Pestano, Timok secure All-American wrestling status
Central College
LaCROSSE, WIS.— Pushing through adversity, Central College wrestlers C.J. Pestano (junior, Torrance, Calif.) and Cam Timok (sophomore, Glen Allen, Va./Heritage HS) claimed All-American honors Friday at the NCAA Division III wrestling championships.
After Friday’s action, Central has 11.5 team points and is tied for 22nd with Olivet College (Mich.). Wartburg College paces the field with 83.0 points.
“Having one All-American is special, but having two is a huge step for our program,” coach Eric Van Kley said. “Hopefully, we can climb up the ladder tomorrow with both of them.”
Entering the tournament as the No. 2 seed at 125 pounds, C.J. Pestano (junior, Torrance, Calif.) was upended by Zachary Beckner of Ferrum College (Va.) 3-2. Beckner (14-0) is a transfer from Virginia Tech University and was the East Regional Champion.
“That was a tough first round match up,” Van Kley said. “There were two scrambles in the match and we each won one. But when he got a takedown, we weren’t able to get an escape and it changed the direction of the match.”
Pestano won a pair of wrestlebacks to earn a spot in the top-eight. He beat returning All-American and No. 8 seed James Kaishian of Ithaca College (N.Y.) in the decisive match.
“C.J. showed great perseverance,” Van Kley said. “That was a huge match for him to knock off a returning All-American. We’re excited to have him on the podium again.”
A first round victory by fall for No. 7 Timok was followed by a defeat against No 2 Nathan Pike of New York University, him into the consolation bracket. After the loss, he regathered himself to knock off Zach Blykbashi of Washington & Lee (Pa.) 10-4 to earn his spot on the podium at 133 pounds.
“I was proud of the way he wrestled,” Van Kley said. “He took control in the last match and finished it strong. He showed some resilience and we’re happy to have him on the podium as well.”
A thrilling first round victory by Ryan Vandall (senior, Phoenix, Ariz., Moon Valley HS) was followed by a pair of excruciating defeats. In the 165-pound quarterfinals, he was pinned with 18 seconds remaining by Anthony Arroyo of Baldwin-Wallace University (Ohio). His season ended with a 13-1 major decision loss against Andrew Steiert of Wartburg.
Matt Seabold’s (senior, Burlington) season and career also came to a close at 197 pounds, dropping a 6-4 decision in sudden victory overtime against Hunter Ayen of Springfield College (Mass.) in his first consolation match. He lost by fall against No. 4 Devon Carilllo of Wesleyan University (Ct.) in the opening round.
Both staples of Central’s resurgence, Vandall and Seabold leave significant marks on the program. Seabold wraps up with a career record of 64-18, having qualified for the national tournament three times and earning All-American honors in 2015. Earlier this season, Vandall became the 12th member of the 100-win club at Central and the two-time national qualifier ends his career at 105-34
“Ryan and Matt have been leaders from the first time they got campus,” Van Kley said. “They led by their work ethic and just by they kind of people they are. It’s obviously a little bittersweet with of them coming up short of being All-American, but I’m extremely proud of all they’ve meant to our program.”
Daniel Radcliffe (freshman, Lockport, Ill//Lockport Township HS) was eliminated after Friday’s first session at 141 pounds. He fell in a pigtail match against No. 6 Joshua Decatur of Baldwin-Wallace (Ohio) 7-3 and was pinned by No. 8 Alec Cotton of the University of Mount Union (Ohio) in an elimination match.
“There’s not mamy freshmen at this tournament,” Van Kley said. “For him to have a such a good season and make the national tournament as a freshman, that’s something he can really learn from and build on moving forward.”
