Several Central sports teams were in action over the weekend. The baseball team got their season underway in Jacksonville, Illinois, playing two games. The Dutch opened the season with a 15-1 win over Robert Morris-Peoria, but fell 5-1 to Rockford in the nightcap. Central played the same two teams again on Sunday, falling to Rockford 5-4, and picking up an 11-8 win over Robert Morris-Peoria. The Dutch are off to a 2-2 start to the season, and will return to action on Saturday and Sunday with a three-game series at MacMurray.
The women’s tennis team defeated Webster 5-4 to open the spring season in Cedar Rapids. They followed that up with a 7-2 victory over Coe. Pella alumna Bronwyn Metcalf went 1-3 on the day in her singles and doubles matches. The duo of Knoxville alumni Alex Griggs and Sami Thompson won their doubles match in the meet with Webster. Thompson went 2-0 in her singles matches, while Griggs won both her doubles and singles matches against Coe. The Dutch will be back in action Friday, hosting St. Olaf.
The softball team was also in action, playing two games in Rochester, Minnesota. The Dutch opened by defeating UW-Eau Claire 9-1. Central finished up the evening by defeating Dominican by an 8-0 final. Central opens the season with a 2-0 record.
The American Rivers Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships were held Friday and Saturday at Luther. The Dutch men finished fifth as a team with 81 points, but a pair of brothers each won conference titles in field events. Sophomore Drake Lewis took the high jump title with a leap of 6 feet, 10.25 inches. Brock Lewis won the triple jump with a distance of 46 feet, 8.25 inches.
The Dutch women also finished fifth with 78 points. Freshman Mari Stein pulled off an upset win in the 800-meter run, finishing the race with a time of 2 minutes, 17.42 seconds. Junior Kennedy Morris set a new school record in the weight throw, winning the conference championship with a toss of 58 feet, 0.25 inches.
Both the men’s and women’s teams will send a limited roster to this weekend’s Wartburg Qualifier on Friday and Saturday.
The Central wrestling team sent a few wrestlers to the Lower Midwest Regional on Sunday, and as a team finished third with 129.5 points. Senior Duncan Lee shocked the field by winning the title at 285. Nathan Fritz finished second at 184, and Rob Areyano was third at 149. Both have qualified for the national meet. The Division III Championships are March 13-14 in Cedar Rapids.