ICCAC Wrestling Dual Preview: January 23-26

With only a few weeks remaining in the regular season, there are just a few more conference matchups left to play.  This week, the ICCAC features two crucial conference duals as No. 3 Ellsworth travels to face No. 7 Iowa Central and 12th-ranked North Iowa Area hosts 8th-ranked Iowa Lakes.  Here's a look at both matchups:

#3 Ellsworth at #7 Iowa Central | Tuesday, 1/23 @ 7:00pm

Ellsworth will travel to Fort Dodge on Tuesday to face conference rival, Iowa Central, for the second time this season. The Panthers, who enter Tuesday's dual with the best record in the conference, defeated the Tritons, 23-18, to begin the season last November. Ellsworth is coming off an impressive win over NIACC last Wednesday (34-12), giving them a 4-1 record in conference duals this season. In that dual, the Panthers' Steven Lawrence, who is ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA at the 157-pound weight class (Intermat.com), pinned the Trojans' Noah Jackson, who is ranked 5th. 

Iowa Central is coming off a strong performance at Saturday's Worthington Open in Worthington, Minn. The Tritons had eight different wrestlers finish in the top 3 in their respective weight class, including Brady Vogel, who took first place in the 174-pound division by defeating his teammate, Jonah Egli. 

There will be a few key matchups to watch during Tuesday's dual. From the 157-pound weight class, fourth-ranked Ethan Karsten from Iowa Central will face Ellsworth's top-ranked Steven Lawerence. However, the highlight of the dual will likely come from the 133-pound weight class, where the Triton's Todd Small, currently ranked No. 1, is expected to face the Panthers's Justin Folley, who ranks second in the NJCAA. 

Tuesday's dual will begin at 7:00pm at Iowa Central in Fort Dodge.

#8 Iowa Lakes at #12 North Iowa Area | Friday, 1/26 @ 7:00pm

NIACC will host Iowa Lakes on Friday for both teams' final conference dual of the 2017-18 season. Iowa Lakes, who is 3-2 in conference duals this season, defeated the Trojans, 34-15, in late November. The Trojans are still looking for their first conference dual victory of the season. NIACC last competed on Saturday at the Worthington Open, where Austin Anderly took second place in the 141-pound weight class.

Iowa Lakes also competed at last weekend's Worthington Open, where Brian Maas led the way with a fourth place finish at the 125-pound division for the Lakers.   In addition, Robert Hall Jr. came away with a sixth place finish in the 149B division.

Both squads feature multiple wrestlers ranked in the top 10 for their respective weight classes. Iowa Lakes' Isaiah Cox is ranked 2nd at the 184-pound division, while the Trojans' Noah Jackson is ranked No. 5 in the 157-pound division. The night's biggest matchup will likely come from the 141-pound weight class, where NIACC's top-ranked wrestler, Austin Anderly, is expected to face the Lakers' Anthony Fisher, who ranks 7th in the NJCAA.

Friday's dual will begin at 7:00pm at NIACC in Mason City.