PELLA — The Central College wrestling team had 34 wrestlers compete Saturday at the Central College Under Armour Invitational and 11 had top-three finishes.

There were no team scores for the 15-team field featuring schools from across NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA and NJCAA. In its entirety, 246 wrestlers competed on seven mats inside HS. Kuyper Fieldhouse.
           
"I'm really proud of how all of our guys competed," coach Eric Van Kley said. "I thought we showed some resiliency after a disappointing day yesterday. We had a lot of heart and toughness and competed a lot better today."
           
In the top-tier gold brackets, Central had a quartet of runner-up performances. Pierre Baldwin (freshman, 141 pounds, Carol Stream, Ill., West Chicago HS) won three matches before losing the final in overtime.  Christian Wilson (junior, 184 pounds, Houston, Texas, Cypress Ridge HS) battled through three wins by decision before suffering a 6-4 defeat in the final.
           
"Christian even wrestled up a weight," Van Kley said. "A tip of the hat to him for competing well. HE's a senior who really responded to the opportunity he had."
Brock Beck (junior, 133 pounds, Grinnell) won twice before bowing out of the final on injury default. Gage Linahon (senior, 197 pounds, Newton) won his first two matches by fall and then added a decision before getting stuck for a pin the final.
           
Austin Roos (sophomore, Atkins, Benton HS) went 3-1 with a pair of falls to finish third at 174 pounds. Colby Tool (sophomore, Reasnor, PCM HS) also finished third at 165 pounds
           
In the silver brackets, Central had a pair of bracket champions in Sam West (freshman, 174 pounds, Burlington, Notre Dame HS) and Hayden Hearne (freshman, 285 pounds, Urbandale). Both West and Hearne went 3-0 for their first collegiate tournament titles. Dorian Vaughns (freshman, 165 pounds, Chicago, Ill., John F. Kennedy HS) was the runner-up at 165 pounds.
           
"Those results show the depth of our program," Van Kley said. "Were not there yet but we are growing."
           
Central hosts Loras College in an American Rivers Conference dual on Thursday at 7 p.m. inside P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium
           
"It's an American Rivers Conference dual and we take a lot of pride in being in the best conference in the country," Van Kley said. "We're going to be as