-0 in ICCAC) won six matches and secured a forfeit, recording bonus points at three weights to deal Iowa Central (0-3, 0-2) the setback.

“We’ve just got to keep working and pushing,” Moffitt said. “It’s tough because we had to give up 141 and move kids to different weights to try and make up for that forfeit.

“I know it isn’t always fun to wrestle up and it’s a big challenge, so hopefully we can put a lineup together here quick and see what we have.”

Jorden Pryor, Phil Smith Jr. and Keaton Geerts were winners for the Tritons. Pryor, ranked fifth at heavyweight, pinned Caleb Collins in the first minute while Smith earned a major decision and Geerts a technical fall.

Smith is ranked sixth at 149 and Geerts — a transfer from the University of Northern Iowa — is also sixth at 165. Smith recorded three takedowns in his match and Geerts had five.

“For his first match, Phil looked good,” Moffitt said. “We knew last year that Jorden had a lot of skills and talent, and Keaton is a strong kid that has a lot of experience on the mats.

“We have to keep battling. We can’t afford to give up bonus points or matches to teams like this. And we have to do a better job closing out our matches.”

The Warriors are in their first year as a program under the direction of former Ellsworth head coach Cole Spree. They also earned a dual win over the Panthers earlier this season.

Iowa Central returns to the mats next Wednesday at No. 9 North Iowa Area.

INDIAN HILLS 27,

IOWA CENTRAL 15

197 — Khris Walton, IHCC major dec. Hugo Harp, 16-2; 285 — Jorden Pryor, ICCC pinned Caleb Collins, 1:14; 125 — Chris Busutil, IHCC tech. fall Couy Weil, 18-2 (4:28); 133 — Caleb Meekins, IHCC dec. Aidan Harris, 11-8; 141 — Victor Guzman, IHCC won by forfeit; 149 — Phil Smith Jr., ICCC major dec. Destin Jones, 10-2; 157 — Eli Loyd, IHCC dec. Nolan Miller-Johnston, 13-11; 165 — Keaton Geerts, ICCC tech. fall Mouhamadou Sene, 20-5 (5:53); 174 — Neal Larsen, IHCC dec. Devon McSorley, 7-3; 184 — Deron Pulliam, IHCC dec. Jose Rodriguez, 4-2.

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