Comets go 5-4 in matches wrestled in final meet of 2017

By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — The Comet wrestling team is finally reaching its fighting weight.

And now come the holidays.

In its final meet of 2017, Charles City won five of the nine matches wrestled while hosting Central Springs, Thursday in Comet Gym.

“We won more than they did, but it’s hard spotting a team 30 points with the open weights,” Charles City co-head coach Ryan Fank said after the Panthers won the varsity meet, 43-31.

“But we’re finally getting our guys at the weight they should be at,” Fank said. “We got two guys who are going to be eligible again after the break, and we’re hoping to get (Carter) Profitt back from injury.

“We should be able to fill more weights after the New Year.”

Among the five Comet victories, three of them were by fall.

At 120, Charles City freshman Alec Staudt stuck Sam Mason in less than a minute (:56).

Comet junior and returning state-qualifier Dylan Koresh pinned Dylan Marker 3:31 into their 160-pound bout.

And at 170, Charles City veteran senior Ciana Sonberg pinned Cody Downing 2:22 into their match.

Comet sophomore Elliott Sinnwell earned a 11-2 major decision over Max Howes in their 152-pound match.

In the final bout of the evening, Comet heavyweight senior Tylor Zuspan took the lead against Teddy Behrens at the end of the first period with a head-lock hybrid hip toss good for a two-point takedown and hung on the rest of the way for a 4-3 decision.

In the match before at 220, Charles City senior Josh Halligan lost a tough 7-6 decision to Zack Santee after Santee scored a go-ahead takedown in the final 30 seconds of regulation and managed to hold off and hold onto several near-escape attempts from Halligan in the final seconds.

The Comets won’t be back in action until Jan. 4 when they travel to Oelwein for a Northeast Iowa Conference meet.

“We’re going to work more on conditioning and mental toughness,” Fank said of plans over the break. “We’ve got some guys who wrestle thinking that they’re tired when they’re not really tired … or shouldn’t be.”

Varsity

CENTRAL SPRINGS 43, CHARLES CITY 31

106: Garret Heagel (CSPR) over   (CHCI) (For.) 113: Carter Pals (CSPR) over   (CHCI) (For.) 120: Alec Staudt (CHCI) over Sam Mason (CSPR) (Fall 0:56) 126: Jaxon Tate (CSPR) over   (CHCI) (For.) 132: Peyton Strouth (CSPR) over   (CHCI) (For.) 138: Kaden Jacobsen (CSPR) over Roush Jaeger (CHCI) (Fall 2:47) 145: Lucas Garl (CSPR) over Caden Collins (CHCI) (Fall 3:21) 152: Elliott Sinnwell (CHCI) over Max Howes (CSPR) (MD 11-2) 160: Dylan Koresh (CHCI) over Dylan Marker (CSPR) (Fall 3:31) 170: Ciana Sonberg (CHCI) over Cody Downing (CSPR) (Fall 2:22) 182: Zach Ryg (CSPR) over Sam Niichel (CHCI) (MD 11-0) 195: Jack Sindlinger (CHCI) over   (CSPR) (For.) 220: Zack Santee (CSPR) over Josh Halligan (CHCI) (Dec 7-6) 285: Tylor Zuspan (CHCI) over Teddy Behrens (CSPR) (Dec 4-3)

Junior Varsity

CHARLES CITY 6, CENTRAL SPRINGS 0

138: Ryan Hallett (CHCI) over Sebastian Beck (CSPR) (Fall 3:24)