Kevin Yeoman Dec. 18, 2007

Dutch compete in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, NEV.—Wrestling mats replaced Las Vegas hotel banquet tables as the Central College wrestling team competed at the Desert Duals Tuesday.

The young Dutch were 0-2-1 on the day. After a 34-18 loss to Apprentice (Va.), Central tied Grand Canyon (Ariz.) 30-30 in a forfeit-filled match, then was blanked by Elmhurst (Ill.) 57-0.

Staged on five mats in a ballroom of the storied Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, the duals featured 11 teams. Wartburg College served as the meet host. It’s the third straight year that Central has participated.

Against Apprentice, the Dutch got falls from Kyle Ray (freshman, Greenfield, Nodaway Valley HS) at 157 pounds and from Nick Merical (freshman, Grinnell) at 285. It was Merical’s first collegiate win. Curtis Hobbs (freshman, Grinnell) picked up a decision at 141 pounds and Anthony Rollins (freshman, Dyersville, Western Dubuque HS) recorded his first collegiate victory at 184.

Central scored its first tie of the season on the strength of five forfeit victories against Grand Canyon.

Ray remains Central’s winningest wrestler at 6-5 in his rookie season. Hobbs is 5-6.

The Dutch (0-7-1) take a break for Christmas, before returning to campus to resume workouts Dec. 31 as they prepare for the Cornell Matman Invitational in Mount Vernon Jan. 4-5. The tourney begins at 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 4 and at 9 a.m. the following day. Central was 14th in last year’s Cornell meet.

Apprentice ( Va. ) 34, Central 18
125 – Kevin Hill (A) won by fall over Brandon Rose, 1:14; 133 – Justin Olanowski (A) won by forfeit; 141 – Curtis Hobbs (C) dec. Josh Flint, 12-10; 149 – Matt Perry (A) tech. fall Nick Johnson, 20-4; 157 – Kyle Ray (C) won by fall over O'Bryan Beaufort, 1:12; 165 – Justin Gilliard (A) won by tech. fall over Kevin Yeoman, 18-1; 174 – Eric Lybarger (A) won by fall over Josh Stutting, 1:28; 184 – Anthony Rollins (C) dec. Daniel Hare, 8-3; 197 – Kendall Ridenour (A) won by forfeit; 285 – Nick Merical (C) won by fall over Josh Seal, 2:00.

Grand Canyon (Ariz.) 30, Central 30
125 – Tony Covert (GC) won by fall over Brandon Rose, 2:41; 133 – Daniel Caraveo (GC) wins by forfeit; 141 – Curtis Hobbs (C) wins by forfeit; 149 – Nick Johnson (C) wins by forfeit; 157 – Stephen Towne (GC) won by fall over Kyle Ray, 6:15; 165 – Kevin Yeoman (C) wins by forfeit; 174 – Jack Porter (GC) won by fall over Josh Stutting, :25; 184 – Anthony Rollins (C) wins by forfeit; 197 – Michael Najera (GC) wins by forfeit; 285 – Jim Siddal (C) wins by forfeit.

Elmhurst (Ill.) II 57, Central 0
125 – Tyler Winland (E) tech. fall Brandon Rose, 16-0; 133 – Casey Vercruysse (E) wins by forfeit; 141 – Rob Lejman (E) tech. fall Nick Johnson, 16-1; 149 – Matt Wahl (E) maj. dec. Curtis Hobbs, 9-1; 157 – Nick Parrish (E) won by fall over Kyle Ray, 4:48; 165 – Sheldon Hubbard (E) won by fall over Jeremiah Teeple, 2:36; 174 – Joey Benefiel (E) maj. dec. Josh Stutting, 18-5; 184 – Zach Holtzman (E) won by fall over Anthony Rollins, 5:48; 197 – Casey Vazquez (E) wins by forfeit; 285 – Artie Grubba (E) won by fall over Jim Siddall, :32.