PELLA — A tight match was blown open with three straight victories by fall for the Central College wrestling team in a 30-11 triumph over St. Olaf College (Minn.) Wednesday.
Nursing a 9-8 lead through the first five bouts of the night, the Dutch got a much-needed shift of a momentum in the form of pins at 165, 174 and 184 pounds.
"Pins are huge," coach Eric Van Kley said. "We emphasize it every day in the practice room and I think it showed tonight."
Jeremy Scheuermann (sophomore, Jefferson, Greene County HS) got the streak started at 165 before Nathan Fritz (freshman, Sigourney) won his varsity dual debut with a third-period fall at 174.
"We feel very confident with Jeremy out there," Van Kley said. "He took control of the match from the very beginning.
"Nathan didn't have a chance to wrestle last year due to an injury. He's really risen to the occasion this year and gutted out a big pin for us tonight. It really tipped the dual in our favor."
A.J. McBroom (senior, Runnells, Southeast Polk HS) capped the steak with a first-period fall at 184 pounds.
Punctuating the team victory at 285 pounds, Jaime Miranda (senior, Aberdeen, Wash.)overcame a 4-0 deficit to take an 8-4 decision.
"He was able to chip away at the lead," Van Kley said. "I thought that was as good of a match as he's ever wrestled in a Central singlet."
Wednesday's dual was the start of a big week for the Dutch, who have a dual at Augustana College (Ill.) on Thursday and then end the week at the Milwaukee School of Engineering Invitational on Saturday.
"It's a grind," Van Kley said. "We scheduled it that way. The depth and toughness of our program are going to lead to a good week and hopefully a great season."
