Comets take 5th at NEIC Wrestling Tournament

Koresh makes surprising run to final; Lasher honored with Arlo Flege Award

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

WAUKON — As upsets go, they’re usually one and done.

Two upsets in a row initiate a feel-good story alert.

Three in a row means Cinderella is out well past her curfew.

Charles City sophomore Dylan Koresh put himself in position to pull off three upsets in the row while busting up the 145-pound bracket at the Northeast Iowa Conference Wrestling Tournament, Saturday at Waukon.

First, Koresh pinned New Hampton’s 36-win senior Keegan Tenge 2:48 into their opening-round bout. Then Koresh earned a 6-2 decision over Oelwein’s Carter Block in the semis.

In the final against Waverly-Shell Rock’s Dalton Woodyard, who placed third in the 145-pound bracket at last year’s conference meet as a sophomore, Koresh almost got stuck in the first period. Koresh was able to fight himself out of trouble and later finished strong while recording a reversal in the final seconds of regulation.

But it wasn’t enough as Woodyard prevailed, 6-3.

“Dylan had some good matches today,” Charles City head coach Kevin Wedeking said of Koresh, who improved his record to 21-13 in his first full season of varsity wrestling. “He gave us our best performance here today.”

The Comets had another wrestler reach the finals: senior 220-pounder AJ Maloy.

Maloy squared off against Waverly-Shell Rock’s Jacob Eggleston, who was the 195-pound runner-up at last year’s meet — Maloy was runner-up at 220.

The two wrestlers had faced each other earlier in the season when Eggleston was able to ride out Maloy in the final period to hang on to win a 1-0 decision.

Here, it was Maloy who took the early 1-0 lead. But Eggleston was able to record a reversal in the second period to take the lead and managed to build on that on way to an 8-3 decision.

Eggleston improved to 39-5 while Maloy fell to 25-5.

Charles City senior Luke Hillegas pinned Decorah’s Daniel Schwartzhoff 42 seconds into the heavyweight consolation final bout. Hillegas, also in his first year of varsity wrestling, improved to 24-10 for the season.

Other wrestlers reaching the consolation finals for the Comets included two-time state qualifier Nate Lasher, who had to settle for fourth place in the 132-pound bracket after dropping a third-place match 12-7 decision to Ian Heise of Waverly-Shell Rock.

Charles City 126-pound freshman Carter Proffitt was able to generate some late offense in his consolation championship match against Oelwein’s Austin Parmely, but it was far too little, too late as Parmely got the 11-3 major decision and improved to 34-6 while Proffitt fell to 23-8.

In the 182-pound consolation final, Oelwein’s Avery Walker pinned Charles City’s Alex Koehler in 52 seconds.

Then in the following 195-pound consolation final, Crestwood’s Trevor Trende earned an 8-3 decision over Charles City junior Sam Niichel.

With 117 team points, the Comets placed fifth amid the seven-team field.

“We did about as well as I expected us to do,” Wedeking said. “I just thought that we may have been lacking some energy out there.”

Like several other local high school sport teams, the weather has made it difficult to maintain conditioning as athletes are not allowed to practice at school during weather-related off days.

“But we’ve made up for that with two-a-days when we do have school,” Wedeking said. “The real season starts next week with sectionals and trying to get down to state.

“We’re going to try to take a look of what we’ve been doing, and see what needs to be done. It might mean more practices, or it might mean less.”

Charles City will host the Class 2A-Section 8 meet on Saturday in the new competition gym. Schools will include Osage, Hampton-Dumont, Iowa Falls-Alden, SH-BCLUW and AP-GC.

Winning the conference meet was Waverly-Shell Rock (239), who boasted six conference champions including Woodyard, Eggleston, Evan Yant (106), Dylan Albrecht (120), Austin Yant (152) and Zack Wagenhoffer, who pulled out an exciting sudden-victory win over New Hampton’s Ryan Gorman for the 160-pound title.

Last year, Gorman defeated Wagenhoffer for the 152-pound conference title. It looked like he was going to get another conference title at the expense of Wagenhoffer as Gorman was leading 4-2 until Wagenhoffer tied it with a reversal during the final seconds of regulation.

