Seventh-ranked Central opens Iowa Conference wrestling competition tonight at home against Coe.

The Dutch finished fourth in the league standings a season ago, one slot behind the Kohawks.

Coach Eric Van Kley hopes that his squad can make another big leap forward this year. He says that it starts with a desire to compete against the best in the country.

“Then you’ve got to be able to compete. Maybe you’re not winning them all, but at least you’re in the fight. We’ve gotten to that point the last couple of years. And then you’ve got to take it one step further to where the majority of your team thinks that not only can they compete, but that they can win those matches. And I think that’s what we’re on the cusp of, this year and a couple of years down the road, that’s going to be determined by our guys and how we compete that night on the mat.”

Van Kley says that, realistically, chasing down 12-time national champion Wartburg is an extremely lofty goal. But finishing second in the league is very attainable this year.

Tonight’s bout between the Dutch and the Kohawks will start at 7:00 at Kuyper Gymnasium.