Iowa Conference awards handed out to Central wrestlers
Central Dutch Athletics
PELLA — The Central College wrestling team had four athletes garner all-Iowa Conference distinction after their performances at the NCAA Division III Lower Midwest Regional last Saturday.
All-conference honors were handed out to the top-three finishers amongst league competitors at the NCAA Division III Central Regional meet that took place on February 25.
C.J. Pestano (senior, Torrance, Calif.) was the runner-up at 125 pounds after taking a medical forfeit in the title bout. Jeremy Vester (junior, Oak Harbor, Wash.) and Nathan Fritz (sophomore, Sigourney) both won third-place matches at 165 and 174 pounds, respectively. Vester was the second finisher from the Iowa Conference as Ben Hewson of Cornell took second.
The second-highest placing wrestler from the Iowa Conference at 141 pounds, Daniel Radcliffe (sophomore, Lockport, Ill., Lockport Township HS) finished fourth overall at the regional meet. Chris Williams of Millikin University (Ill.) and Josh Martin of Cornell finished 2-3.
Kevin Kelly (141 pounds, Loras College) was the meet’s Outstanding Wrestler. Eric Keller of Wartburg College was given coach of the year and the Loras assistants were given staff of the year.
Pestano, Vester and Fritz all advance to the 2018 NCAA Division III Championships, to be held in Cleveland, Ohio on March 9 and 10.