Wagenhoffer eventually scored a disputed takedown in OT for the win.

New Hampton, which closely trailed the Go-Hawks throughout the meet, finished second with 227.5 points. The Chickasaws boasted three champions, including 2016 132-pound state champion Keaton Geerts, who defeated Crestwood’s Colter Bye 37 seconds into their 138-pound bout; 2016 120-pound state runner-up Michael Millage, who earned a 23-8 technical fall over W-SR’s Bryson Hervol for the 126-pound title; and Noah Fye, who got a 10-2 major decision over Crestwood’s Ryan Steffen for the 132-pound title.

Though the Comets didn’t come away with any individual titles, Lasher was honored late in the meet when he received the Arlo Flege Award for exemplary sportsmanship.

Northeast Iowa Conference Tournament

Jan. 28 at Waukon

Team Results

1. Waverly-Shell Rock 239.0, 2. New Hampton 227.5, 3. Crestwood 166.0, 4. Decorah 154.5, 5. Charles City 117.0, 6. Oelwein 109.5, 7. Waukon 76.5

106 Results

1st Place – Evan Yant of Waverly-Shell Rock

2nd Place – Dylan Robinson of New Hampton

3rd Place – Kyzer Engen of Decorah

4th Place – Tyler Block of Waukon

5th Place – Matthew Slifka of Crestwood

6th Place – Zack Quade of Charles City

1st Place Match

Evan Yant (Waverly-Shell Rock) 34-10, Fr. over Dylan Robinson (New Hampton) 33-7, Sr. (Dec 4-0).

3rd Place Match

Kyzer Engen (Decorah) 29-8, Fr. over Tyler Block (Waukon) 20-19, Fr. (MD 13-4).

5th Place Match

Matthew Slifka (Crestwood) 23-18, Fr. over Zack Quade (Charles City) 0-3, Fr. (Fall 0:23).

113 Results

1st Place – Kaden Anderlik of Crestwood

2nd Place – Mason Cleveland of New Hampton

3rd Place – Mason Olsgard of Decorah

4th Place – Damor Hughes of Waverly-Shell Rock

5th Place – Bronson Forsyth of Charles City

1st Place Match

Kaden Anderlik (Crestwood) 33-6, So. over Mason Cleveland (New Hampton) 33-8, So. (SV-1 7-5).

3rd Place Match

Mason Olsgard (Decorah) 19-15, Fr. over Damor Hughes (Waverly-Shell Rock) 11-19, Jr. (MD 12-4).

5th Place Match

Bronson Forsyth (Charles City) 9-15, Fr. over () , . (Bye).

120 Results

1st Place – Dylan Albrecht of Waverly-Shell Rock

2nd Place – Philip Ihde of Decorah

3rd Place – Max Babcock of New Hampton

4th Place – Miles Hansmeir of Waukon

5th Place – Hunter Fousek of Crestwood

6th Place – Blake Smith of Oelwein

1st Place Match

Dylan Albrecht (Waverly-Shell Rock) 37-7, So. over Philip Ihde (Decorah) 20-1, Jr. (Dec 3-0).

3rd Place Match

Max Babcock (New Hampton) 30-16, So. over Miles Hansmeir (Waukon) 24-14, So. (Dec 3-0).

5th Place Match

Hunter Fousek (Crestwood) 23-23, So. over Blake Smith (Oelwein) 8-25, So. (Fall 1:49).

126 Results

1st Place – Michael Millage of New Hampton

2nd Place – Bryson Hervol of Waverly-Shell Rock

3rd Place – Austin Parmely of Oelwein

4th Place – Carter Proffitt of Charles City

5th Place – Chance Cota of Waukon

6th Place – Corban Rowley of Decorah

1st Place Match

Michael Millage (New Hampton) 14-1, Jr. over Bryson Hervol (Waverly-Shell Rock) 33-9, So. (TF-1.5 4:11 (23-8)).

3rd Place Match

Austin Parmely (Oelwein) 34-6, Sr. over Carter Proffitt (Charles City) 23-8, Fr. (MD 11-3).

