COUNCIL BLUFFS — The Iowa Central men’s and women’s wrestling teams enter the NJCAA National Tournament with high expectations.

Preliminary first round matches begin the two-day event from the Mid-America Center at 9 a.m. here on Friday and run through quarterfinals on the championship and consolation sides.

Saturday begins at 9:30 a.m. with the championship semifinals, followed by consolation matches and placement bouts. Opening ceremonies for the championship finals start at 5:30 p.m.

ICCAC rival Indian Hills swept the men’s and women’s team titles a year ago, as the Triton men finished fifth overall behind the Warriors, Clackamas, Western Wyoming and Fort Hays Tech Northwest.

Indian Hills sits one spot ahead of the Tritons in the team rankings, with Western Wyoming, Southeast and Clackamas rounding out the Top-5.

Tegan Sherk, the son of former UFC champion Sean Sherk, is one of three wrestlers for head coach Luke Moffitt ranked first. Sherk is No. 1 at 133 pounds, Jarrell Miller is first at 184 and Zaman Anwar is No. 1 at heavyweight.

Others include Che Jenkins (No. 3, 141 pounds), Matt Roche (No. 10, 149), Michael Myers (No. 3, 157), Kaden King (No. 3, 165), Damarcus Powe (No. 3, 174) and Umair Ahmad (No. 7, 197).

On the men’s side, Iowa Central has the most individual national champions with 57 all-time, three ahead of North Idaho. The Tritons had two in the finals last year in Drew Cooper and Coen Grimm, as both claimed silver.

Indian Hills has won all three women’s invitational team titles, as Iowa Central was the runner-up in 2024 and placed third last year. The Tritons have three individual national champions all-time, including Fort Dodge Senior High grad Alexis Ross.

Delise Villa was named the most outstanding wrestler last season in winning gold at 145 pounds. She returns as the top-ranked wrestler at that weight this year.

The Warriors are ranked No. 1 followed by Iowa Central, Southeast Nebraska, Umpqua and Snow. Ranked wrestlers for the Tritons include Erica Pastoriza (No. 2, 103 pounds), Molly Sek (No. 2, 110), Damiyah Smith (No. 6, 110), Aneth Campos (No. 7, 117), Jeream Estabilio (No. 5, 124), Asia Jahangir (No. 7, 124), Annabelle Petsinger (No. 2, 131), Ashlee Farrier (No. 8, 131), Destiny Krum (No. 7, 138), Valerie Hamilton (No. 1, 160), Alexandra Grow (No. 2, 160) and Harmoni Callins (No. 4, 207).