Curtis Hobbs Nov. 15, 2008

Two wrestlers place for Central

GALESBURG, ILL.—Central College’s freshman-dominated wrestling team opened its season Saturday at the 16-team Knox (Ill.) Invitational where a pair of Dutch wrestlers placed in the top five. At 141 pounds. sophomore Curtis Hobbs (Grinell) finished the day with a 4-2 record and a fifth-place finish, while freshman Ben Davis (Clay Center, Kan.) went 3-2 at 184 pounds and placed fourth in his first day of collegiate action.  

“I was very pleased with the way we worked today,” said coach Eric Van Kley. “We really competed hard and got after it. We’re still making some young mistakes, but the effort and intensity were outstanding.”

Van Kley also noted the performances of Alex May (freshman, Grinnell) who went 3-2 at 133 pounds and Ivan Gaeta (freshman, Bremerton, Wash., Olympic HS) who went 3-2 at 165 pounds.

“Alex (May) did a great job today and was only one match away from placing,” Van Kley said. “And Ivan (Gaeta) got better and better every match throughout the day.”

Van Kley said that he was not surprised by some of his team’s miscues and that correcting them is just a matter of getting them more time on the mat.

Central, which makes just three home appearances this season, is at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium Wednesday. The Dutch take on powerful Coe College, ranked No. 4 in the NCAA Division III preseason poll, at 7 p.m. The Kohawks routed Central at Cedar Rapids last season, 54-0.