Go-Hawks defeat Comets in NEIC wrestling dual

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

WAVERLY — It usually takes deliberate effort to knock yourself out.

But to pin yourself in wrestling can happen fairly easily if you’re not careful.

While otherwise controlling his opponent in the 195-pound bout early into the Charles City-at-Waverly-Shell Rock Northeast Iowa Conference wrestling dual on Thursday, Comet junior Sam Niichel almost rolled himself in a bad position while rolling Go-Hawk sophomore Dylan Eggleston.

The Waverly-Shell Rock fans were screaming for the referee to acknowledge Niichel’s near-fall position while Niichel was working to pin Eggleston.

But Niichel was the one who got the back points and went on to earn the 8-2 decision.

The Comets had other impressive wins, including senior Alex Koehler’s cradle pin 2:45 into his 182-pound match against Gavin Wediemeir, and junior Wanya Pace’s third-period fall over Damor Hughes in a 113-pound bout that until that point seemed as if it could go either way.

But with two-time state qualifier Nate Lasher out with an injury sustained at last weekend’s Keith Young Invitational, the Comets had four open weights, which gave more than enough room for a Go-Hawk team returning five Class 5A state qualifiers as Waverly-Shell Rock won the dual, 52-18.

The Comets other win was in the heavyweight bout where senior Luke Hillegas edged Andrew Snyder with a 1-0 decision. Midway through the second period, Hillegas recorded an escape and then managed to ride a down-position Snyder the entire third period for the win.

That was about the same sequence of events in the 220-pound bout featuring Comet senior state-qualifier AJ Maloy and W-SR senior Jacob Eggelston — but this time the Go-Hawk got the 1-0 decision.

Sophomore state-qualifier Bryson Hervol decisioned Comet freshman Carter Proffitt in the 126-pound bout (5-2) ; W-SR 145-pounder Dalton Woodyard — another state qualifier — earned a 13-3 major decision over Charles City sophomore Dylan Koresh; Evan Yant pinned Charles City freshman Bronson Forsyth 3:32 into their 106-pound bout;  Charles City’s 170-pound freshman Jack Sindlinger was pinned by Zack Wagenhoffer in 3:13; and Colby Hervol finally put an end to a wild back-and-forth 138-pound bout against Charles City senior Dakota Hewitt as he pinned the Comet with 12 seconds remaining in regulation.

The Comets will travel to Western Dubuque for their next meet on Saturday.

Waverly-Shell Rock (WVSR) 52,

Charles City (CHCI) 18

160: Colton Miller (WVSR) over   (CHCI) (For.) 170: Zack Wagenhoffer (WVSR) over Jack Sindlinger (CHCI) (Fall 3:13) 182: Alex Koehler (CHCI) over Gavin Wedemeier (WVSR) (Fall 2:45) 195: Sam Niichel (CHCI) over Dylan Eggleston (WVSR) (Dec 8-2) 220: Jacob Eggleston (WVSR) over Aaron Maloy (CHCI) (Dec 1-0) 285: Luke Hillegas (CHCI) over Andrew Snyder (WVSR) (Dec 1-0) 106: Evan Yant (WVSR) over Bronson Forsyth (CHCI) (Fall 3:32) 113: Wanya Pace (CHCI) over Damor Hughes (WVSR) (Fall 4:55) 120: dylan  albrecht (WVSR) over   (CHCI) (For.) 126: Bryson Hervol (WVSR) over Carter Proffitt (CHCI) (Dec 5-2) 132: Ian Heise (WVSR) over   (CHCI) (For.) 138: Colby Hervol (WVSR) over Dakota Hewitt (CHCI) (Fall 5:48) 145: Dalton Woodyard (WVSR) over Dylan Koresh (CHCI) (MD 13-3) 152: Austin Yant (WVSR) over   (CHCI) (For.)