Comets win Hudson Wrestling Invite

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

HUDSON — When it’s one-on-one, the Charles City wrestling team is vulnerable.

When it’s one-on-10, the Comets are formidable enough to circle the wagons.

“It’s hard to win duals when you’re given up several weight classes,” Charles City coach Kevin Wedeking said. “But we have enough individuals to contend for titles at tournaments, so that’s where we’re stronger.”

At the Hudson Invitational on Saturday, the Comets placed six wrestlers in the championship round, winning three of them. That was enough to keep Don Bosco in the rearview mirror as Charles City won its first tournament of the season, besting a 10-team field with 172 points.

Bosco was 7 1/2 points behind for second place.

“It was back-and-forth throughout the day,” Wedeking said, “but I knew with six finalists in the final round, we were in good shape.”

Taking individual titles for Charles City were senior 138-pounder Austin Staudt, senior 145-pounder Maxwell Forsyth, and senior 195-pounder Nick Jacobs.

“Austin wrestled great for us. Max wrestled great for us,” Wedeking said. “And when Nick Jacobs won his 195 final, I knew that clinched it because (Bosco) didn’t have anyone left after that.”

Taking second for the Comets were Nate Lasher (126), Brandon Childs (160) and Brody Tupy (285).

“We’re on track to reach our potential,” Wedeking said. “We’re going to go at it conditioning wise to peak in the final week of the regular season.”

The Comets will travel to New Hampton on Thursday to due battle with the Chickasaws.

“They’re considered the favorite to win the conference this year,” Wedeking said of the Northern Iowa Conference meet to take place Jan. 30 at Oelwein. “Waverly has won it … it seems like … for the past 15 years, though people are kind of looking at New Hampton to knock them off.

“But I think the conference tournament is up for grabs. If we wrestle to our potential and if some of the favorites come in banged up, who knows what will happen.”

New Hampton is the second-ranked Class 2A team in the state.

The Comets also boasted four fourth-place finishers: Dylan Koresh (152), Aaron White (170), Sam Niichel (220); and two fifth-place finishers: Shau Landt (132) and Alex Koehler (182).

Other individual champions included Gable Fox of Bosco (106), Dylan Loomer of Jesup (113), Bryce West of Highland (120), Drew West of Highland (126), Nick Mangrich of Bosco (132), Alec Schuster of Sigourney (152), Taylan Entriken of Hudson (160), Noah Huber of Hudson (170), Nick Baumier of North Fayette Valley (182), Jordan Baumier of North Fayette Valley (220), and Brian Sadler of Jesup (285).

Hudson Invitational

Jan. 16

At Hudson High School

Team Scores — 1. Charles City 172.02. Don Bosco 164.53. North Fayette Valley 131.04. Sigourney 123.05. Highland 113.06. Jesup 104.07. East Marshall/GMG 84.08. Hudson 78.09. Nashua-Plainfield 75.010. Columbus Catholic 44.0

Top Charles City Individuals

1st Place — Austin Staudt (138), Maxwell Forsyth (145), Nick Jacobs (195).

2nd Place — Nate Lasher (126), Brandon Childs (160), Brody Tupy (285).

4th Place — Dylan Koresh (152), Aaron White (170), Sam Niichel (220).

5th Place — Shau Landt (132), Alex Koehler (182).