Central’s Greiner preps for national wrestling tourney

Central College

PELLA—Central College freshman Kalen Greiner (Keota) will get one more chance to shake things up on the wrestling mat this Friday and Saturday at the NCAA Division III Championships in La Crosse, Wis.

Greiner knocked off two nationally ranked wrestlers in back-to-back overtime wins at the Iowa Conference championships Feb. 25, earning a fourth-place finish in the 125-pound weight class and an at-large bid into the championships.

With his opening match at 11 a.m. Friday, Greiner (17-11) tackles Univ. of Wis.-Platteville freshman Mack Drees (31-14) for the third time this season. Drees edged Greiner in a 5-4 decision at the Knox College (Ill.) Invitational Nov. 13 before Greiner topped Drees by decision, 9-4, at the Chuck Porter Duals Jan. 8.

Drees and Greiner battle for the final spot in the bracket. The winner faces top-seeded defending champion Clayton Rush (31-1) of Coe College while the loser drops to the consolation bracket.

“It’s a good draw for Kalen,” coach Eric Van Kley said. “I like that he’ll get two matches in the first session to get more mat experience at the national level.”

Seven of the eight seeded wrestlers are nationally ranked ninth or higher, setting up a tough 125-pound bracket. But Van Kley likes Greiner’s odds.

“It’s a very deep bracket but Kalen’s capable of beating guys at that level,” Van Kley said. “He proved that at the conference meet.”

Advancing in the tournament won’t come easy.

“Every match will be a tough match,” Van Kley said. “Everyone at the national tournament has the potential to beat anyone.

“If Kalen stays relaxed, wrestles offensively and wrestles for seven hard minutes, he’ll have a good chance in each match.”

Van Kley also believes Greiner’s inexperience will be an advantage.