Central’s Greiner earns NCAA wrestling berth
Central College
INDIANOLA—For the first time since 2004, Central College will be wrestling in March.
That was a challenge coach Eric Van Kley gave his young squad prior to the season and Friday night, freshman Kalen Greiner (Keota) delivered, stunning two nationally ranked wrestlers in back-to-back overtime wins en route to a fourth-place finish at 125 pounds. That was good enough for him to gain a berth in the NCAA Division III Championships March 11-12 in La Crosse, Wis.
The Dutch were seventh in the team standings for the second straight year but increased their point total from 49 to 83.5, just four points behind sixth-place Luther. Central placed in the top eight at all 10 weights for the first time since 1996. Wartburg retained the title, crowning seven individual champions and racking up 206.5 points while Coe was second with 147.5.
Greiner was seeded sixth in what was considered one of the deepest weights in the tourney as five wrestlers were ranked in the top 10 in Division III at 125 pounds.
He was pinned in his opening-round match by Wartburg’s Mark Kist, who is rated No. 2 in Division III. But Greiner rebounded by toppling No. 5-ranked Austin Mogg of Buena Vista 6-4 (OT), a returning all-America honoree, then pinned No. 10-rated Andre Taylor of Dubuque in the first overtime period (7:51). He then took on yet another ranked foe, 8th-rated Daniel Mendoza of Luther, in the third-place match and was defeated 15-5.
“The biggest thing we stressed all week to Kalen is that he’s capable of beating nationally ranked guys,” Van Kley said. “We really felt like he could get a couple of them and that’s exactly what he did. In both matches he got takedowns in the last 15 seconds of regulation to put it into overtime, then won it in the overtime.”
Perseverance was the key for Greiner, now 17-11.
“It was because of three letters: NGU, never give up,” Van Kley said. “Kalen feels like as long as there’s a second left on the clock, he’s got a chance. He gives everything he’s got for 7 minutes and more. In both of the matches he won, he needed more than 7 minutes today.”
Meanwhile senior Ted Dirkx (Alleman, North Polk HS) reached the semifinals at 285 pounds, notching a fall in 1:40 in his quarterfinal round match, before settling for sixth place along with five of his teammates. Also placing sixth were Eric Wilkerson (junior, Toledo, South Tama HS) at 141 pounds, Josh Atwell (junior, Jamaica, Perry HS) at 157, Reid Imerman (junior, Guthrie Center) at 165, Tommy Van Renterghem (junior, Oskaloosa) at 174 and Greg Barner (sophomore, Audubon) at 184. Joe Atwell (sophomore, Jamaica, Panorama HS) was seventh at 149 pounds while Bryan Connolly (freshman, Naples, Fla., Gulf Coast HS) was eighth at 133 and Theron Stewart (sophomore, Marshalltown) was eighth at 197.
“Overall, I thought we gave a good effort,” Van Kley said. “We doubled the number of top-six placers we had last year. Ted Dirkx capped his senior year with a good showing. He got a big win with a pin that got a little momentum going for us. Bryan Connolly on short notice stepped in and got a good win. Eric Wilkerson battled and got a couple wins.
“I was proud of our guys. I thought they showed a lot of heart.”
And the upward surge that began when Van Kley took over the Dutch program four years ago continues.
“We had a couple other guys right on the doorstep (of an NCAA berth),” Van Kley said. “They’ll build off that and come back better next year.
“We need to develop more consistency. We need to string together two or three big wins in a row. But that’s going to come. We’re on the right track.”
2011 Iowa Conference Championships
Team standings
1 206.5 Wartburg
2 147.5 Coe
3 115.5 Dubuque
4 114.5 Cornell
5 92.5 Loras
6 87.5 Luther
7 83.5 Central
8 47.5 Simpson
9 46.5 Buena Vista
