MOUNT VERNON – From freshmen to fifth-year seniors, Cornell's lineup will feature a wide range of collegiate experience this season under head coach Brent Hamm.
 
Cornell's team hits the competition mat for the first time Thursday for a 7 p.m. meet with Simpson in Indianola. It's the first of 10 duals scheduled before Christmas during an important growth period for the Rams.
 
"We expect to travel a lot of our young guys and look forward to them gaining experience," said Hamm, entering his fifth season at the helm. "Our dual lineup will be more balanced this year. We are younger, but also stronger."
 
The team will be strengthened in the second semester with the return of fifth-years Casey Allen and Jacob Sherzer. They are among four regional placewinners and five starters back from last year's squad that finished 6-4 in duals. 
 
Allen, a 2021 NWCA All-American, is ranked No. 9 at 165 pounds in the NWCA Preseason Coaches' Poll. He placed fourth at regionals a year ago. Allen carries a 72-41 career mark and stands sixth on the program's all-time list with 43 pins, 10 shy of the record. Allen went 30-10 last season with 17 falls.
 
Sherzer is a key returnee at 174, where he placed eighth at 2022 regionals. He finished the season 23-16.
 
Junior 197-pounder Treyten Steffen went 26-21 with eight pins in his first season as a starter. He took fifth at regionals. Senior three-year letterwinner Evan Husko posted a 26-18 record at 133, taking seventh at regionals. Landon Card turned in a solid 24-21 freshman campaign at 149, notching 11 pins.
 
"We have all of our regional placewinners coming back. We also have a lot of young horsepower on the team," Hamm said. "Our guys have worked their tails off. They are super committed, they love wrestling and have good attitudes. The team dynamic is very good."
 
Sophomore 184-pounder Cael McLaren was voted the team's 2021-22 Rookie of the Year after leading the Rams in wins with a 36-9 record, which included 12 pins. Sophomore Dahson DeJong (21-14 at 174) and seniors Drake Fox (20-17 at 285) and Cory Stewart (10-8 at 157) fashioned winning records last season.
 
The Rams have several talented newcomers who will be counted on to contribute. Freshman Elliot Cooney (141) was a four-time Iowa state qualifier with 168 career wins at Nodaway Valley High School. Gabriel Smith (157, Washington) and Jase Van Pelt (125, Montana) were both state champions. Carter Fecht (141) and Jayden Rael (125) are among other promising first-year wrestlers.
 
Cornell's home opener is Dec. 8 against Loras. The Rams host the annual Cliff Keen-Mike Duroe Invitational Jan. 14. Rival Coe comes to town for a Feb. 9 dual.
 
The Region Championships are Feb. 24-25 in Springfield, Ill. The NCAA Championships are held March 10-11 in Roanoke, Va.