Comet wrestlers advance to districts, team dual regional

By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

NEW HAMPTON — Tylor Zuspan tried wrestling in junior high.

“I didn’t like it,” the Charles City senior said.

Last year, several of Zuspan’s Comet football teammates convinced him to give it another try. It was a re-learning experience.

“My teammates, like Jack Sindlinger and Sam Niichel often wrestled with me in practice and helped me with my technique,” said Zuspan, who wrestled primarily as junior varsity his junior season.

“Then when (co-head coach) Ryan Fank came in this year, he helped get me situated where I could be successful.”

During Saturday’s Class 2A, Sectional 1 meet at New Hampton High School, Zuspan had a successful afternoon while dominating the heavyweight bracket. First he pinned Tom Clark of New Hampton-Turkey midway through their semifinal bout, before stunning the crowd by sticking South Hardin-BCLUW’s Ryne Fuller — a 30-win wrestler who was the bracket’s top seed — just 40 seconds into the championship.

Earlier in the meet, the more-experienced Fuller had been feted for reaching 100 wins for his career.

“I didn’t really expect to do this well,” said Zuspan, who will likely fall a little short of 100 wins, but with a late-season surge of victories, is now at .500 (17-17) in his first and only full season of high school wrestling.

An all-district offensive lineman for the Comets, Zuspan plans to play football in college. But he’s not done wrestling yet.

Not only did Zuspan’s sectional title advance him to the Class 2A, District 1 meet on Feb. 10 at Aplington-Parkersburg, but it helped Charles City overtake South Hardin-BCLUW for runner-up status, thus advancing the Comets to the Class 2A Team Regional this Tuesday (Feb. 6) at New Hampton High School.

Charles City will face the Class 2A No. 1-ranked hosting Chickasaws, who won the sectional with 289 team points, in the semifinal round starting at 6 p.m. Clear Lake and Iowa Falls-Alden will square off in the other semifinal. The subsequent final will determine who advances to the Dual Team State Tournament, Feb. 18 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Overall, the Comets advanced seven wrestlers to the district meet.

Included is 2017 district champion Dylan Koresh, who — like Zuspan — rolled to his more recent sectional title in the 152-pound bracket with a pair of convincing fall victories.

First, the Comet sophomore stuck Hampton-Dumont’s Bryan Flores just 23 seconds into their semifinal bout. Then Koresh improved his season record to 28-7 by pinning NHTV’s Clayton Taylor late in the first period of the championship match.

The top two placing wrestlers in each bracket advanced to districts, but just making it to the championship didn’t guarantee passage. Eight of the 14 wrestlers who lost in the finals had to battle to keep their season alive in the wrestleback round.

Charles City 113-pound sophomore Bronson Forsyth and 220-pound senior Josh Halligan were among the seven Comets who advanced to districts, but automatically qualified after losing their championship match. The meet’s wrestle-back rule prohibits forcing a wrestler to beat an opponent twice if he had already defeated him earlier in the bracket in order to qualify for the next round in the postseason.

Charles City 113-pound freshman Alec Staudt, 160-pound sophomore Elliott Sinnwell and 170-pound sophomore Jack Sindlinger all bounced back from fall defeats in the championship round to win their wrestle-back matches.

Staudt was able to earn a technical fall (17-2) over Hampton-Dumont’s Jaycob Hartzahn; Sinnwell got a 14-2 major decision over Hampton-Dumont’s Josh Kew; and Sindlinger improved to 20-20 for the season with a 18-6 major decision over Hampton-Dumont’s Trey Barz.

Charles City 182-pound senior Sam Niichel was able to pin Hampton-Dumont’s Logan Walker 3:20 into their front-side consolation match, but didn’t get a chance for a wrestleback qualifier when Aplington-Parkersburg’s Hunter Maitland earned a 9-3 decision over Evan Rosonke of NHTV — Rosonke had defeated Niichel in the semifinals.

Class 2A, Sectional 1

Feb. 4

AT NEW HAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL

TEAM SCORES

New Hampton 289, 2. Charles City 170, 3. South Hardin-BCLUW 166, 4. Hampton-Dumont 152, 5. Aplington-Parkersburg/Grundy Center 127, 6. Gladbrook-Reinbeck 94.

