Central Athletics News January 15‏

Central College Athletics

Van Renterghem takes title for resurgent Central wrestlers

PELLA—The Central College wrestling team is shaking off a string of early season injuries and none look healthier than 174-pounder Tommy Van Renterghem (junior, Oskaloosa) who surged to a surprise championship at the Central Invitational Saturday.

There were no team scores in the 12-team event, which featured more than 150 wrestlers in H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse.

“I think we’re wrestling the best we have all year right now,” coach Eric Van Kley said. “Give credit to the kids. They persevered through the first half of the season and now things are finally starting to click a little bit.”

Van Renterghem was seeded fifth, but knocked off three higher-ranked opponents en route to a 4-0 day that pushed his record to 19-8. In an exciting title match, he outmaneuvered second-seeded Dan Capp of Hannibal-La Grange (Mo.), 5-2.  Van Renterghem’s season was cut short by injury last year and he was also among those sidelined earlier in the 2010-11 campaign.

“Tommy wrestled as well as he has in his three years at Central,” Van Kley said. “He’s really worked hard the last month. He’s finally healthy and he’s wrestling with a lot of confidence.”

Equally encouraging was a fourth-place effort from senior Nate Fell (Avoca, AHST HS) at 184 pounds. Entering the day with a 6-9 record, Fell had a 3-2 day that included a first-round pin.

“Nate’s performance is a direct result of competitiveness in the wrestling room,” Van Kley said. “He’s got some great workout partners and they really push each other. What was really great to see was Greg Barner (sophomore, Audubon), who is also at his weight, in Nate’s corner cheering him on. Greg got the biggest win in our dual last night in overtime and Nate came back with a big day today.”

Van Kley saw other things he liked.

“Some of our younger kids really scrapped hard,” he said. “Nick Gordon (freshman, Anchorage, Alaska, Service HS) had two big pins at 149 pounds. Bryan Connolly (freshman, Naples, Fla., Gulf Coast HS) had a nice day (133 pounds), Theron Stewart (sophomore, Marshalltown) had another solid effort at 197 pounds and I thought Zach Beekman (junior, Pocahontas) had his best effort at 157.”

A few of Central’s more experienced wrestlers were given a day off.

“We had a competitive dual last night (a 30-7 triumph over St. Olaf) and a big tournament next week,” Van Kley said. “We’ve got to make sure we keep everybody healthy and hungry.”

Central journeys to Crawfordsville, Ind. next Saturday for the Wabash (Ind.) Max Services Duals. Pairings have not yet been announced.

Hot shooting propels Central women to victory

PELLA—Four Dutch players reached double digits as the Central College women’s basketball team scored a convincing 72-54 victory over Cornell College Saturday night.

After a quick 3-1 start to the season, Saturday’s win marked the first Iowa Conference victory for the Dutch and snapped a 10-game losing streak.

“We played really well as a team today,” said coach Jerry Nikkel. “We had some great passing in our offense and we finished our shots. We’ve had trouble with that so far this season and tonight we were able to execute.”

Central fell into an early 8-2 deficit in the opening minutes, but used a trio of 3-pointers to spark a 13-3 run and take a 15-11 lead with 10:12 left in first half. The Dutch extended their advantage to 30-20 at halftime.

“I thought that the 10-point lead at the half was really good for us, especially coming off the Simpson game,” said Nikkel. “At halftime we talked about keeping the intensity on defense. We knew they were going to make runs on us.”

The Dutch extended their lead to 37-22 two minutes into the second half, but a Cornell run brought the Central lead to single digits at the 13:57 mark in the second half at 40-34. Over the next six minutes the Dutch responded with a 17-3 run that doubled their halftime lead and brought the score to 57-37 with 7:53 left to play.

Central turned in their best defensive performance of the year, limiting the Rams to a season-low 54 points. Cornell shot a chilly 26.9 percent from the floor, including 21.2 percent from behind the arc on their 33 long-range attempts.

“We gave them a lot of different looks on defense,” said Nikkel. “Occasionally you lose someone when you do a lot of switching but we were on the same page today.”

Meanwhile, the Dutch hit 49 percent of their shots including a searing 54.2 percent in the second half and 40 percent on 15 shots from behind the arc.

Forward AJ Baker (junior, Grinnell) led all scorers with 15 points and added seven rebounds. Guard Alyssa Schwartz (sophomore, Titonka, WCLT HS) and center Haley Brillhart (junior, Pella) chipped in 12 points apiece while guard Annie Sarcone (freshman, Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS) added 10. Forward Nicole Strasko (sophomore, Roland, Roland-Story HS) led the Dutch with five assists and also added seven rebounds.

“We ran a two-platoon deal in the second half and that worked well,” said Nikkel. “It kept us fresh on the floor and we were able to get a lot of people playing time.”

Central granted Cornell 17 offensive rebounds but still held a 45-35 advantage on the glass. The Dutch also prevailed despite committing 18 turnovers to Cornell’s nine.

Central improved to 4-11 overall and 1-5 in league play while the Rams dropped to 7-7 overall and 2-5 in the conference.

“I told them in practice that we have four games coming up in the next eight days and we can win all four,” said Nikkel. “Today was just the first step of that.”

