Nine returning starters, with four returning NCAA Division III tournament qualifiers, and one significant hole in the Central College wrestling lineup as the 2018-19 season opens November 5.

A young Dutch squad was ranked in the top 25 most of last season and finished 34th at the NCAA tourney, fueling high expectations for 2018-19. Two of the returnees, Cam Timok at 133 pounds and 141-pounder Daniel Radcliffe were national qualifiers in 2017. Two others, 165-pounder Jeremy Vester and 174-pounder Nathan Fritz, made the field a year ago, giving Central the most returning national qualifiers it’s had since 1993. But Central must replace the program’s second-ever three-time all-America honoree, graduated 125-pounder C.J. Pestano. Following a dominant season, Pestano suffered an injury but still pulled off a sixth-place NCAA finish after placing fourth in 2017 and second in 2016. Central was 6-4 overall and 4-4 in the fiercely competitive Iowa Conference, now known as the American Rivers, finishing in a three-way tie for fourth place.