106

1st Place – Johnny Dreckman of NHTV

2nd Place – Abe Scheideman of Hampton-Dumont

3rd Place – Colton Keller of Sh-bcluw

4th Place – Aden Fischer of Ap-gc

1st Place Match

Johnny Dreckman (NHTV) 28-20, So. over Abe Scheideman (Hampton-Dumont) 20-20, So. (Fall 3:14)

2nd Place Wrestleback

Abe Scheideman (Hampton-Dumont) 20-20, So. over Colton Keller (Sh-bcluw) 20-18, Fr. (RULE)

3rd Place Match

Colton Keller (Sh-bcluw) 20-18, Fr. over Aden Fischer (Ap-gc) 3-20, Fr. (Fall 0:58)

5th Place Match

() , . over () , . (Bye)

113

1st Place – Taylor Kolthoff of Sh-bcluw

2nd Place – Bronson Forsyth of Charles City

3rd Place – Cole Engel of Gr-nt, Reinbeck

4th Place – Alex Kriener of NHTV

1st Place Match

Taylor Kolthoff (Sh-bcluw) 28-6, So. over Bronson Forsyth (Charles City) 19-13, So. (Dec 5-0)

2nd Place Wrestleback

Bronson Forsyth (Charles City) 19-13, So. over Cole Engel (Gr-nt, Reinbeck) 20-27, Fr. (RULE)

3rd Place Match

Cole Engel (Gr-nt, Reinbeck) 20-27, Fr. over Alex Kriener (NHTV) 11-20, Fr. (MD 13-5)

5th Place Match

() , . over () , . (Bye)

120

1st Place – Carson Babcock of NHTV

2nd Place – Alec Staudt of Charles City

3rd Place – Jaycob Martzahn of Hampton-Dumont

4th Place – Hunter Allen of Sh-bcluw

5th Place – Sam Snyder of Gr-nt, Reinbeck

1st Place Match

Carson Babcock (NHTV) 42-6, Fr. over Alec Staudt (Charles City) 13-18, Fr. (Fall 1:24)

2nd Place Wrestleback

Alec Staudt (Charles City) 13-18, Fr. over Jaycob Martzahn (Hampton-Dumont) 18-28, So. (TF-1.5 4:21 (17-2))

3rd Place Match

Jaycob Martzahn (Hampton-Dumont) 18-28, So. over Hunter Allen (Sh-bcluw) 9-10, Sr. (Fall 5:05)

5th Place Match

Sam Snyder (Gr-nt, Reinbeck) 7-26, Fr. over () , . (Bye)

126

1st Place – Mason Cleveland of NHTV

2nd Place – Nathan Klahsen of Ap-gc

3rd Place – Shadner Anderson of Sh-bcluw

4th Place – Isaiah Montalvo of Hampton-Dumont

5th Place – Zane Nelson of Gr-nt, Reinbeck

1st Place Match

Mason Cleveland (NHTV) 44-6, Jr. over Shadner Anderson (Sh-bcluw) 17-14, So. (Fall 0:27)

2nd Place Wrestleback

Nathan Klahsen (Ap-gc) 15-16, So. over Shadner Anderson (Sh-bcluw) 17-14, So. (Fall 0:25)

3rd Place Match

Nathan Klahsen (Ap-gc) 15-16, So. over Isaiah Montalvo (Hampton-Dumont) 12-17, Fr. (Fall 5:17)

5th Place Match

Zane Nelson (Gr-nt, Reinbeck) 10-15, So. over () , . (Bye)

132

1st Place – Max Babcock of NHTV

2nd Place – Coby Willett of Sh-bcluw

3rd Place – Parker Allen of Hampton-Dumont

4th Place – Matthew Klahsen of Ap-gc

5th Place – Brecken Payne of Gr-nt, Reinbeck

1st Place Match

Max Babcock (NHTV) 40-9, Jr. over Coby Willett (Sh-bcluw) 35-6, Jr. (Fall 3:14)

2nd Place Wrestleback

Coby Willett (Sh-bcluw) 35-6, Jr. over Parker Allen (Hampton-Dumont) 29-10, Sr. (Fall 2:26)

3rd Place Match

Parker Allen (Hampton-Dumont) 29-10, Sr. over Matthew Klahsen (Ap-gc) 13-21, Sr. (Fall 1:26)

