Comet wrestlers open season against Mustangs

By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

NEW HAMPTON — If there’s a fire in the house, you might want to call on Independence’s Seth House, for he has a penchant for utilizing the fireman’s carry.

During a wrestling triangular hosted by New Hampton on Tuesday, there was a hint that such skills would be needed as a fire alarm sounded that only briefly stirred the packed gymnasium before a public address announcement assured it was a false alarm.

In a 170-pound bout featuring House and Charles City junior Dylan Koresh, House managed to lift Koresh off his feet with a said fireman’s carry. House was already leading 4-1 at the time and it looked as if Koresh, the Comets’ lone returning state qualifier, was in trouble.

But again it was a false alarm. Koresh managed to use his agility, even while being held aloft by House, and maneuvered himself to get position to get credit for the takedown when the wrestlers went prone to the mat, and then almost pinned House with a cradle before the second period ended.

Koresh eventually got the 9-4 decision to start the new wrestling season.

He was one of two Charles City wrestlers who earned wins other than forfeits against the Mustangs, who won the dual 42-15.

The first victorious varsity wrestler for the Comets was Rousch Jaegar, who pinned Connor Horn a little more than midway through the second period in their 145-pound bout.

In the heavyweight match, Comet senior Tylor Zuspan battled Mustang Drew Evans to a 1-1 tie through regulation. After a stalemate in the added standup period, Evans recorded an escape from the down position during the subsequent 30-second period, then rode out Zuspan in the following 30-second period for the win.

Charles City senior Josh Halligan faced returning state qualifier Hunter Crawford in the 220-pound match. Halligan was down 9-2 before making a late run, but it was too little, too late as Crawford got the 12-6 decision.

The Comets, who have been training for more than three weeks in their sauna-like wrestling room, will be back in action on Saturday for a 16-team wrestling invitational at Cedar Falls High School.

INDEPENDENCE 42,
CHARLES CITY 12

106: Double Forfeit 113: Bronson Forsyth (CHCI) over (INDE) (For.) 120: Double Forfeit 126: Brayden Holt (INDE) over (CHCI) (For.) 132: Fischer Crawford (INDE) over (CHCI) (For.) 138: Matthew Doyle (INDE) over Carter Proffitt (CHCI) (Dec 7-1) 145: Roush Jaeger (CHCI) over Connor Horn (INDE) (Fall 3:09) 152: Jarrett Orr (INDE) over Elliott Sinnwell (CHCI) (Fall 0:53) 160: Joe Priebe (INDE) over Caden Collins (CHCI) (Fall 1:59) 170: Dylan Koresh (CHCI) over Seth House (INDE) (Dec 9-4) 182: Cole Davis (INDE) over Jack Sindlinger (CHCI) (Dec 9-2) 195: Tayten Freidhof (INDE) over (CHCI) (For.) 220: Hunter Crawford (INDE) over Josh Halligan (CHCI) (Dec 12-6) 285: Drew Evans (INDE) over Tylor Zuspan (CHCI) (TB-1 2-1)