After an extended holiday break, four ICCAC squads are back in action this week for two conference duals. Here's a look at both matchups:
#3 Ellsworth at #4 Iowa Lakes - Tuesday, 1/9 @ 7:00 p.m.
One of the biggest duals of the conference season will take place on Tuesday as third-ranked Ellsworth travels to face fourth-ranked Iowa Lakes. As a team, Ellsworth is undefeated in conference duals, as the Panthers have defeated Iowa Central, NIACC and Iowa Western this season. Ellsworth last competed on Dec. 9 at the Art Kraft Open in Chicago, Ill.
Iowa Lakes is 2-1 in conference duels this season, coming away with victories against Iowa Central and NIACC before falling to Iowa Western. Last week, the Lakers competed at the NWCA National Duals in Fort Wayne, Ind., where the team went 1-2, picking up their lone victory against Colby Community College, 45-3. Freshman Jordin James highlighted the duals by going 3-0, including one pin.
Heading into the matchup, both schools have multiple wrestlers ranked in the most recent Intermat rankings. Ellsworth sophomore Tim Young is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation at the 197-pound weight class, while sophomore Justin Folley holds the No. 2 spot in the 133-pound division. For Iowa Lakes, sophomore Isaiah Cox is the top ranked wrestler in the 184-pound weight class. A key matchup will likely come out of the 157-pound division, as top ranked Steven Lawrence from Ellsworth will face fifth-ranked Anthony Maia from Iowa Lakes.
The dual will begin at 7:00pm on Tuesday at Iowa Lakes in Estherville.
#7 Iowa Western at #10 Iowa Central - Wednesday, 1/10 @ 7:00 p.m.
Another key conference dual will take place in Fort Dodge on Wednesday, as #10 Iowa Central will host #7 Iowa Western. Iowa Western is 2-1 in conference duals this season with their lone loss coming to third-ranked Ellsworth. The Reivers competed at the NWCA National Duals in Fort Wayne, Ind. last week, where the team came away with victories over Labette Community College and #7 Rochester Community College before falling to #1 Clackamas Community College.
Despite a 1-2 record in conference matchups this season, Iowa Central comes in as the tenth-ranked squad in the NJCAA. The Tritons defeated NIACC on Dec. 6 for their only conference victory. Wednesday's dual with Iowa Western will be the Tritons' first competition since they competed at the UNI Open on Dec. 9.
Iowa Western boasts five wrestlers in the latest Intermat rankings coming into the dual. Sophomore D'Andre Brumfield is ranked third in 133-pound weight class, while sophomore Emmanuel Brown is ranked fifth in the 1125-pound division. For the Tritons, Todd Small is the top-ranked wrestler in the 133-pound weight class, while Antrez Clagon is ranked third in the 184-pound division.
The dual will begin at 7:00pm on Wednesday at Iowa Central in Fort Dodge.