5th Place Match

Chance Cota (Waukon) 16-18, Sr. over Corban Rowley (Decorah) 10-19, Jr. (Fall 3:08).

132 Results

1st Place – Noah Fye of New Hampton

2nd Place – Ryan Steffen of Crestwood

3rd Place – ian heise of Waverly-Shell Rock

4th Place – Nate Lasher of Charles City

5th Place – Riley Hershey of Oelwein

6th Place – Brendan Lovstuen of Decorah

1st Place Match

Noah Fye (New Hampton) 38-5, Jr. over Ryan Steffen (Crestwood) 38-5, Jr. (MD 10-2).

3rd Place Match

Ian Heise (Waverly-Shell Rock) 27-16, So. over Nate Lasher (Charles City) 16-6, Sr. (Dec 12-7).

5th Place Match

Riley Hershey (Oelwein) 18-13, Sr. over Brendan Lovstuen (Decorah) 11-20, So. (TF-1.5 5:31 (16-0)).

138 Results

1st Place – Keaton Geerts of New Hampton

2nd Place – Colter Bye of Crestwood

3rd Place – Colby Hervol of Waverly-Shell Rock

4th Place – Nathan Benzing of Waukon

5th Place – Elijah Mitchell of Decorah

6th Place – Jake Kuhens of Oelwein

1st Place Match

Keaton Geerts (New Hampton) 45-1, Sr. over Colter Bye (Crestwood) 33-12, So. (Fall 0:38).

3rd Place Match

Colby Hervol (Waverly-Shell Rock) 18-20, Jr. over Nathan Benzing (Waukon) 25-16, Sr. (Fall 5:47).

5th Place Match

Elijah Mitchell (Decorah) 6-15, Fr. over Jake Kuhens (Oelwein) 29-8, Sr. (Inj. 0:00).

145 Results

1st Place – Dalton Woodyard of Waverly-Shell Rock

2nd Place – Dylan Koresh of Charles City

3rd Place – Carter Block of Oelwein

4th Place – Keegan Tenge of New Hampton

5th Place – Chris Guest of Crestwood

6th Place – Tanner Knutson of Decorah

1st Place Match

Dalton Woodyard (Waverly-Shell Rock) 30-14, Jr. over Dylan Koresh (Charles City) 21-13, So. (Dec 6-3).

3rd Place Match

Carter Block (Oelwein) 30-6, Sr. over Keegan Tenge (New Hampton) 38-10, Sr. (MD 12-2).

5th Place Match

Chris Guest (Crestwood) 31-17, Jr. over Tanner Knutson (Decorah) 12-20, So. (Fall 3:27).

152 Results

1st Place – Austin Yant of Waverly-Shell Rock

2nd Place – Trae Pecinovsky of Crestwood

3rd Place – Bryan Graves of Oelwein

4th Place – Dawson Holkesvik of Decorah

5th Place – Drew Boeding of New Hampton

6th Place – Dawson Palmer of Waukon

1st Place Match

Austin Yant (Waverly-Shell Rock) 41-2, Sr. over Trae Pecinovsky (Crestwood) 36-8, Sr. (Fall 5:16).

3rd Place Match

Bryan Graves (Oelwein) 29-13, So. over Dawson Holkesvik (Decorah) 20-11, Jr. (Fall 3:55).

5th Place Match

Drew Boeding (New Hampton) 23-22, Sr. over Dawson Palmer (Waukon) 13-25, Fr. (Fall 0:42).

160 Results

1st Place – Zack Wagenhoffer of Waverly-Shell Rock

2nd Place – Ryan Gorman of New Hampton

3rd Place – Isaiah Mitchell of Decorah

4th Place – Ernane Da Silva of Oelwein

5th Place – Tyrone Grant of Crestwood

1st Place Match

Zack Wagenhoffer (Waverly-Shell Rock) 27-11, Sr. over Ryan Gorman (New Hampton) 42-3, Sr. (SV-1 6-4).

