By: Dana Becker
Messenger Sports Staff
Coming off a weekend that ended with a national championship, the Iowa Central wrestling team kept the momentum going here Thursday night.
The Tritons handled Iowa Lakes, 50-3, winning all but one match while scoring 23 bonus points inside Hodges Fieldhouse.
"It was good to see our kids wrestle hard and fast," ICCC head coach Luke Moffitt said. "We still didn't completely finish the way we need to, but we continue to show improvement and get better. I'd like to see us use our conditioning as more of a weapon because I feel like our kids are well conditioned.
"We'll get there, though. I like what they are doing and how they are working."
Trentin Walker, Caleb Nadig, Matt Sarbo, Nathan Napolitano, Andrew Gamble, Phil Smith, Jr., Quentin Saunders, John Lovett and Hugo Harp were all winners for Iowa Central.
Sarbo, Napolitano, Gamble and Lovett earned falls, while Smith, Saunders and Harp received forfeits. Walker and Nadig each won by major decision.
"When it comes down to it, those bonus points are so important," Moffitt said. "We still left a few out there, but as we showed at national duals, when you can get them, it can make all the difference."
Brooks Cowell, a former Fort Dodge Senior High standout, suffered a tough 7-3 decision to Ayden Rader of Iowa Lakes at 133 pounds. Cowell had a 2-0 lead before allowing a takedown that tied it.
Rader was awarded four near-fall points in the second that ended up being the difference in the match.
"I saw it and I never saw him on his back," Moffitt said. "I could see the back logo with the 'IC' on Cowell and that shouldn't have been awarded. He still had a chance in that match.
"Brooks is a good kid and he's shaking some rust off. Once he gets that out of the way, he'll be where he needs to be."
The Tritons scored first in all seven matches that were wrestled on the night, recording 14 takedowns to just one by the Lakers. Walker recorded six of those takedowns at 125 pounds.
Next action for Iowa Central will be Wednesday when they head to Centerville to face Indian Hills. The Tritons follow that up with a trip to Wyoming to meet some of the top teams in junior college wrestling.
"It's going to be a tough, tough week," Moffitt said. "It might be tougher than nationals to be honest. It's definitely going to test our guys."
IOWA CENTRAL 50, IOWA LAKES 3
125 — Trentin Walker, ICCC major dec. Osvaldo Ocampo, 19-5; 133 — Ayden Rader, ILCC dec. Brooks Cowell, 7-3; 141 — Caleb Nadig, ICCC major dec. Tyrick Clay, 10-0; 149 — Matt Sarbo, ICCC pinned Elijah Broesder, 1:21; 157 — Nathan Napolitano, ICCC pinned Eddy Ndayikengurukiye, 2:34; 165 — Andrew Gamble, ICCC pinned Enrique Brausell, :29; 174 — Phil Smith, Jr., ICCC won by forfeit; 184 — Quentin Saunders, ICCC won by forfeit; 197 — John Lovett, ICCC pinned Zavionne Willis, 3:39; 285 — Hugo Harp, ICCC won by forfeit.