5th Place Match

Brecken Payne (Gr-nt, Reinbeck) 16-19, Fr. over () , . (Bye)

138

1st Place – Michael Blockhus of NHTV

2nd Place – Brier Uhlenhopp of Ap-gc

3rd Place – Neifer Ralston of Sh-bcluw

4th Place – Cory Isenhower of Gr-nt, Reinbeck

5th Place – Pedro Castillo of Hampton-Dumont

1st Place Match

Michael Blockhus (NHTV) 49-0, Sr. over Neifer Ralston (Sh-bcluw) 25-21, Jr. (Fall 0:31)

2nd Place Wrestleback

Brier Uhlenhopp (Ap-gc) 9-17, So. over Neifer Ralston (Sh-bcluw) 25-21, Jr. (Fall 1:04)

3rd Place Match

Brier Uhlenhopp (Ap-gc) 9-17, So. over Cory Isenhower (Gr-nt, Reinbeck) 13-30, So. (Fall 1:56)

5th Place Match

Pedro Castillo (Hampton-Dumont) 8-14, Jr. over () , . (Bye)

145

1st Place – Noah Fye of NHTV

2nd Place – Koty Kruse of Sh-bcluw

3rd Place – Cole Reams of Charles City

4th Place – David Cornejo of Hampton-Dumont

5th Place – Noah Weber of Gr-nt, Reinbeck

6th Place – Austin Knaack of Ap-gc

1st Place Match

Noah Fye (NHTV) 35-2, Sr. over Koty Kruse (Sh-bcluw) 26-18, Jr. (Fall 0:56)

2nd Place Wrestleback

Koty Kruse (Sh-bcluw) 26-18, Jr. over Cole Reams (Charles City) 5-12, Jr. (Dec 3-1)

3rd Place Match

Cole Reams (Charles City) 5-12, Jr. over David Cornejo (Hampton-Dumont) 6-6, Fr. (SV-1 7-5)

5th Place Match

Noah Weber (Gr-nt, Reinbeck) 23-23, Fr. over Austin Knaack (Ap-gc) 2-19, Jr. (Fall 1:17)

152

1st Place – Dylan Koresh of Charles City

2nd Place – Clayton Taylor of NHTV

3rd Place – Michael Fuller of Sh-bcluw

4th Place – Bryan Flores of Hampton-Dumont

5th Place – Andrew Schrage of Ap-gc

6th Place – Tommy Weber of Gr-nt, Reinbeck

1st Place Match

Dylan Koresh (Charles City) 28-7, Jr. over Clayton Taylor (NHTV) 20-13, Jr. (Fall 1:55)

2nd Place Wrestleback

Clayton Taylor (NHTV) 20-13, Jr. over Michael Fuller (Sh-bcluw) 12-19, So. (RULE)

3rd Place Match

Michael Fuller (Sh-bcluw) 12-19, So. over Bryan Flores (Hampton-Dumont) 11-21, Fr. (Fall 4:43)

5th Place Match

Andrew Schrage (Ap-gc) 3-6, Fr. over Tommy Weber (Gr-nt, Reinbeck) 3-38, Fr. (Fall 2:28)

160

1st Place – Cale Reicks of NHTV

2nd Place – Elliott Sinnwell of Charles City

3rd Place – Josh Kew of Hampton-Dumont

4th Place – Lucas Halverson of Sh-bcluw

1st Place Match

Cale Reicks (NHTV) 42-9, Sr. over Elliott Sinnwell (Charles City) 16-23, So. (Fall 2:54)

2nd Place Wrestleback

Elliott Sinnwell (Charles City) 16-23, So. over Josh Kew (Hampton-Dumont) 14-31, Jr. (MD 14-2)

3rd Place Match

Josh Kew (Hampton-Dumont) 14-31, Jr. over Lucas Halverson (Sh-bcluw) 9-15, Jr. (Fall 3:14)

5th Place Match

() , . over () , . (Bye)

170

1st Place – Noah Glaser of NHTV

2nd Place – Jack Sindlinger of Charles City

3rd Place – Trey Barz of Hampton-Dumont

4th Place – Owen Fuller of Sh-bcluw

5th Place – Zade Podhajsky of Gr-nt, Reinbeck

6th Place – Nick Johnson of Ap-gc

1st Place Match

Noah Glaser (NHTV) 44-3, Sr. over Jack Sindlinger (Charles City) 20-20, So. (Fall 1:27)

