Curtis Hobbs Jan. 10, 2009

Reversal--Young Dutch end skid

GALESBURG, ILL.—The Central College wrestling team defeated the Knox (Ill.) 34-10 Saturday at the Knox (Ill.) Duals Saturday, recording its first dual match victory since Jan. 21, 2006, a streak of 44 matches.    

It was the first dual victory under second-year head coach Eric Van Kley.

“It looks good on paper to get the first win of the year,” said Van Kley. “But more important than just winning the match was that we gave nine good efforts. We’re learning how to win, not just as individuals, but as a team and that will really help us in the developmental process.”

Central fell just short of victory in its third match of the day falling 26-24 to the Milwaukee (Wis.) School of Engineering.

Central didn’t fare as well in its first two matches against sixth-ranked North Central (Ill.), falling 50-0, and Wheaton (Ill.), tumbling 29-19.

“We came out flat,” said Van Kley. “We just didn’t show up in the first two matches, but we came back and ended the day on a high note.”

Van Kley said that freshmen Tommy Van Renterghem (Oskaloosa, Iowa) at 165 pounds, Zach Beekman (Pocahontas, Iowa) at 149 pounds, and Kyle Patterson (Collins, Iowa, Collins-Maxwell HS) at 197 pounds stood out during the day’s action.

“Tommy Van Renterghem went 3-0 today and beat two very good wrestlers in the process,” said Van Kley. “And Zach (Beekman) and Kyle (Patterson) both continue to improve significantly. They wrestled better than they have all season and I’m extremely proud of their effort.”

Beekman pinned two opponents on his way to a 2-1 record for the day and Patterson recorded a pin while going 1-3.

Also recording three wins on the day was 141-pounder Curtis Hobbs (sophomore, Grinnell, Iowa), who recorded two pins and a technical fall while racking up 17 team points for the Dutch.

Before the Dutch take a crack at extending its dual match winning streak to two they will host the Central Invitational next Saturday in H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse at 9 a.m.