Auburn’s Peretti, experienced Central College prepare for wrestling season

Auburn's TJ Peretti is one of 25 letter winners returning this season for the Central College (Pella, Iowa) wrestling team.

November 14, 2011 2:07 pm
TJ Peretti was a state champion wrestler at Auburn Mountainview before joining Central College of Iowa.
TJ Peretti was a state champion wrestler at Auburn Mountainview before joining Central College of Iowa.

Auburn’s TJ Peretti is one of 25 letter winners returning this season for the Central College (Pella, Iowa) wrestling team.

Peretti, an Auburn Mountainview graduate, went 12-9 with three falls, two major decisions and seven decisions for the Dutch last season. He won the Augsburg (Minn.) Invitational at 141 pounds.

Central returns eight seniors from last year’s squad that compiled a 10-10 dual record, its second straight 10-win season. The Dutch climbed to sixth place in the Iowa Conference tournament, their highest finish in 15 years and sent a wrestler to the NCAA Division III national meet, the program’s first national appearance since 2004.

Coach Eric Van Kley is in his fifth season. The Dutch open the new campaign at the Knox (Ill.) Invitational Nov. 12 at Galesburg, Ill. The schedule is highlighted by a winter break trip to Fort Myers, Fla., for the Gulf Coast Duals on Dec. 18.