The 2022 North Central District Championships wrestling tournament will be hosted by Indian Hills on Sunday, February 13th with action starting at 10:00 a.m. At the end of the day, 51 wrestlers will qualify for the NJCAA National Championships. 

Iowa Central comes into the tournament at the top with a dual record of 5-1. The Tritons are currently ranked at #3 as a team and have seven wrestlers ranked in the NJCAA rankings. Iowa Central has two wrestlers ranked at #1 in the NJCAA in 174 pounder Jose Rodriguez and heavyweight Jorden Pryor. The pair were district finalists and All-Americans this year, and were on the lookout for them to return to the championship round. The Tritons have won eight of the last 10 district titles, and are competing to get back to their winning ways.

Currently, there are ranked Tritons in seven of the 10 weight classes . Along with Rodrigues and Pryor, the Tritons tout Adian Harris (125), Hayden Halter (133), Keaton Geerts (149), Nolan Miller-Johnston (157) and Josh Ramirez (165)

Indian Hills is host the District Championship this year after winning the event for the first time in 2021. The team has maintained their success from 2021 and are currently ranked #5 in the NJCAA. They have also been dominant in ICCAC duals this season with a record of 5-1 and sit at the top of the conference right behind Iowa Central. The team also has six wrestlers ranked nationally by the NJCAA.

Two wrestlers to look out for on the Indian Hills squad are 133 pounder Caleb Meekins and 184 pounder Deron Pulliam. Meekins is currently ranked #1 in the NJCAA at 133, and will look to defend his district championship after winning in 2021.

Along with Iowa Central, the Warriors have seven ranked wrestlers. Chris Busutil (125), Meekins (133), Victor Guzman (141), Destin Jones (157), Cameron Nesbitt (165), Deron Pulliam (184), Khris Walton (197). 

NIACC enters Districts this season with a very solid season as a team and are currently ranked at #7 in the NJCAA. NIACC has 5 wrestlers ranked in the NJCAA who will look to make a splash at districts this season. Christain Minto has been dominant this season for the Trojans, and will return to defend his title as district champion at 165 pounds where he is ranked #1 in the NJCAA. NJCAA #2 ranked Jose Valdez will return to defend his district title in the very competitive 197 pound class.

Keep an eye out for Quentrevion Campbell -- in their latest dual against NIACC, he took down Iowa Western's #5 Creighton Baughman and is 8-0, despite not being ranked himself.
The Trojans also have Clarence Lee Green at 133, Denville Dentis at 149 and Chase McCleish at 184 in the individual rankings. 

Iowa Western has also had a very solid season and comes into districts with a dual record of 4-2. The team comes into the tournament currently ranked #9 as a team and has four wrestlers ranked in the NJCAA. At the top of the lineup for the Reivers is Fabian Padilla who is currently ranked at #2 in the NJCAA at 157 pounds. Others ranked are 125 pounder Jacakson Burks (#4), Baughman at 141, and #3 Josh McFarland at 174.

Iowa Lakes and Ellsworth round out the field of competition ranked at 10 and 15 respectively as a team. Iowa Lakes' top wrestler this season is Massoma Endene who is currently ranked #1 in the 197 pound class in the NJCAA. 197 will be a contentious weight with NIACC's Valdez being ranked #2 in the NJCAA. Laker heavyweight Jacob Rahn is the only other ICCAC 285-pounder in the rankings besides Iowa Central's Pryor. 

Ellsworth has two wrestlers ranked nationally -- 149's #4 Nate Lendt and 165's #9 Mirzo Kayitov. The Panthers will have to battle to qualify in this loaded district championship.