Comets cool under fire

Comeback and clutch victories highlight Charles City’s
wrestling double-dual debut in new gym

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — It was a situation where Comet junior Wanya Pace needed to keep his cool.

Earlier in the dual against Columbus Catholic, Pace — wrestling at 120 — almost let his emotions get the best of him during a contentious bout with Sailor Colin Schmitz. The Charles City coaching staff repeatedly had to rein him in before Schmitz stuck Pace early in the second period.

With falls recorded by Comets Carter Proffitt (126), Dakota Hewitt (138), Bryce Hamm (160) and a slew of Sailor open-weight forfeits, Pace’s loss didn’t amount to much as Charles City easily won, 60-17.

But in Charles City’s latter match against Independence, Pace’s 113-pound bout with Thomas Matteson was likely going to be the game-changer.

“That was a critical win for us,” Charles City coach Kevin Wedeking said of Pace’s clutch come-from-behind 8-6 decision.

The match before, Comet 106-pound freshman Bronson Forsyth pinned Brock Elridge in less than a minute to give Charles City a 31-25 lead. But the Mustangs were due a forfeit win in the 120-pound bout after Pace took on Matteson.

“He has a lot of potential, and we’re glad he’s back with us,” Wedeking said of Pace, who returned to Charles City after moving out of area his sophomore year. “There are still things we need to work on, but we’re getting there.”

Proffitt, another freshman, sealed the 40-31 dual meet victory a 1:05 fall over Mark Morkel in the final 126-pound match.

“First year of high school wrestling, and Carter comes in here a goes 2-0 with two falls,” Wedeking said. “And then you have another freshman, Bronson Forsyth, record takedown after takedown in his first high school match.

“But it’s not just our young guys … I’m proud of all our wrestlers. And I’m real pleased with the fan support coming to see us in this new gym.”

The Comets got solid efforts from both of their returning senior state qualifiers with 132-pounder Nate Lasher earning a 10-1 major decision over Independence’s Matthew Doyle; and 220-pounder AJ Maloy making quick work of Mustang Parker Stoner with a 50 second fall.

Taking over the heavyweight slot, Charles City senior Luke Hillegas pinned Mustang Drew Evens in 2:47, which tied the dual at 25 after Independence jumped out to a 25-13 lead.

Charles City 145-pounder Dylan Koresh helped start the comeback with a 10-8 sudden victory over Andrue Wright.

In the 152-pound match against Independence’s Spencer Shonka, Charles City senior Tony Knecht looked as was going to suffer a major-decision loss or even a major fall as he was down 11-1. But in the final 30 seconds, Knecht managed to record a reversal and was on the verge of recording a stunning fall before time ran out saving Shonka’s 11-6 decision.

Of the more inspiring performances at the double-dual meet that also included perennial power New Hampton was Charles City junior Ciana Sonberg, a 152-pound girl who wrestled three junior varsity matches against boys and came away with three fall victories.

Sonberg’s first fall came in the first period and represented Charles City’s first high school wrestling victory of the season. Her second fall came in the second period after she desperately fought from getting stuck herself at the end of the first period.

Her third fall — perhaps the most impressive — came in overtime after Sonberg recorded a late takedown to force OT.

It was the final match of the night.

Another Comet junior varsity wrestler, Tyreque Baker, also had a good night with two fall wins in the 220-pound bracket.

Charles City Double Dual

CHARLES CITY 60, COLUMBUS CATHOLIC 17

106: Bronson Forsyth (CHCI) over (COCA) (For.) 113: Double Forfeit 120: Colin Schmitz (COCA) over Wanya Pace (CHCI) (Fall 2:13) 126: Carter Proffitt (CHCI) over Ethan Schmitz (COCA) (Fall 4:28) 132: Nate Lasher (CHCI) over (COCA) (For.) 138: Dakota Hewitt (CHCI) over Ethan Holton (COCA) (Fall 0:28) 145: Dylan Koresh (CHCI) over (COCA) (For.) 152: Kaleb Boleyn (COCA) over Tony Knecht (CHCI) (TF 16-0 3:05) 160: Bryce Hamm (CHCI) over Adam Parsons (COCA) (Fall 1:31) 170: Mitch McFarland (COCA) over (CHCI) (For.) 182: Alex Koehler (CHCI) over (COCA) (For.) 195: Sam Niichel (CHCI) over (COCA) (For.) 220: Aaron Maloy (CHCI) over (COCA) (For.) 285: Luke Hillegas (CHCI) over (COCA) (For.)

CHARLES CITY 40, INDEPENDENCE 31

132: Nate Lasher (CHCI) over Matthew Doyle (INDE) (MD 10-1) 138: Tanner Erickson-Dale (INDE) over Dakota Hewitt (CHCI) (Fall 1:05) 145: Dylan Koresh (CHCI) over Sam Graeser (INDE) (Fall 2:00) 152: Spencer Shonka (INDE) over Tony Knecht (CHCI) (Dec 11-6) 160: Seth House (INDE) over Bryce Hamm (CHCI) (Fall 0:36) 170: Jacob Schwarting (INDE) over (CHCI) (For.) 182: Alex Koehler (CHCI) over Andrue Wright (INDE) (SV-1 10-8) 195: Peyton Nolting (INDE) over Sam Niichel (CHCI) (MD 12-4) 220: Aaron Maloy (CHCI) over Parker Stoner (INDE) (Fall 0:50) 285: Luke Hillegas (CHCI) over Drew Evens (INDE) (Fall 2:47) 106: Bronson Forsyth (CHCI) over Brock Elridge (INDE) (Fall 0:58) 113: Wanya Pace (CHCI) over Thomas Matteson (INDE) (Dec 8-6) 120: Brady Webb (INDE) over (CHCI) (For.) 126: Carter Proffitt (CHCI) over Mark Morkel (INDE) (Fall 1:05)