Excitement and competition surrounds the Iowa Central wrestling team.

The fifth-ranked Tritons have competed in two tournaments and two duals so far and head coach Luke Moffitt has liked what he’s seen.

“We have a really strong room,” Moffitt said. “The thing we’re looking for is the guys that buy in. There is so much parody at some weights, that we want the guy that is ready to go when the light bulb goes off.

“That’s what we’re looking for.”

The Tritons are coming off a runner-up showing at the NJCAA national tournament where they had two champions and four other medalists.

Iowa Central has competed in the Yellowjacket Open and the Grand View Open which is loaded with talent and wrestlers.

The lone returner to Iowa Central’s lineup is sophomore Jaydale Whitlock who is currently ranked second in the nation.

“Jaydale reached the blood round at the national tournament,” Moffitt siad. “He beat the No. 2 kid at Grand View and jumped from fourth to No. 2. He has lost one match and is 13-1.”

The Tritons had a solid recruiting class that has made each weight loaded as wrestlers are fighting for spots.

At 133 pounds right now for the Tritons is Drew Cooper from Omaha.

“He’s a transfer from Nebraska,” Moffitt said. “Once he entered the portal, we knew we had to get him. He is a really tough kid and is ranked fourth.”

It’s a wide open race at 141 pounds with some freshmen looking for the starting spot.

Fifth-ranked Zavian Geronimo had a strong tournament at Grand View where he beat the second-ranked wrestler. Ben Fosdick, a returning national qualifier, is also back.

At 149 pounds is Gary Walker from California and Chase Moore from Omaha.

“At 141, 149, 174 and heavyweight, we are wide open,” Moffitt said. “It’s about who is going to take the next step and be the guy to get the job done.”

Cowley transfer Chance Davis is a strong spot for the Tritons. Davis, who is ranked No. 1 at 157 pounds is unbeaten in 13 matches with eight falls and all bonus point victories. Also at 157 is Michael Myers, who placed seventh at nationals a year ago.

“Chance has wrecked everyone so far,” Moffitt said. “He has eight falls and has taken care of everyone, pinning his way through Grand View.”

Kaden King from Ohio, a two-time state champion, is the guy at 165.

“Kaden is a gamer,” Moffitt said. “The higher the stakes, the tougher he competes. We still haven’t seen the best version of him yet. He is very capable in a loaded 165.”

Corbin Hood (Georgia) and Cayden Van Meer of Panora at 174.

Lawrence Rosario, who placed third at nationals, is currently redshirting for the Tritons.

“These guys have been grinding in the room,” Moffitt said. “We have a stack of guys here and they are wrestling tough.”

Seventh-ranked Sam Libby is at 184 pounds.

“Sam spent a year at Miami of Ohio and didn’t wrestle,” Moffitt said. “He came to us and has really surprised me after being away from wrestling for a year.

“He is a hard working guy and he has high goals.”

Sixth-ranked Umair Ahmad is the top candidate at 197 pounds. Coen Grimm of Ohio is currently red shirting.

Ahmad, who is from Punjab, Pakistan, has shown Moffitt a lot in the early going.

“He doesn’t care who is on the mat,” Moffitt said. “He is still learning the rules, but he is tough. He had a very strong tournament at the Grand View Open.”

Marcelo Rosario, the twin brother of Lawrence Rosario, transferred to Iowa Central from Life.

Kyle Oliveria of Alabama and Webster City’s Landon Griffin are in the mix at heavyweight. Pocahontas Area’s Joe Sanders is redshirting.

Moffitt once again expects the conference race to be tough.

“It will be a dogfight,” Moffitt said. “Indian Hills is stacked, NIACC and Iowa Western are good.

“Ultimately it’s a tough conference and it’s good to prepare you for regionals.”

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

Iowa Central will have their home opener against Iowa Western tonight at Hodges Fieldhouse. Wrestling starts at 7 p.m.

Roster

Umair Ahmad, Punjab, PAK; Jamey Bruner, New Smyrna, FL; Seaon Caroso-Thomas, Chicago, Ill.; Chris Carpenter, Perrysburg, OH; Drew Cooper, Omaha, NE; Chance Davis, Perry, OK; Bryce Dodge, Hartley; Ben Fosdick, Fulton, IL; Derrick Foster, Lorain, OH; Zavian Geronimo, Yuma, AZ; Kaden Golder, Ormond Beach, FL; Samuel Goodrick, Sarasota, FL; Shane Gries, Sioux City; Landon Griffin, Webster City; Ryan Griffin, Selma, OR; Coen Grimm, Wadsworth, OH; Kaden Hawkins, Norman, OK; Corbin Hood, Suwanee, GA; Kolton Keller, Des Moines; Kaden King, Armherst, OH; Jakobe Lahr, Solon; Nick Legrande, Charlotte, NC; Sam Libby, Mason OH.

Andrija Lubarda, Novi Sad, Serbia; Chase Moore, Omaha, NE; Michael Myers, Bellevue, NE; Evan Newman, Frenchtown, NJ; Alexander Nunez, El Paso, TX; Gordien Nzeyimana, Sioux Falls, SD; Kyle Oliveira, Hoover, AL; Danny Pacheco, Orlando, FL; Isaac Reineke, Estherville,; Matt Roche, Milford, NJ; Lawrence Rosario, Miami, FL; Marcelo Rosario, Miami, FL; Joseph Sanders, Pocahontas; Andrew Schwab, St. Paul, MN; Shane Schwab, St. Paul, MN; Aidan Sutton, New Smyrna, FL; Hayden Taylor, Solon; Cayden Van Meer, Panora; Sinko Vukas, St. Paul, MN; Gary Walker, Selma, CA; Hunter Watts, Lake Kabella, CA; Jaydale Whitlock, Grove, OK; Dylon York, Edgewater, FL.

Schedule

Dec. 4 — Iowa Western; 7 — at Buena Vista Open.

Jan. 10-11 — National Duals (Miami, OK); 15 — at Indian Hills Open; 18 — at Worthington Open; 23 — NIACC; 25 — at Loras Open.

Feb. 5 — Iowa Lakes; 16 — Regional Tournament (Council Bluffs).