Luke Moffitt is enjoying the process of putting together his Iowa Central wrestling team.

Led by returning national champion Matt Sarbo, the Tritons are set to begin their home dual season here Wednesday vs. North Iowa Area.

“This class of freshmen are competitive guys that take practice serious, compete in the room and care about wins and losses, takedowns and not giving up takedowns,” Moffitt said. “That isn’t always the case or something I can say every single year.

“It’s a pretty good indicator that they care about those little things and trying to do them right.”

Moffitt hopes that helps push the Tritons up from a seventh place finish overall at nationals a season ago.

Along with Sarbo, Hugo Harp was a national qualifier at heavyweight and returns, as does 2002 All-American Darnai Heard.

“Matt is a great leader who isn’t satisfied with being a national champion,” Moffitt said. “We’ve got some good leaders that have experience in the room and are helping with the transition for the younger guys.”

Last week, the Tritons kicked off their season at an open tournament in Minnesota.

“We had a pretty good showing for the first time out,” Moffitt said. “Trystin Irvin was a kid that came in late and really impressed. He was a placewinner as a junior out of West Des Moines Valley and he has done an incredible job.

“Trentin Walker wrestled behind Lane Cowell last year and he has done a good job at 125. We’ve got a lot of guys at 157 but Mikey Myers is looking strong as a freshman and Lawrence Rosario at 174 is looking good, too. Joseph Lewis was a placewinner out of Dubuque Hempstead and could go at 197 or heavyweight.”

The roster includes several wrestlers from Iowa including Humboldt grad Jase Goodell and former Pocahontas Area wrestler Joseph Sanders.

Iowa Central will head to Oklahoma in January to defend its national duals title. They have won six under Moffitt to go along with seven national titles and 17 consecutive seasons of placing in the Top-8.

Moffitt is assisted by Troy Bennett, Kit Hovey and Ryne Cokeley.

2023-24 IOWA CENTRAL WRESTLING

Roster

Angel Banegas, New York; Jamey Bruner, Florida; Kaden Buss, Sioux City; Cooper Colson, Nebraska; Joseph Cruz, California; Bryce Dodge, Hartley; Benjamin Fosdick, Illinois; Kaden Golder, Florida; Daquion Goodbeir, Georgia; Jase Goodell, Humboldt; Shane Gries, Sioux City; Preston Ham, Nevada; Hugo Harp, Delaware; Gerard Hatoum, Al Rayann; Kaden Hawkins-Hinson, Oklahoma; Darani Heard, Ohio; Adonis Henderson, Johnston; Corbin Hood, Georgia.

Trystin Irvin, Des Moines; Joseph Lewis, Dubuque; Lee Mauras, New York; DJ Moehring, Pennsylvania; Michael Myers, Nebraska; Jacob Nickel, Pennsylvania; Gordien Nzeyimana, South Dakota; Malikhy Ray, Georgia; Isaac Reineke, Estherville; Lawrence Rosario, Florida; Joseph Sanders, Pocahontas; Matthew Sarbo, Pennsylvania; Josiah Schaetzle, Dubuque; Philip Smith, Jr., Maryland; Kendall Snoke, Minnesota; Earnest Taylor, Jewell; Trentin Walker, Pennsylvania; Jaydale Whitlock, Oklahoma; Dylon York, Florida.

Schedule

Nov. 8 — NIACC; 11 — at Grand View Open; 15 — at Iowa Lakes; 29 — Indian Hills.

Dec. 2 — at Buena Vista Open.

Jan. 12-13 — at national duals in Miami, Okla.; 18 — at Iowa Western; 20 — at Worthington Open; 25 — Ellsworth; 27 — at Duhawk Open; 31 — at NIACC.

Feb. 11 — at regionals in Estherville.

March 1-2 — at NJCAA Championships in Council Bluffs.