Central starts men's wrestling dual season victoriously

Making quick work of its opponents, the Central College men's wrestling team defeated Nebraska Wesleyan University 52-6 Wednesday night.

Central (1-0, 1-0 American Rivers Conference) did not use any of its primary starters against a short-handed Prairie Wolves (0-1, 0-1 A-R-C) roster featuring just five wrestlers.

The Dutch won four of the five matches that were contested. Nick Trujillo (sophomore, Benicia, Calif./Benicia HS) earned a 16-1 technical fall at 141 pounds. Bryson Spaulding (junior, 157 pounds, Villa Park, Ill./IC Catholic Prep) and Ryan Rainey (sophomore, 197 pounds, Arlington, Texas/James Martin HS) both registered first-period pins.

Putting an exclamation point on the night, Ian Sharples (senior, 285 pounds, Modesto, Calif./Thomas Downey HS) had a 20-4 technical fall in the 285-pound match against Donovan Mann of Nebraska Wesleyan. Sharples avenged a loss from the Luther Hill Invitational earlier this season when Mann won a 16-5 major decision.

On Veteran's Day, Curtis Schott (senior, Coggon, North Linn HS) won by forfeit at 165 pounds. Schott is a member of Iowa Army National Guard, serving with the Alpha Company of the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment. He served a tour in Poland from November 22 to September 2023.

Central travels to Coe College for a 7 p.m. dual next Thursday.