Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Iowa Central’s Jaydale Whitlock works on his Iowa Western opponent Wednesday inside Hodges Fieldhouse. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Even though it’s still early in the season, Iowa Central head wrestling coach Luke Moffitt was pleased with the performance of his squad here Wednesday night.

The 10th-ranked Tritons won seven matches in claiming a 43-10 victory over Iowa Western in their 2024-25 home debut inside Hodges Fieldhouse.

“We didn’t have our lineup that we’ve had earlier this year, so for us to get a win like this over a solid opponent like Iowa Western was a great sign,” Moffitt said. “I gave some guys an opportunity to show us what they can do, and they delivered.”

Jaydale Whitlock and Drew Cooper gave the Tritons an early lead with back-to-back technical falls at 125 and 133 pounds, respectively, while Matt Roche followed with a fall in just under four minutes.

“Jaydale and Drew came out and got after it,” Moffitt said. “They both set the tone early in their matches, and I thought the team followed what they did.”

At 149, Gary Walker earned a 6-2 decision over No. 7 Braxton Peacher to put Iowa Central up 19-0.

Iowa Western scored its first win with a fall from Trent Wikel at 157 over Chase Moore, who bumped up from 149, where he is ranked 12th.

Any momentum created by the Wikel win was quickly squashed when Kaden King pinned Josiah Taylor in just 30 seconds. King connected with a power takedown and finished off Taylor with his back on the mat.

Sam Libby earned a fall at 184, followed by Umair Ahmad doing the same at 197. The heavyweight match resulted in a forfeit for Iowa Central’s Marcelo Rosario after Orion Parker missed weight.

“We got some key wins that can help us later on down the road,” Moffitt said. “I was looking forward to that heavyweight matchup, but I’m sure we’ll see him again later this year.”

The Iowa Western women, ranked No. 1 by Open Mat and seventh by the NJCAA in duals, won the first three matches and the final two to secure a narrow triumph over Iowa Central, 26-25 on criteria.

“It’s tough losing a dual that close with an open weight,” ICCC women’s head coach Zak Hensley said. “I thought we had a lot of good performances, and also, some that didn’t go how we expected. But that’s what you get this time of the year.”

The Tritons, who are fourth by Open Mat and sixth in the NJCAA poll, earned five wins — including a first period fall from Alexis Ross. The former Fort Dodge Senior High state champion, a consensus No. 1 at 138, pinned No. 5 Daeja Sundquist in 2:04.

“Alexis loves competing here in front of her friends and family,” Hensley said. “There’s just something about Fort Dodge that brings out the best in her. I thought her performance really showed the growth she has made on the mat since last year and I am looking forward to seeing what she does moving forward.”

Aniyah Dinwiddie, ranked third at 124, and Kammie Schanz, second at 145, also picked up pins for the Tritons. Avery Mohr earned a technical fall at 131.

Iowa Central’s Allie Grow, rated ninth, dominated at 180 to secure a technical fall. Ayana Fletcher from Iowa Western had earned a decision vs. Delise Villa in the first match to go the distance at 160.

“(The outcome) is tough, but it’s also a sign of where we need to improve and get better,” Hensley said. “We made some mistakes, but they are ones we can fix. I know we will.”

Down 25-16, the Reivers rallied, as Zeriah George and Vicki Venales each picked up falls in the final two matches to win the dual, giving Iowa Western six match victories to the five for Iowa Central.