PELLA — There was no shortage of takedowns and nearfall points for the Central College wrestling team as it attacked its way to a 42-6 win over William Penn University Tuesday night.
The Dutch (4-4 overall, 2-4 Iowa Conference) piled up 14 takedowns, nine four-point nearfalls and six two-point nearfalls with eight bonus-point victories.
"We got on our attacks early and often," coach
Eric Van Kley said. "I thought we wrestled smarter tonight as well."
197-pounder
Duncan Lee (sophomore, Newton) needed one takedown and just under three minutes to secure a pin. With the Newton High School wrestling team in attendance, Lee mustered the fall at 2:58 to extend Central's lead to 42-3.
"It means something to have them there," Van Kley said. "It was tremendous to have his old high school team there tonight and he definitely rose to the occasion."
Making a spot start at 133 pounds, freshman
Isaac Figueroa (Sterling, Ill.) was able to snag a six-point fall for the Dutch in the night's second bout. He stuck Darquell Pierre at the 5:36 mark.
"We say it over and over again: you've got to be able to perform when the lights are on," Van Kley said. "He showed that he's able to do that by wrestling a hard and smart match. He attacked for big points when he was on top."
Lee and Figueroa weren't the only Central wrestlers to win by fall as
Tristan Clark (141 pounds, Monroe, PCM HS) and
Nathan Fritz (174 pounds, junior, Sigourney) were also able to pin their opponents. In the heart of the lineup, 157-pounder
Collin Groleau (sophomore, Peru, Ill., LaSalle-Peru Township HS) and 165-pounder
Jeremy Vester (junior, Oak Harbor, Wash.) both earned technical fall victories.
Other wrestlers to pick up victories for the Dutch included
C.J. Pestano (125 pounds, senior, Torrance, Calif.) and
Jordan Challen (149 pounds, Jefferson, Greene County HS) who won by major decisions with scores of 13-2 and 10-2, respectively.
A critical Iowa Conference dual awaits the Dutch Thursday night in Decorah against Luther College at 6 p.m. With just two duals remaining, a top-four league finish is within reach for Central.
"Our guys have had a good two weeks of practice," Van Kley said. "We just need to keep building on it for Thursday."
