PELLA — In its first action of 2023, the 11th-ranked Central College wrestling team split a pair of non-conference duals Friday night, defeating Albion College (Mich.) 24-12 and losing to Muhlenberg College (Pa.) 21-20.

The Dutch (4-1) hosted the five-team Under Armour Duals in H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse. Nebraska Wesleyan University and Schreiner University also competed.

After battling through some rust in the win against Albion, Central (4-1) found itself in a hole against Muhlenberg. Muhlenberg won five of the first seven matches and carried a 20-7 lead into the 184-pound match. Peyton Hammerich (senior, Princeton, Ill.) started the rally with a 13-3 major decision before Gage Linahon (junior, 197 pounds, Newton) ignited the crowd with a second-period fall to bring the Dutch within three points.

"They are tremendous leaders," coach Eric Van Kley said. "They showed it tonight despite a poor team effort. They were able to at least give us a chance in the final."

Miles Berg (senior, 285 pounds, Indianola) secured an 8-4 decision in the final match for the Dutch but it wasn't enough as the two teams finished tied at 20-20. The Mules (7-2) won the match based on the third tie-breaking criteria, holding a 58-52 advantage on total match points in matches that don't end in a fall.

"I give Muhlenberg a lot of credit," Van Kley said. "They wrestled harder and tougher than we did. We did not wrestle the way we are capable of tonight."

Brock Beck (junior, Grinnell) and Pierre Baldwin (freshman, Carol Stream, Ill., West Cicago HS) both had 2-0 days at 133 and 141 pounds, respectively. Baldwin was 10-1 winner via major decision against Albion and Beck had a 14-2 major decision in the Muhlenberg match. Both won by two-point decisions in their other matches.

"They are both really steady," Van Kley said. "They do things right in their training and it shows on the mat. They've put together solid seasons"

Linahon also went 2-0, winning a 13-5 major decision against Albion.
           
Central was also without the services of Rob Areyano (Selma, Calif.), a fifth-year senior and 2021 All-American, at 149 pounds in both matches.

Central hosts the 15-team Under Armour Invitational on Saturday inside H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse, starting at 9:30 a.m.

"We've got to bounce back and learn some lessons," Van Kley said. "We've got to wrestle our style and tougher. Muhlenberg earned it tonight."