PELLA — In its first action of 2024, 19 members of the Central College wrestling team earned top-six place finishes at the Central Under Armour Invitational Saturday.

Saturday's tournament featured 218 wrestlers from 13 different schools across NCAA Division II, III and NAIA schools. There was a gold and silver division for each weight class.

"It's great to get the wheels spinning for the second semester," coach Eric Van Kley said. "It's why we've always been excited to host this tournament the first weekend after Christmas break. I thought as a whole our guys wrestled really hard and really well."

Sophomore Pierre Baldwin (Carol Stream, Ill., West Chicago HS) rattled off three straight wins against Wartburg College wrestlers, finishing with a fall in the Gold 141-pound championship match to secure his fourth tournament title of the year.

"Pierre is relentless," Van Kley said. "He continues to attack and continues to improve."

Gage Linahon (senior, Newton) won all three of his Gold 197-pound matches, including a 9-5 thriller over Shane Gibson of Minnesota State in the final.

"His final match was one of the smarter, better matches he's wrestled all season," Van Kley said. "He's such a leader, both on and off the mat."

Three other Dutch wrestlers made the finals of the gold brackets: David Vukobratovich (sophomore, 125 pounds, Homer Glen, Ill., Lockport Township HS), Brock Beck (senior, 133 pounds, Grinnell) and Sam West (sophomore, Burlington, Notre Dame HS).

Another gaggle of five Central wrestlers placed in the top four of the gold brackets after reaching the third-place match: Cael Cox (junior, 149 pounds, Ankeny), Colby Tool (junior, 157 pounds, Reasnor, PCM HS), Jason Hermann (junior, 165 pounds, Stockton, Ill.), Austin Roos (junior, 184 pounds, Atkins, Benton HS) and Landon Kirby (junior, 174 pounds, Grinnell).

"It certainly shows our depth," Van Kley said. "We've got more guys that are buying into our style of wrestling and that's fun. It's part of the reason we've had had the season we've had."

In the silver brackets, Central crowned a pair of champions in Kale Downey (sophomore, Clarinda) at 165 pounds and Kyler Hall (freshman, Boone, Ames) at 285 pounds.
  
"It was a fun weekend for Central wrestling," Van Kley said. "It started with the women's dual on Friday, which I think was a springboard for our men into today. I'm super proud and excited of the women's effort yesterday. It was fun to see both teams get the second semester started this way."

The Dutch men travel to Dubuque on Thursday for a 6:30 p.m. dual with Loras College.