Central heads to Dubuque Monday for a league women’s-men’s doubleheader at the University of Dubuque, starting at 6 p.m. The Spartans are 1-5 in conference play and 4-11 overall. Central has lost six straight to Dubuque with its last victory coming Feb. 10, 2007.

Cool shooting lifts Central men past Cornell

PELLA—A career-best shooting performance by sophomore KJ Cool (sophomore, Newtown, Mo., Harris R-3 HS) lifted the Central College men’s basketball team to a 77-70 Iowa Conference victory over Cornell College Saturday night.

Cool knocked down 6 of 8 shots including four 3-point buckets for 16 points in a reserve role as Central snapped a four-game losing streak.

“I thought KJ really shot the ball well,” coach Mike Boschee said. “He has it in him. He’s done it his whole career. He gave us a spark, but I thought our whole bench did a nice job. They really gave us a lift.”

Boschee was even more impressed that the Dutch (7-7 overall, 3-3 conference) placed five players in double figures. That helped overcome a 28-point performance by Cornell guard Ryan Lott.

“I really liked our balanced scoring,” Boschee said. “I really didn’t feel like anybody cared who scored. They just wanted someone to get a good shot and that’s the important thing.”

The Dutch hit 54.9 percent from the floor and also connected on 16 of 19 free throws (84.2 percent). Cornell (6-10 overall, 1-6 conference) shot 41.7 percent from the floor.

Guard Demarco Turner (senior, Des Moines, East HS) and forward James Chapline (senior, Ogden) each had 13 points while forward Chris Lehmann (junior, Champaign, Ill., Central HS) and center Jack Bruns (senior, Story City, Roland-Story HS) had 11. Lehmann corralled six boards as Central held a 37-25 rebounding advantage.

“It was good to get a win,” Boschee said. “I wanted that really bad for our guys. I think our team is starting to understand the importance of preparation. I hope that focus and preparation continue to get better because it needs to be good on a consistent basis.”

Central had to claw back from an early 10-2 deficit, using a 12-5 burst to tie the game at 20-20 with 8:38 left in the half, then staged a 21-6 run in racing to a 41-26 advantage at intermission.

“It was a little frustrating at the start,” Boschee said. “We did some things we weren’t doing in practice, but I think it was our bench that really snapped us out of it. We did what we have to do—play together, play smart and defend like crazy.”

Central has a day off before tackling a big, three-game week starting with a women’s-men’s doubleheader at the Univ. of Dubuque Monday night. The women’s game starts at 6 p.m. with the men’s game at 8 p.m. The Spartans are 9-5 overall and 3-2 in the league after an 82-74 victory at crosstown rival Loras College Saturday afternoon.

Central wrestlers pound St. Olaf, 30-7

PELLA—Sophomore Greg Barner (Audubon) captured an overtime win at 184 pounds to help the Central College wrestling team seal a 30-7 dual victory over St. Olaf (Minn.) Friday night and avenge a 22-20 defeat to the Oles earlier this season.

After a scoreless first period, Barner recorded an escape in the second period before St. Olaf’s Andrew Rudd battled back with an escape of his own in the third. But Barner’s constant attacking earned him an overtime takedown and his 12th win of the season.

“Barner’s match wasn’t flashy but it was a good, gutty effort,” coach Eric Van Kley said. “He was the right guy to win. He put seven good minutes together and got rewarded in overtime.”

Taking a loss in the first matchup against the Oles (1-3) in December, junior Tommy Van Renterghem (Oskaloosa) clinched a 4-2 decision at 174 pounds. Senior Ted Dirkx (Alleman, North Polk HS) captured a 7-1 decision at 285 pounds, a performance Van Kley highlighted.

“Dirkx gave a good effort tonight and has had a good last month,” Van Kley said. “As a senior it’s his last chance. It’s good to see a wrestler who’s paid his dues and stayed with the program finish off the end of his career on high notes.”

The Dutch (4-6) tallied wins in six of the eight matches and received points for forfeits in two weight classes. Central also had a healthy lineup compared to the earlier loss where five Dutch starters were on the sidelines.

“A full lineup always helps,” Van Kley said. “The team has more confidence and the wrestlers feed off having all the weights covered.”

Central plays host to a dozen teams and over 150 wrestlers for the non-scored Central Invitational Saturday. With six mats in action, competition begins a 9 a.m. in H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse.

“We want to keep tightening things up,” Van Kley said. “We’re doing lots of good things and this is a great opportunity to get better.”

Central 30, St. Olaf (Minn.) 7

125—Kalen Greiner (C) won by forfeit; 133—Jon Mendoza (C) won by forfeit; 141—Ryan Timmerman (StO) dec. TJ Peretti, 11-0; 149—Joe Atwell (C) dec. Thomas Mork, 8-2; 157—Josh Atwell (C) dec. Michael Roth, 11-4; 165—Josef Waples (StO) dec. Reid Imerman, 10-4; 174—Tommy Van Renterghem (C) dec. Joseph Pesta, 4-2; 184—Greg Barner (C) dec. Andrew Rudd, 3-1 (OT); 197—Theron Stewart (C) dec. Joe Schlueter, 4-3, 285—Ted Dirkx (C) dec. Justin Luthey, 7-1.