2019 Central District Preview
The 2019 Central District Championship meet is scheduled for this Sunday in Mason City at NIACC. The five ICCAC schools will compete with National Tournament seeding implications on the line. Most, recently, four out of five of our conference teams are ranked nationally; No. 4 Iowa Central, No. 6 Ellsworth, No. 7 Iowa Lakes, No. 8 Iowa Western, and NIACC will all send full, ten-wrestler rosters to the mat.
Location:
NIACC
500 College Rd.
Mason City, IA 50401
Date: Sunday, Feb. 10
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Cost: $10 adults - $8 students/seniors
2019 ICCAC Dual Standings/Results
NJCAA Wrestling Championships Central
No. 4 Iowa Central
Iowa Central was the 2018 Central District Champions with 173 points. The Tritons received the honor of the Most Outstanding Wrestler, Todd Small (133 lbs.) and Coach of the Year, Luke Moffitt. Iowa Central also won six of the weight classes which included 133, 141, 157, 165, 174 and 197 pounds. The Tritons also received third place by earning 121 points at the 2018 NJCAA Wrestling Championships.
This year, Iowa Central's No. 6 Kevin Radcliff is going into the Central District Meet as the only nationally ranked wrestler in the 125-weight class within the ICCAC. The Tritons roster also includes six more nationally ranked players including No. 7 Yarhoski Aldiva (149 lbs), No. 3 Ethan Karsten (157 lbs), No. 4 Travis Willers (165 lbs), No. 6 Ashton Eyler (174 lbs), No. 3 Brian Standford (184 lbs), No. 1 Tyree Sutton (197 lbs), You can expect the Tritons to dominate on the mat this Sunday, as they look to make another push at an NJCAA Wrestling Championship.
Roster:
125 - Kevin Radcliff - So. Chicago, IL
133 - Josh Garcia - Fr. San Antonio, TX
141 - Damond Lockner - Fr. Fort Dodge, IA
149 - Yarhoski Aldiva - So. Culpepper, VA
157 - Ethan Karsten - So. Platte City, MO***
165 - Travis Willers - So. LeClaire, IA
174 - Ashton Eyler - Fr. Killbuck, OH
184 - Brian Stanford - So. Kingston, GA
197 - Tyree Sutton - So. Keansburg, NJ***
Hwt - Gunner Cash - So. Tecumseh, OK
Head Coach: Luke Moffitt
No. 6 Ellsworth
Ellsworth earned third place (120.5 points) in last year's Central District Meet. The Panthers came out victorious in the 125-weight class thanks to Javier Moreno's great efforts last year. Ellsworth earned seventh place at the 2018 NJCAA Wrestling Championships.
This weekend Ellsworth will have multiple nationally ranked players fighting to win: 133 weight class No. 6 Hector Candelaria, 141 weight class No. 1 Zack Donathan, No. 3 Bryce Pilcher (197 lbs) and No. 7 Charles Griffin (Heavyweight). The Panthers have one of the best wrestling programs in the country in 2019. Do not be surprised when you see these guys put up a great fight on Sunday as they head to the NJCAA Wrestling Championships.
Roster:
125 - Carter Cox - So.- Atlantic, IA
133 - Hector Candelaria - Fr.- Phenix City, AL
141 - Zack Donathan - Fr.- Mason, OH
149 - Cardy Wilson - Fr.- Miami, FL
157 - Zach Garza - So.- Dumas, TX
165 - Khanden Howse - So.- South Holland, IL
174 - Myron Crawford - So. - St Charles, MO
184 - Jordan Shahrikian - So. - Roscoe, IL
197 - Bryce Pilcher - So. - Cedar Falls, IA
285 - Charles Griffin -So. - Baltimore, MD
Head Coach: Cole Spree
No. 7 Iowa Lakes
During last year's Central District Meet the Lakers received fourth place with 108.5 points. Iowa Lakes did not come out on top in any of the weight classes, but they did have two second-place finishes in the 157 and 165 weight classes. Last year, The Lakers earned 12th place at the NJCAA Wrestling Championships.
This year Iowa Lakes has No. 4 David Hollingsworth (175 lbs) ranked nationally and will lean on him for a guarantee momentum boost during the meet. The Lakers are eyeing at least a top 10 finish at Nationals this March.
Roster:
125 - Kevin Saravia Merlos - So. - Wilmington, NC
133 - Tykwan Joyner - Fr. - Dover, DE
141 - Anthony Fisher, So. - Hartly DE
149 - Tracy Davis, So. - Jacksonville, FL
157 - David Hollingsworth - So. - Owings Mills, MD***
165 - Tyrone Jones - Fr. - Palm Coast, FL
174 - Steven Raines - Fr. - Millville, NJ
184 - Marcus Placide - So. Minneapoolis, MN
197 - Terron Robinson - Fr. - Huntington Station NY
285 - Andre Bissainthe - Fr. - St. Mary's, GA
Head Coach: Cody Alesch
No. 8 Iowa Western
Iowa Western ended last year as the runner up in the Central District Meet earning 143 points. In 2018, the Reivers were victorious in the 149, 184 and heavyweight classes.
This weekend Iowa Western will have No. 8 nationally ranked Jacob Ruiz competing at the 133-weight class and No. 7 Olen Brattin in the 174-weight class. The Reivers finished fifth at the NJCAA National Championship last year and they are aiming to improve their season-ending ranking this year.
Roster:
125 - Isaac Garcia - Fr. - Albuquerque, NM
133 - Jacob Ruiz - Fr. - Sparks, NV
141 - Gad Huseman - Fr. - Tonganoxie, KS
149 - Melvin Hernandez - Fr. - David City, NE
157 - Michael Zachary - So. - Des Moines, IA***
165 - Olen Brattin - Fr. - Pleasant Hill, MO
174 - Brandon Burgos - So. - Aiea, HI
184 - Tim Barr - So. - Shelby, IA
197 - Ethan Poppe - Fr. - Crofton, NE
285 - Cortez Woods - Fr. - Wildwood, MO
Head Coach: Josh Watts
NIACC
Last year NIACC finished in last place at the Central Districts with 107 total points. Although the Trojans did not win any weight classes in 2018, they were runners up in the 141 and heavyweight categories.
Last year during the NJCAA Wrestling Championship the Trojans placed 17th. Although they may be the underdog this weekend, NIACC is expected to bring forth a solid effort as the host team. The Trojans are hoping to qualify as many wrestlers they can for the NJCAA National Championship and to end their season on a high note.
Roster:
125 - Mark Gonzales - So. - Alberqueque, NM
133 - Brock Luthens - Fr. - Hector, MN
141 - Hunter Luke - Fr. - Mount Carroll, IL
149 - Tony Mendoza - Fr. - St. Selma, CA
157 - Quinn Murphy - So. - Tiffin, IA
165 - Xavier Judge - Fr. - Eagan, MN
174 - Mason Carpenter - Fr. - Clarion, IA
184 - Reldon Miller, Fr. - Gilbert, IA
197 - Hunter Hagen - Fr. - Britt, IA
285 - Zach Santee - Fr. - Plymouth, IA
Head Coach: Steve Kelly
Bold = Returning National Qualifier
*** = Returning All-American