Dutch wrestling team creeps into national top-10

Central Dutch Athletics

PELLA — A team title at the Central College Under Armour Invitational helped the host school’s wrestling squad vault into the top-10 in this week’s National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III poll, coming in at No. 9.

Individually, C.J. Pestano (125 pounds, senior, Torrance, Calif.) went back to No. 2, while Cam Timok (133 pounds, junior, Glen Allen, Va., Hermitage HS) maintained his No. 3 ranking.

Pestano became a four-time champion at the Under Armour Invitational, using a trio of major decisions and a technical fall to move his season record to 17-0. He beat Morningside College’s Keegan Hessler, who is ranked No. 4 in NAIA, 9-1 in the semifinals. Pestano also has a 5-1 win over Division III’s No. 4 wrestler, Carlos Fuentez (Wheaton College) on his resume this season.

Timok had a fall and technical fall to go along with a pair of major decisions en route to a title at the Under Armour Invitational. Timok (19-0) leads the team with 10 victories by fall on the season, including five in his last eight matches.

A team title at the NWCA National Duals in Fort Wayne, Indiana over the weekend, Augsburg University (Minn.) powered to the No. 1 overall spot. Iowa Conference rivals Wartburg College, Loras College and Coe College are also in the top-10 at No. 2, No. 5 and No. 7, respectively. Pestano and Timok are among 16 conference wrestlers ranked in the top-10 at their weight classes.

Central takes to the road for a dual at St. Olaf College (Minn.) on Thursday night at 7 p.m.