Dutch take down nationally ranked foe on the road
Central College
PELLA— A trip to Loras resulted in the Central College wrestling team earning their fifth-straight win in a 26-11 defeat of the 25th ranked Duhawks.
The Dutch won seven of 10 matches in the dual, including two major decisions and a forfeit to end the Duhawks streak of three-straight wins over the Dutch. Central last beat Loras on January 28, 2012 by a 27-6 margin.
The Duhawks were nursing a 13-11 lead headed into the 174-pound match when two Central seniors turned around the match. Sam Apland (Woodridge, Ill., Downers Grove South HS) and Tyler Lowy (Phoenix, Ariz., Thunderbird HS) each scored takedowns in the final 30 seconds of their matches to earn major decisions. The eight-point swing gave the Dutch a 19-13 lead before Matt Seabold (sophomore, Burlington) slammed the door shut on the Duhawks with a 3-2 decision at 197 pounds.
“Our seniors all year long have done a great job of leading by example,” coach Eric Van Kley said. “Sam and Tyler were really able to stop Loras’s momentum and pick up some bonus points as well.”
Central started off with three decisions in the first four matches to get an early 9-3 lead. A.J. Pestano (junior, San Pedro, Calif., Torrance HS) hung on for a crucial three points at 133 pounds, taking a 4-2 decision over Michael Triplett.
“A.J.’s match was really a sparkplug for the entire night,” Van Kley said. “A.J. actually wrestled that guy at the beginning of the year and got beat by him. To be able to avenge a tough loss and win the match on grit and toughness really got things going for us.”
The win gives Central its first Iowa Conference win and its fifth-straight win this season. It’s also Central’s second win over a ranked team this season. Central took out then-ranked 27th Augustana (Ill.) 20-13 on December 4.
“It’s a nice win and our guys are excited about it,” Van Kley said. “They’re also really focused though and they know we have got to keep working hard and getting better. The thing I’m most proud of is that the guys are really bought in right now. They’re sticking to the formula of working hard and getting better every week and having fun on this journey.”
The Dutch will face stiff competition this weekend at the Cornell Matmen Invitational. The 14-team tournament features six teams ranked in Division III and NAIA’s top-ranked team, Grand View University. The meet begins at 9 a.m. in Mount Vernon.
