Nick Johnson Jan. 11, 2008

St. Olaf tops Central

PELLA—Freshman Kyle Ray (Greenfield, NodawayValley HS) notched his ninth win but the Central College wrestling team was subdued by St. Olaf College (Minn.) Friday 35-9.

Ray was a 7-5 winner at 157 pounds over Josef Waples and improved to 9-7. He was among five freshmen in the seven-man Dutch lineup Friday. Brandon Rose (freshman, Lonedell, Mo., Sullivan HS) also picked up a forfeit victory at 125 pounds. Freshman Chris Keeran (Redfield, Panorama HS) made his collegiate debut at 197 pounds but was a 7-2 loser.

St. Olaf, which is competing in the Division III National Duals at Cedar Falls Saturday, is 3-0 while the young Central squad falls to 0-8-1.

“Our effort was decent but we’re just losing on inexperience,” first-year coach Eric Van Kley said. “That’s to be expected and it’s something we need to work through. But we can’t make freshmen into seniors overnight. We’re getting better every week, it just doesn’t always show.”

The Dutch have a big day Saturday, playing host to the 14-team Central Invitational. The non-scored tourney begins at 9 a.m. in H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse.

St. Olaf (Minn.) 35, Central 9

125—Brandon Rose (C) won by forfeit; 133—no match; 141—Dan Rysavy (SO) won by fall over Curtis Hobbs, 2:13; 149—Landon Peppel (SO) won by fall over Nick Johnson, 1:04; 157—Kyle Ray (C) dec. Josef Waples, 7-5; 165—Tom Kopietz (SO) won by tech. fall over Kevin Yeoman, 15-0; 174—Justin Bain (SO) won by forfeit; 184—Josh Bain (SO) won by forfeit; 197—George Jimenez (SO) dec. Chris Keeran 7-2; 285—Justin Luthey (SO) dec. Nick Merical, 2-1.