The Iowa Conference wrestling season gets underway tonight for 18-time defending conference champion Wartburg when they host Central College. The Knights have seven wrestlers rated in the National Wrestling Coaches’ Association’s top 10, and head coach Jim Miller says his team may get even stronger after Christmas.

Miller says they have three guys going part-time right now as they only have a semester left and it is up to them if they come back.

Wartburg was last in action the weekend before Thanksgiving, rolling to a 4-0 day at the Olivet College duals in Michigan.

Junior Byron Tate and senior John Helgerson are top-ranked at 197 and heavyweight respectively, and Miller says that will give his team some extra push at the end. Miller says their strength is at those two weights and he says if they are even going into those matches, you have to feel good about it.

Wartburg has won 142 Iowa Conference dual matches in a row.

 By Austin Draude, KQCR, Parkersburg