2nd Place Wrestleback

Jack Sindlinger (Charles City) 20-20, So. over Trey Barz (Hampton-Dumont) 20-29, Jr. (MD 18-6)

3rd Place Match

Trey Barz (Hampton-Dumont) 20-29, Jr. over Owen Fuller (Sh-bcluw) 29-16, Jr. (Fall 1:12)

5th Place Match

Zade Podhajsky (Gr-nt, Reinbeck) 16-23, Jr. over Nick Johnson (Ap-gc) 2-10, Fr. (Fall 2:52)

182

1st Place – Hunter Maitland of Ap-gc

2nd Place – Evan Rosonke of NHTV

3rd Place – Sam Niichel of Charles City

4th Place – Logan Walker of Hampton-Dumont

5th Place – Conway Feisel of Gr-nt, Reinbeck

1st Place Match

Hunter Maitland (Ap-gc) 31-7, Sr. over Evan Rosonke (NHTV) 36-11, So. (Dec 9-3)

2nd Place Wrestleback

Evan Rosonke (NHTV) 36-11, So. over Sam Niichel (Charles City) 22-10, Sr. (RULE)

3rd Place Match

Sam Niichel (Charles City) 22-10, Sr. over Logan Walker (Hampton-Dumont) 14-21, So. (Fall 3:20)

5th Place Match

Conway Feisel (Gr-nt, Reinbeck) 10-4, Sr. over () , . (Bye)

195

1st Place – Dalton Chipp of Hampton-Dumont

2nd Place – Max Schwickerath of NHTV

3rd Place – Bronson Wrage of Gr-nt, Reinbeck

1st Place Match

Dalton Chipp (Hampton-Dumont) 31-10, Jr. over Max Schwickerath (NHTV) 19-15, Jr. (Dec 3-0)

2nd Place Wrestleback

Max Schwickerath (NHTV) 19-15, Jr. over Bronson Wrage (Gr-nt, Reinbeck) 22-7, Sr. (RULE)

3rd Place Match

Bronson Wrage (Gr-nt, Reinbeck) 22-7, Sr. over () , . (Bye)

5th Place Match

() , . over () , . (Bye)

220

1st Place – Areon Day of NHTV

2nd Place – Josh Halligan of Charles City

3rd Place – Nolan Freeman of Ap-gc

4th Place – Michael Krienert of Gr-nt, Reinbeck

5th Place – Connor Donaldson of Hampton-Dumont

6th Place – Calob Keller of Sh-bcluw

1st Place Match

Areon Day (NHTV) 45-4, Sr. over Josh Halligan (Charles City) 27-12, Sr. (Fall 1:06)

2nd Place Wrestleback

Josh Halligan (Charles City) 27-12, Sr. over Nolan Freeman (Ap-gc) 19-10, Sr. (RULE)

3rd Place Match

Nolan Freeman (Ap-gc) 19-10, Sr. over Michael Krienert (Gr-nt, Reinbeck) 14-9, Sr. (Fall 0:48)

5th Place Match

Connor Donaldson (Hampton-Dumont) 3-3, So. over Calob Keller (Sh-bcluw) 8-15, Sr. (Fall 0:42)

285

1st Place – Tylor Zuspan of Charles City

2nd Place – Ryne Fuller of Sh-bcluw

3rd Place – Tom Clark of NHTV

4th Place – Bryce Campbell of Ap-gc

5th Place – Xander Bradley of Gr-nt, Reinbeck

1st Place Match

Tylor Zuspan (Charles City) 15-17, Sr. over Ryne Fuller (Sh-bcluw) 31-14, Sr. (Fall 0:40)

2nd Place Wrestleback

Ryne Fuller (Sh-bcluw) 31-14, Sr. over Tom Clark (NHTV) 23-24, Jr. (Fall 2:12)

3rd Place Match

Tom Clark (NHTV) 23-24, Jr. over Bryce Campbell (Ap-gc) 4-10, Sr. (Fall 4:02)

5th Place Match

Xander Bradley (Gr-nt, Reinbeck) 12-34, Fr. over () , . (Bye)