MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN — Competing without most of its starting lineup, the Central College wrestling team finished ninth of 14 teams at the Milwaukee School of Engineering Invitational Saturday.

Augsburg University (Minn.) was the team champion with 174 points. Central totaled 46.5 points. The Dutch entered just 13 wrestlers for the meet, including just two of its starters from Thursday night's dual.

"We've got some guys beat up and we want to make sure we're staying healthy for a long season," coach Eric Van Kley said.  We're really focusing on the conference duals and we've got a quick turnaround to a conference dual next week. It might have been a lighter weekend for our varsity guys but it was a great opportunity for some of our younger guys to compete."

Brock Beck (junior, 133 pounds, Grinnell) was one of two Dutch starters in action and he won his first match by technical fall before getting to the title bout on the strength of two wins by decision. He fell 4-2 in sudden victory in the final against Elon Rodriguez of Triton College (Ill.).

"Brock took a shot at the end and could have gone either way," Van Kley said. "It was another really consistent effort by him. He continues to be one of the leaders of this team."

Central's other starter competing, Pierre Baldwin (freshman, 141 pounds, West Chicago, Ill.) went 4-2 with a pair of falls on his way to a sixth-place finish. Jason Hermann (sophomore, Stockton, Ill.) was the only other placewinner for Central taking sixth at 165 pounds with a 2-3 record.

"It was a solid effort by both of those guys," Van Kley said. "It's always good to see younger guys competing hard in a very challenging tournament. They both keep getting better each week."
           
In its final action of 2022, Central hosts conference rival Nebraska Wesleyan University in a 6:30 p.m. dual Wednesday afternoon.