Central Basketball Teams Split Final Regular Season Doubleheader of the Season

A 47-point second half powered the Central men’s basketball team to a 78-69 victory at Luther Saturday, while the women’s squad went cold in the fourth quarter in a 65-48 loss to the Norse, and both games of the final regular season doubleheader for the Dutch were heard live on 92.1 KRLS..

After a slow start, in which the Central men shot 38.5% from the field and 21% from three-point range, Luther took a seven-point lead into halftime. Central responded out of the break by going on a 10-0 run before shooting 53.8% from the field and 10-18 from three to outscore the Norse 47-31 in the second half. The Dutch totaled 26 bench points being led by Grant Uecker, who scored a team-high 17 points while connecting on five of his seven three-point attempts. Kaleb Brand scored 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting, and Karson Wehde added 12 points. For the game, Central outscored Luther 22-14 in the paint and held the Norse to only six second chance points and 0 fast break points.

The women’s game was tied 19-19 after the first quarter, 31-31 at halftime, and Luther led 44-42 at the end of the third. Despite a strong opening three quarters, Central made just one field goal in the final frame, and Luther won the period 21-6 to pull away for the win. Abby Johnson led the team with 13 points in 30 minutes of action, while Emily Naughton also reached double figures with 10 points. Luther forced the Dutch into 19 turnovers including 11 steals, and scored 18 points off of those turnovers, while Central only forced 15 turnovers and scored 10 points.

With their win, the Dutch men secured fourth place in the conference, and will host Coe College in the first round of the league tournament on Tuesday at 7 pm in P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium. The Central women’s team finished tied for fifth in the conference, but drew the six seed in the league tournament due to tiebreakers, and will travel to Indianola Tuesday for a 7 pm game at Simpson College.

Dutch Women Ninth in First Wrestling Regional

Making its first appearance at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships Regional 7 meet, the Central College women’s wrestling team was ninth in the 10-team field Saturday.

All divisions of NCAA schools compete together in NCWWC regional action. The University of Iowa was the team champion with 192.0 points. Madilyn Rowson and Piper Eighmy both opened with matches against the Hawkeyes. With a rash of injuries impacting the roster, the Dutch women have been limited to just a handful of wrestlers in the second semester. Central had just three entries Saturday, but freshman Madilyn Rowson got the program’s first regional victory with a fall in 1 minute, 38 seconds over Ciara Grate of the University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) in the third round of consolation. Selena Snell was also in action Saturday but lost both matches, including a narrow 3-2 decision in her first match.

The still growing program now turns its sights to their third year at Central.

Central Track Squads Complete Final Pre-Conference Tune-Up

The Central College men’s and women’s track and field teams were in action at the Liz Wuertz Invitational hosted by Wartburg College Saturday to put in their final qualifying marks ahead of the American Rivers Conference Championships.

No team scores were kept in the seven-team meet. Kale Purcell improved upon his career-best mark in the men’s triple jump, winning with a measurement of 48 feet, 5.25 inches on his sixth attempt. He’s now just an inch short of breaking the school record. Connor Miklos had a pair of runner-up efforts with career-best times in both of his events. He finished the 60-meter dash in 7.02 seconds and the 60-meter hurdles in 8.23 seconds. Reid Pakkebier won the 60-meter hurdles in 8.20 seconds and Jack Brown won the 3,000 meters in 8:28.04. Women’s pole vaulter Amber Vroman reset her own school record twice Saturday, finishing first after clearing 11 feet, 6.25 inches. The women’s distance medley relay team of Addison Parrott, Emily McMartin, Alivia Roerdink, and Peyton Steffen won in a time of 11:52.93. Ava Parkins had personal-best times in both the women’s 60 meters (7.78 seconds) and 400 meters (58.82 seconds).

The American Rivers Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships start Friday in Waverly.

Central Men’s Tennis Team Played Two Matches Saturday

Playing higher competition, the Central College men’s tennis team lost two matches Saturday.

In its opening match the Dutch lost to Division II Quincy University (Ill.) 7-0. Quincy won the doubles point taking two of the matches. Alex Slaymaker and Travis Subbert were able to snag a win at No. 2 doubles. In the singles matches Ernest Alvarez Chedzoy was the lone Dutch athlete to win a set. In the second match of the day, Central lost 5-2 to NAIA Concordia University (Neb.). Concordia was able to sweep the doubles matches. Jack Briggs and Benny Ramker were able to force a tie break but ended up falling 8-6. In the singles matches AJ Wilkins secured a 6-0, 2-6, 10-7 win at No. 2 singles, and Alvarez Chedzoy picked up a win after his opponent had to retire in the first set.

The Dutch return to the court when Cornell College comes to H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse on Sunday, March 2nd at noon.