3rd Place Match

Isaiah Mitchell (Decorah) 24-7, Sr. over Ernane Da Silva (Oelwein) 18-25, So. (Fall 1:06).

5th Place Match

Tyrone Grant (Crestwood) 13-30, Fr. over () , . (Bye).

170 Results

1st Place – Austin Duffy of Oelwein

2nd Place – Noah Glaser of New Hampton

3rd Place – Trevor Byram of Waverly-Shell Rock

4th Place – Wyatt Scheidel of Crestwood

5th Place – Kyle Gordon of Waukon

6th Place – Jack Sindlinger of Charles City

1st Place Match

Austin Duffy (Oelwein) 28-2, Sr. over Noah Glaser (New Hampton) 38-7, Jr. (Dec 12-10).

3rd Place Match

Trevor Byram (Waverly-Shell Rock) 28-12, Sr. over Wyatt Scheidel (Crestwood) 18-29, Fr. (TF-1.5 5:01 (17-2)).

5th Place Match

Kyle Gordon (Waukon) 16-21, Jr. over Jack Sindlinger (Charles City) 6-20, Fr. (Fall 3:31).

182 Results

1st Place – Daniel Ott of Decorah

2nd Place – Blain Swenson of Waukon

3rd Place – Avery Walker of Oelwein

4th Place – Alex Koehler of Charles City

5th Place – Max Schwickerath of New Hampton

6th Place – brayden wolf of Waverly-Shell Rock

1st Place Match

Daniel Ott (Decorah) 17-4, Sr. over Blain Swenson (Waukon) 31-9, Sr. (Fall 3:33).

3rd Place Match

Avery Walker (Oelwein) 27-10, Jr. over Alex Koehler (Charles City) 20-11, Sr. (Fall 0:52).

5th Place Match

Max Schwickerath (New Hampton) 23-21, So. over brayden wolf (Waverly-Shell Rock) 24-17, Fr. (Inj. 0:00).

195 Results

1st Place – Andy Lillegraven of Decorah

2nd Place – Areon Day of New Hampton

3rd Place – Trevor Trende of Crestwood

4th Place – Sam Niichel of Charles City

5th Place – dylan eggleston of Waverly-Shell Rock

6th Place – Landon Berns of Waukon

1st Place Match

Andy Lillegraven (Decorah) 30-6, Jr. over Areon Day (New Hampton) 31-11, Jr. (Fall 2:36).

3rd Place Match

Trevor Trende (Crestwood) 29-10, Sr. over Sam Niichel (Charles City) 17-15, Jr. (Dec 8-3).

5th Place Match

Dylan Eggleston (Waverly-Shell Rock) 12-18, So. over Landon Berns (Waukon) 14-20, Jr. (Fall 3:29).

220 Results

1st Place – Jacob Eggleston of Waverly-Shell Rock

2nd Place – Aaron Maloy of Charles City

3rd Place – Noah Hopp of New Hampton

4th Place – Jared Knutson of Crestwood

1st Place Match

Jacob Eggleston (Waverly-Shell Rock) 39-5, Sr. over Aaron Maloy (Charles City) 25-5, Sr. (Dec 8-3).

3rd Place Match

Noah Hopp (New Hampton) 32-9, Sr. over Jared Knutson (Crestwood) 8-10, Jr. (Fall 1:33).

285 Results

1st Place – Jacob Knutson of Crestwood

2nd Place – Andrew Snyder of Waverly-Shell Rock

3rd Place – Luke Hillegas of Charles City

4th Place – Daniel Schwartzhoff of Decorah

5th Place – Noah Fenske of New Hampton

6th Place – Alex Brink of Waukon

1st Place Match

Jacob Knutson (Crestwood) 28-12, Jr. over Andrew Snyder (Waverly-Shell Rock) 25-17, So. (MD 8-0).

3rd Place Match

Luke Hillegas (Charles City) 24-10, Sr. over Daniel Schwartzhoff (Decorah) 13-19, So. (Fall 0:42).

5th Place Match

Noah Fenske (New Hampton) 9-9, So. over Alex Brink (Waukon) 16-12, Jr. (Fall 1:57).