Storm wrestlers outdone by Central in home finale

INDIANOLA, Iowa – Jason Clark and Cory Stratton scored dramatic wins but Central used three pins to fuel a 41-6 win over the Simpson wrestling team on Friday night.

Despite an unfavorable result, the Storm (1-13, 0-7 Iowa Conference) had plenty to be excited about as four matches were decided by five points or less.

In a match that experienced a five-minute delay due to a scoring review and wasn't decided until the first tiebreaker period, Clark outlasted Ryan Davis 13-11 at 149 pounds.

Clark got down early in the first but fought his way back and appeared to take a lead at the end of regulation. A scoring dispute ensued and the two wrestlers remained on the mat before the official determined the score was tied, 11-11. Neither wrestler scored a point in the sudden victory period or the first 30 seconds of the tiebreaker, but Clark scored a reversal on Davis with the final 30 seconds of the tiebreaker winding down to come away with the win.

The decision is Clark's signature win of the season, as Davis entered the match with a 19-5 mark on the year. Clark improved to 8-12.

Simpson's lone wrestler recognized on Senior Night, Stratton provided another tense finish. Taking on Jon Heffner at 165 pounds, each managed only one point in the first seven minutes. In sudden victory, Stratton avoided a near takedown by Heffner before scoring a takedown of his own for the 3-1 win.

The Dutch (11-5, 2-4) earned 30 points by way of two forfeits (125 and 157) and pins from Aaron Anderson (133), Theron Stewart (197) and Jake Crawford (285). The win gives the Central four in a row in the series.

By virtue of an eighth-place finish in the regular season, Simpson will travel to Storm Lake next Friday, Feb. 8 to face seventh-place Buena Vista in the IIAC Dual Meet Championships. The Storm will not attend the originally scheduled Loras Duhawk Open on Saturday.