Central wrestlers win three at Wabash duals
Central College Athletics
PELLA—Junior Tommy Van Renterghem (Oskaloosa) recorded two falls and four wins as the Central College wrestling team finished 3-1 in the Wabash College (Ind.) Max Servies wrestling duals Saturday.
The Dutch cruised past Knox College (Ill.) for the second time this season, taking a 30-9 victory after an earlier 49-3 win. Central stomped Manchester (Ind.) 31-12 before falling 27-13 against Lincoln (Ill.). In their final dual the Dutch smashed the Milwaukee School of Engineering (Wis.) 28-7.
“This was our best all-around effort of the year, even in our loss,” coach Eric Van Kley said. “Everyone in the lineup did a nice job of being aggressive and continuing to attack.”
Going 4-0 at 174 pounds, Renterghem recorded pins against Knox and Manchester. Picking up three wins were junior Jon Mendoza (Norwalk) at 133 pounds, sophomore Greg Barner (Audubon) at 184 pounds and freshman Kalen Greiner (Keota) at 125 pounds.
“Our wrestlers are scoring early and building on it,” Van Kley said. “That’s not something they were doing a month ago but it’s critical to get off to a fast start and put points on the board early.
“Barner is sometimes overlooked but he’s been wrestling well the last month,” Van Kley said. “He’s not flashy and he doesn’t score a lot of points but he guts it out and brings a level of toughness. He’s a huge addition at 184.”
Van Kley also noted improvement after the loss to Lincoln.
“In a few matches against Lincoln we got behind early and had to claw our way back in,” Van Kley said. “We can’t give points away in the first period. But we learned and wrestled better and smarter in the fourth match.”
Van Kley highlighted sophomore Joe Atwell (Jamaica, Panorama HS) at 149 pounds and junior Reid Imerman (Guthrie Center) at 165 pounds for battling back from Lincoln losses to pick up victories against MSOE.
“Reid was up 7-0 before he was pinned against Lincoln,” Van Kley said. “But then he had a huge win to seal the deal for us against MSOE.”
Improving to 7-7, Central travels to Loras College for the Iowa Conference duals Saturday. The Dutch tackle Luther at 9 a.m., Loras at 12:30 p.m., Buena Vista at 2:15 p.m. and No. 13 Cornell at 4 p.m.
“The Iowa Conference is one of the toughest conferences,” Van Kley said. “We’ve got to keep improving and elevate our performance to another level next week. Our wrestlers are excited and they know the challenge is high as ever next week.”
Central 40, Knox 9
125—Kalen Greiner (CEN) pinned Munox, 4:24; 133—Jon Mendoza (CEN) maj. dec. Vaca, 13-2; 141—Eric Wilkerson (CEN) maj. dec. Lafavor, 8-0; 149—Steingruber (KNX) dec. Joe Atwell, 4-2; 157—Josh Atwell (CEN) dec. O’Connor, 13-1; 165—Reid Imerman (CEN) won by tech. fall Ulloa, 16-0 (4:35); 174—Tommy Van Renterghem (CEN) pinned Faulkner, 2:12; 184—Greg Barner (CEN) pinned Juarez, 3:54; 197—Dan Gordon (CEN) won by tech. fall Milleville, 16-0 (4:19); 285—Wagner (KNX) pinned Jake Crawford, 3:36.
Central 31, Manchester 12
125—Kalen Greiner (CEN) won by forfeit; 133—Jon Mendoza (CEN) dec. Snyder, 8-2; 141—TJ Peretti (CEN) dec. Holmquest, 6-3; 149—Brady (MAN) dec. Curtis Hobbs, 6-1; 157—Pogue (MAN) dec. Josh Atwell, 9-2; 165—Reid Imerman (CEN) won by forfeit; 174—Tommy Van Renterghem (CEN) pinned Pogorzelski, 1:59; 184—Greg Barner (CEN) dec. Monce, 6-4; 197—Theron Stewart (CEN) dec. Bushong, 9-0; 285—King (MAN) pinned Ted Dirkx, :55.
Lincoln 27 vs. Central 13
125—Thomas (LIN) dec. Kalen Greiner, 9-8; 133—Spencer (LIN) dec. Bryan Connolly, 7-1; 141—Eric Wilkerson (CEN) won by forfeit; 149—Marianovich (LIN) dec. Joe Atwell, 10-1; 157—Taborn (LIN) dec. Zach Beekman, 10-2; 165—Goerke (LIN) pinned Reid Imerman, 2:30; 174—Tommy Van Renterghem (CEN) dec. Haywood, 11-2; 184—Johnson (LIN) dec. Greg Barner, 5-2; 197—Dan Gordon (CEN) dec. Moses, 6-5; 285—Dunn (LIN) dec. Jake Crawford, 9-0.
Central 28, MSOE 7
125—Kalen Greiner (CEN) dec. Deligio, 10-3; 133—Jon Mendoza (CEN) dec. Deligio, 7-2; 141—Narveson (MSE) dec. TJ Peretti, 14-6; 149—Joe Atwell (CEN) dec. Wengerter, 9-3; 157—Pope (MSE) dec. Josh Atwell, 13-6; 165—Reid Imerman (CEN) dec. Swanson, 8-6; 174—Tommy Van Renterghem (CEN) dec. Howard, 10-1; 184—Greg Barner (CEN) dec. Staub, 5-2; 197—Theron Stewart (CEN) dec. Dorman, 4-0; 285—Ted Dirkx (CEN) pinned Nguyen, 3:32.
