Home slate ends with Central wrestling triumph
Central Dutch Athletics
PELLA — Wrestling for the final time in P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium this season, the Central College wrestling team downed Luther College 25-12 for its fourth American Rivers Conference victory of the season.
It was career victory No. 100 for coach Eric Van Kley at the helm of the Dutch (12-3, 4-3 conference). Van Kley took over as Central’s head coach in 2007 and he has now passed Kevin Azinger for the most dual wins in program history. Luther fell to 9-10 (3-4 conference)
“Every dual win in our conference is hard,” Van Kley said. “Luther is a team that we have a ton of respect for. I’m very pleased with the overall effort tonight.”
Cam Timok (senior, Glen Allen, Va., Hermitage HS) started the night with a flurry, recording a 19-4 technical fall at the 4:44 mark. Timok moved to 19-3 on the season with the win.
“I thought Cam got his offense going literally from the first whistle,” Van Kley said.
A four-point nearfall in the last minute sparked a 10-4 decision for Chase Petty (senior, Pella) at 133 pounds. Another Central senior, Jeremy Vester (165 pounds, Oak Harbor, Wash.) won 8-2 in his home finale.
“I can’t give Chase Petty enough credit,” Van Kley said. “He did a phenomenal job of getting his offense going. Jeremy has meant so much to our program. I’m super excited for him to get a big win.”
Collin Groleau (junior, Peru, Ill., LaSalle-Peru Township HS) found himself on top with a 1-0 lead to start the third period at 157 pounds. Just 86 seconds later, he had earned six points for his team with a pin.
A pair of third-period takedowns provided the offense at 141 pounds for Daniel Radcliffe (junior, Lockport, Ill., Lockport Township HS) in an 8-4 victory.
Rob Areyano (freshman, 149 pounds, Selma, Calif.) won 5-2 and Nathan Fritz (junior, Sigourney) had six minutes of riding time in a 3-0 win at 174 pounds.
Central will close out the American Rivers Conference season next Thursday at Simpson College with a 7 p.m. dual.
“It’ll be a fun rivalry dual,” Van Kley said. “We’ll get some good training in and be ready to go.”
