Dutch wrestlers pound Simpson in dual finale

INDIANOLA — The Central College wrestling team closed out the dual season with its 12th win, beating Simpson College 28-9 on the road Thursday night.

It was the 14th straight win over Simpson for Central, a matchup the Dutch haven’t lost since 2009. The Dutch also finished the American Rivers Conference slate with a 5-3 mark, good for fourth place in the standings. Simpson is 1-4 in the league.

The match of the night went in favor of Brock Beck (sophomore, Grinnell) at 141 pounds. Tied 1-1 at the end of regulation, Beck scored a reversal in overtime to win after 12 minutes of mat time.

“Brock is as tough as anybody you’re ever going to find,” coach Eric Van Kley said. “That’s as tough as match as possible to win. He showed a lot of guts.”

The last three bouts of the night saw Central earn a total of 14 points. Peyton Hammerich (junior 184 pounds, Princeton, Ill.) had a first-period fall at 184 pounds. Gage Linahon (sophomore, 197 pounds, Newton) registered a 21-6 technical fall at 197 pounds and Samuel Zook (senior, 285 pounds, Oak Harbor, Wash.) had a 7-0 decision at 285 pounds.”

“It’s great to see us finish strong,” Van Kley said. “Those were three dominant wins to finish things off.”

Shandon Akeo (senior, 133 pounds, Honolulu, Hawaii, Kapolei HS) won by technical fall, Rob Areyano (senior, 149 pounds, Selma, Calif.) won by a 10-4 decision and Luke Condy (junior, 157 pounds, Memphis, Tenn., Christian Brothers HS) was a 10-3 winner.

Central wraps up the regular season with the Last Chance Invitational Friday night at home at 5 p.m. Then Central has two weeks to prepare the NCAA Division III Central Regional in Dubuque on February 5 and 6.

“We’ve got to improve, wrestle a little smarter and stick to our offense” Van Kley said.