Comets make due with short lineup; 2-3 at W. Dubuque

Comets make due with short lineup; 2-3 at W. Dubuque

Austin Staudt a perfect 5-0 on at weekend tournament

The Comets completed a 2-3 record at a tournament in Western Dubuque this weekend. Austin Staudt came away with a clean, 5-0 record, the only undefeated Comet wrestler of the afternoon. Charles City, which was coming off a momentous win against Forest City on Dec. 17, was hoping to carry the edge into the weekend. Head coach Kevin Wedeking said the team did just that.

But with the first three slots in the Comets’ lineup open, Wedeking said the wrestlers are struggling as a team to make up the 18-point deficit it starts out with each match.

“It’s hard to overcome those 18 points every meet,” Wedeking said. “We’re hoping to get some guys down to the lighter weights to make it just 12 points instead of the 18.”

Cianna Songberg filled in for an injured Comet on Saturday. Songberg went 1-4 on the afternoon, but Wedeking said there was something extra special about her performance.

“She did pin her opponent, but her attitude was great,” Wedeking said. “She exemplifi ed what Comet wrestling and Comet pride is all about.”

Aaron White, who was battling some illness early last week, came back with a 4-1 record with three pins.

With 13 seconds left in one of his matches, Wedeking said White’s fight until the final buzzer got him a key win.

Down 7-5 with under 15 seconds, White earned an escape and a takedown, giving him three fast points and eventually the 8-7 win to add to his day.

Other wrestlers who had key days for the Comets were Austin Staudt, who was 5-0 — the only perfect record on the day — and AJ Maloy, who earned a 7-2 win against a ranked Western Dubuque opponent.

Wedeking’s hope is down the line the Comets will be able to get some smaller guys out to help fill in the lighter weight classes. But until then, he said they’ll keep working with what they’ve got.

The Comets get their first conference test against Oelwein on Dec. 17 when they travel there for that contest. That meet starts at 7:15 p.m.

Staff report