Central remains top 20 in men’s wrestling poll
PELLA – With its dual season complete, the Central College men’s wrestling team came in No. 18 in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III released Friday.
Central is also in a tie for 16th in the tournament team rankings. Tournament Team Rankings are not based on a team’s dual strength, but rather calculated based on individual rankings.
Individually, Pierre Baldwin (sophomore, Carol Stream, Ill., West Chicago HS) dropped to No. 5 at 141 pounds and Gage Linahon (senior, Newton) stayed No. 6 at 197 pounds.
Baldwin is 31-1 this season with victories against No. 9 Brad Rosen (North Central College [Ill.]) and No. 6 Sam Stuhl (Augsburg University [Minn.]). He’s twice been named the American Rivers Conference Men’s Wrestler of the Week for his performance and has won four individual tournament titles.
Linahon is 28-4 this season, with his only Division III losses coming against No. 1 Massoma Endene of Wartburg College, No. 4 Parker Venz of Augsburg University (Minn.) and No. 12 Gabe Zierden of Concordia College-Moorhead (Minn.). He’s won 14 matches by either fall or technical fall.
