By: Emilie Jenson
Public Information Coordinator
Entering the preseason in a three-way tie for 11th in the NJCAA standings, the Triton Men's Wrestling Team is prepared to prove themselves in the 2023-2024 season as they prepare to compete in their first meet of the season.
Iowa Central, the defending 2023 NJCAA National Dual champions, will travel to Rochester, Minnesota for the Yellow Jacket Open on Saturday November 4 returning three All-Americans and a defending national champion.
Matt Sarbo returns for the Tritons in the 149 weight class. Sarbo dominated the 149-pound bracket to capture an individual NJCAA national championship for the Tritons last season. Sarbo is ranked first in the pre-season individual poll.
Also returning are 2023 All-American Hugo Harp at heavyweight, and Darnai Heard, a redshirt sophomore who finished seventh at nationals and received All-American status in 2022.
Lawrence Rosario, a freshman from Miami, Florida, is ranked seventh in the NCJAA individual pre-season standings for the Tritons.
Head Coach Luke Moffit said the squad is working toward nationals, using open meets as a chance to develop and build on experience.
"Our early competitions build experience," said Moffit. "At open meets all of our guys get a chance to wrestle, the whole team competes."
The Tritons will have three duals in the first semester leading up to Christmas break. Dual meets with
NIACC on November 8 and Indian Hills on November 29 will be on the Triton's home mat. They will also wrestle at the Iowa Lakes Dual on November 15.
"You use that first semester to develop, and you know where you are at in January," said Moffit. "Our returners are great leaders and the freshmen are ultra-competitive."
In his 19 years at the helm, Moffit's Triton squads have consistently finished the season among the top eight programs in the nation.
"The goal is always to put guys on the podium at the end of the year; and the driving force is being in the hunt for that national title," he said.