Eric Wilkerson Jan. 13, 2009

Dutch wrestling in final home date of season

PELLA—Thirteen teams from five states are expected for the Central Invitational wrestling tournament Saturday. Action starts at 9 a.m. on five mats in H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse. The non-scored meet marks the season’s final home appearance for the Dutch. Joining Central in the field are Bacone (Okla.), Briar Cliff, Coe, Grand View, North Iowa CC, Loras, St. Olaf (Minn.), Simpson, Sioux Falls (S.D.), Truman State (Mo.) , Waldorf and William Penn.      

“With the way the conference schedule played out this year we had a limited number of home dates,” coach Eric Van Kley said. “So this is a great chance for the kids to wrestle in front of their home fans and family members.”

The Dutch are coming off a 1-3 effort at the Knox (Ill.) Duals Saturday in Galesburg, Ill. Central snapped its 44-match winless streak, ending the day with a 34-10 victory over Knox College (Ill.). Earlier Central was blanked by No. 6-rated North Central College (Ill.) 50-0, but waged tighter battles in a 29-19 loss to Wheaton College (Ill.) and a 26-24 setback against Milwaukee School of Engineering (Wis.).

Curtis Hobbs (sophomore, Grinnell) returned to the lineup after suffering an injury in early December and was 3-1 at 141 pounds Saturday. He enters the weekend as Central’s winningest wrestler, sporting a 12-7 mark. Kyle Ray (sophomore, Greenfield, Nodaway Valley HS) is 11-9 at 174 pounds, Nate Fell (sophomore, Avoca, AHST HS) is 11-8 at 184 and Tommy Van Renterghem (freshman, Oskaloosa) is 10-6 at 165.

“We’re making progress,” Van Kley said. “It always takes a week or two after Christmas break to get to where you were at before Christmas. But we’re making some big improvements.”

Van Kley said that Eric Wilkerson (freshman, Toledo, South Tama HS) will wrestle exclusively at 133 pounds the rest of the season. Wilkerson was Central’s lone competitor at 125 pounds.

After Saturday’s tournament the Dutch will see only dual meet action until the Feb. 17 Iowa Conference tourney in Decorah.