By: Dana Becker
Messenger Sports Staff
Luke Moffitt has given over two decades to the Iowa Central wrestling program.
And in return, the Tritons have flourished under his watchful guidance.
Moffitt, a former University of Iowa wrestler and national champion at Iowa Central, has collected seven national championships and finished in the Top-8 each of the past 17 seasons at the national tournament.
This year, a collection of mostly new wrestlers will look to keep that streak going.
"It's probably one of the more inexperienced teams I've had here," Moffitt said. "We graduated a lot from last year, but I like the room we have.
"They are hungry, they are pushing each other in practice and I think by the end of the year, we'll have a really strong lineup put together."
Iowa Central placed second to Clackamas last year in the team standings, as Keaton Geerts and Jorden Pryor each claimed national titles. Geerts is now an assistant coach on the brand-new women's team.
Neither will be counted on this year, as medalists Jose Rodriguez, Nolan Miller-Johnston and Josh Ramirez are also gone.
Darnai Heard, who went 4-2 during the two-day event to place seventh, is back, along with Coleton McElliott and John Lovett, who qualified for nationals.
Fort Dodge Senior High graduate Lane Cowell, Andrew Gamble, Colten Goodell, Hugo Harp, Sammy Lile, Nick Natarcola, Aiden Carr, Rives Hargis, Justice Hefley and Daquion Goodbeir are other returning wrestlers.
"Lane gives us a really good option at 133," Moffitt said. "We've just got to keep working and continue to get them better. That's why we go to these open tournaments so that we can get experience for nationals."
Former Southeast Valley wrestler Ty Klatt is among the newcomers from Iowa along with Kobe Simon, Brayden and Gage Stevens, Hayden Taylor, Gabe Rolon, Noble Hoyt and Hector Garcia.
Garcia placed fifth at heavyweight for Boone last winter.
See full article at https://www.messengernews.net/sports/local-sports/2022/11/beat-goes-on-for-triton-wrestlers-under-moffitt/