Coe to dual Central at Columbus Junction

By Matt Levins – www.thehawkeye.com – Original here

Coe, Central to meet in Columbus Junction

Coe College has been one of the top NCAA Division III wrestling programs in the nation the last three years.

Central College is trying to rebuild its program back to the elite status it once held.

The two Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference teams will take their show on the road this year, facing off in a dual Nov. 18 at Columbus High School in Columbus Junction.

Wrestling is set to begin at 7 p.m.

The dual will feature numerous athletes and coaches with ties to southeast Iowa and western Illinois.

Coe features former Columbus standouts Brandon Ball and Seth Pugh, as well as former New London/Winfield-Mount Union state champion Johnny Siegel and former Keokuk High School state champion Ryan Helenthal.

Ball was an All-American last season, placing fourth at 133 pounds. He helped the Kohawks to a second consecutive fourth-place showing in the team race. Coe crowned six All-Americans last season.

In addition, Coe assistant coach Dustin Bliven was a state champion for Columbus. He went on to become an All-American at both Ellsworth Community College and Wartburg College.

Central features 2009 Burlington High School state qualifier A.J. Crone, as well as Jesse Martin from Fairfield.

Columbus High School, under the guidance of Coach Bill Plein, has won five state team championships and crowned 11 state champions.

“We’ve got guys who came to Central excited to be part of a program that is on the upswing and climbing pretty rapidly,” Central coach Eric Van Kley said.

“This is an opportunity to watch some of the best Division III wrestlers in the entire country, including local wrestlers from Aledo, Ill., Muscatine, Burlington, Oskaloosa, Columbus Junction, New London and other Iowa communities,” Coe coach John Oostendorp said.