WPU Back on Mat at Central Invite

William Penn University Athletics

Pella–The Statesmen wrestling team returned to work Saturday as it competed at the Central Under Armour Invitational.

William Penn placed 11th out of 12 teams with 17.5 points, while host Central took the crown with 131.5 points.

149-pounder Angelo Kelly (Sr., Ottumwa, Iowa, Physical Education) was the navy and gold’s top grappler, going 4-2 with one technical fall and one major decision. He finished one win from reaching the third-place match.

165-pounder Johnny Hopper (So., Basehor, Kan., Psychology), who was also one victory away from the bronze match, had his hand raised twice as did 141-pounder Blake Ealy (Fr., North English, Iowa, Sociology) (one technical fall, one major decision), 157-pounder Brad Watson (Sr., Rolla, Mo., Physical Education) (one technical fall, one major decision), 197-pounder Aaron Allen (Sr., Bolivar, Mo., Secondary Education) (one fall), and heavyweight Matthew Cuthbert (Fr., Yucaipa, Calif., Sociology) (one fall).

Despite only winning one time Saturday, 133-pounders Jeremy Andujar (So., Tampa, Fla., Biology) and Gilberto Rodriguez (one major decision) were just shy of the third-place match as well.

Tommy Rios (Fr., Tucson, Ariz., Exercise Science), at 133, Logan Loftus (So., Marengo, Iowa, Industrial Technology), at 157, and Gerardo Suarez (Fr., Salt Lake City, Utah, Industrial Technology), at 285, all pinned one foe apiece, while Chris Rodriguez (Tampa, Fla., Sociology) had a major-decision triumph at 197 pounds.

133-pounder Bryce Castagna (So., Willcox, Ariz., Digital Communication), 149-pounder Kionte Crocker (So., Brandon, Fla., Industrial Technology), and 157-pounders Austinn Goin (Fr., Belton, Mo., Exercise Science) and Christian Padilla (Sr., Tampa, Fla., Secondary Education) also notched a win each at the Invite.

Next Up: William Penn travels to Lamoni Tuesday to face Graceland in dual-meet action at 7 p.m.