The first National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III rankings of 2019 saw the Central College wrestling team leap frog up to No. 12.

At 197 pounds, sophomore Gavin Babcock cracked the top-10 for the first time in his career, coming in at No. 8. Babcock has won 10 of his matches by fall this season, nine of them coming in the first period. One of his two losses came against No. 6 Beau Yineman from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Elsewhere in the American Rivers Conference, Wartburg College is No. 3, Loras College is No. 8 and Coe College is No. 10. In total, 15 wrestlers from the league are ranked in the top-10 of their weight class.

Central returns to action on January 15 with a dual against at Loras College in Dubuque on January 15 at 7 p.m.