Coe Vs Central Dual Preview (Thursday Nov 14th)

 

We have a great dual here in NCAA Division III between two tough Iowa teams as Coe takes on Central this Thursday.  I am very familiar with both of these teams. Pella was only 45 minutes from where I grew up, and I've attended the Under Amour a handful of times in my life.  They hosted a high school freestyle tournament every year that I went to once without a coach or a team.  Ended up having some college kids coach me through a match where I beat a class 3A State qualifier for a bronze medal.  Former Coach, Matt Diehl used to come to our freestyle practices at Oskaloosa and show technique.  Cedar Rapids was only an hour and a half from where I grew up. Been to the Coe Invitational quite a few times in my life, as well as some duals.  When D3nation said I grew up surrounded by great NCAA DIII wrestling, they meant it. I did, and Central & Coe were two of them. 

Stepping out of the Delorean, and back into 2024, this dual this Thursday has a lot on the line.  Both of these teams are in Region 6, and while there's still a lot of season left to wrestle, every match counts to how you will be seeded.   In a tournament that only takes the top 3 to the NCAA championships, getting those seeds is vital.  Five matches stick out in particularly. 

David Vukobratovich Vs Cade Hornback
125

This sport is all about proving yourself and reproving yourself.  Every time you set out on to the mat and put your toe on the line, you have to be prepared to go to war.  This match between David Vukobratovich and Cade Hornback, will be a war.  Hornbeck is an NCAA DIII qualifier who finished 3rd at the Lower Midwest Regional last season.  Vukobratovich wants that qualification spot.   The last these two met, it was a 12-9 s.v. for Hornbeck. 

Brock Beck Vs Bryce Parke
133

Here's another match with a lot on the line.  Bryce Parke is a two time NCAA DIII qualifier for the Kohawks, with back to back 3rd place showings at the Lower Midwest Regional.  However, it was Brock Beck who won their last meeting 4-2.  Will be a good match. 

Pierre Baldwin Vs Dresden Grimm
141

Here's a match that I'm really looking forward to.  We have NCAA R12'er/Lower Midwest Regional runner-up Pierre Baldwin taking on Dresden Grimm.  Both of these guys have shown one another the lights.  Baldwin pinned Grimm at the 6:38 mark & Grimm pinned Baldwin at the 3:44 mark.   Might go the full 7 minutes this time.  

Carson Martinson Vs Will Esmoil
165

What a golden opportunity Carson Martinson! The last time he and two time NCAA DIII All American Will Esmoil met up, he took Esmoil into sudden victory & dropped a 7-4 decision.  If he were to somehow turn that close loss into a win, what propulsion that would be leading him into the rest of '24-'25.  On the same hand though, Esmoil is a two time AA for good reason. 

Sam West Vs Jared Voss
184

Now the last time Sam West & Jared Voss met, Voss pinned West in 1:18.  However, that's not the match we're looking at when analyzing how good this third meeting has potential to be.  The other time they met was much closer, with Voss winning a 7-6 squeaker. Voss was a NCAA DIII qualifier in 2023, and he just missed out on qualifying again in 2024 by one match.  Both of these guys want that trip to Rhode Island in March.  So, again a lot on the line here.