Posted: Feb 08, 2018

Storm take 24th-ranked Central to the wire in 23-20 loss

PELLA, Iowa -- The Simpson wrestling team took No. 24 Central to the final match in a narrow 23-20 loss in Iowa Conference action Thursday.

The Storm (3-10, 2-5) split Central with five wins apiece, but it was top-ranked 125-pounder CJ Pestano's technical fall over Jacob Irwin that allowed the Dutch (6-4, 4-4) to escape.

Simpson built a 14-0 lead with three-straight wins to begin the dual. In the first match of the night, John Gioffredi dominated Isaac Figueroa 16-0 at 133 pounds. Alek Ziegler won by injury default at 141 and Blake Bauer edged Jordan Challen 6-2 at 149.

Central won at 157, 165 and 174 to take a 15-14 lead, but Noah Robinson got Simpson back on track with a 3-2 decision over Wayne Sommerlot at 184. DeVaughn Scott grinded out an 8-4 decision over Duncan Lee at 197 to make it 20-15.

Steven Candley edged Sam Mathis 6-2 at 285 to set up Pestano's win at 125 in the final match of the night.

Notes
With his win at 133 pounds, Gioffredi increases his winning streak to eight and is a perfect 6-0 in the Iowa Conference ... Scott earned his 27th win of the season and has won six matches in a row ... he is 6-1 in Iowa Conference duals.

Up Next
Simpson will not send any wrestlers to the Central Last Chance Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 10. The Storm close the regular season Tuesday, Feb. 13 at home against Dubuque on Senior Day.

Dual Report
125 — #1 CJ Pestano (CEN) tech. fall Jacob Irwin, 23-8
133 — John Gioffredi (SIM) tech. fall Isaac Figueroa, 16-0 (3:00)
141 — Alek Ziegler (SIM) injury def. Daniel Radcliff, 3:00
149 — Blake Bauer (SIM) dec. Jordan Challen, 6-2
157 — Collin Groleau (CEN) pins Jaret Probasco, 4:39
165 — Jeremy Vester (CEN) injury def. RJ Brown, 2:12
174 — Nathan Fritz (CEN) dec. Kobey Bosworth, 6-3
184 — Noah Robinson (SIM) dec. Wayne Sommerlot, 3-2
197 — DeVaughn Scott (SIM) dec. Duncan Lee, 8-4
285 — Steven Candley (CEN) dec. Sam Mathis, 6-2