Comets boast three NEIC Wrestling Tournament finalists; Go-Hawks win ‘Last Dance’

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

WAVERLY — When the championship match “card” was formally announced during the latter part of Saturday’s Northeast Iowa Conference Wrestling Tournament, many in attendance were particularly looking forward to the 132-pound match.

That pitted Decorah sophomore Mason Avila against Charles City freshman Carter Cajthaml, ranked No. 6 and No. 7, respectively, according to the latest rankings posted by IAwrestle.

Avila won the match 11-5 and the bracket title while improving to 24-2 for the season. But Cajthaml (26-6), who was battling from behind most of the match, almost put himself in position to steal the match midway through the third period when he nearly turned Avila’s shoulders to a near-fall position, prompting a stir among Comet fans.

Avila was agile enough to get himself out of trouble and hang on for the win.

Cajthaml was one of three Comets to advance to championship matches at the NEIC tourney.

Senior Jordan “Peanut” Young, currently ranked No. 12 among 126-pounders according to IAwrestle, faced Waverly-Shell Rock junior Ryker Graff, who is ranked No. 4 among Class 3A 126-pounders, in the finals. After a closely contested first period, Graff caught Young in a cradle and got the slap 50 seconds into the second period. Graff improved to 17-2; Young fell to 25-3.

Comet senior 150-pounder Talan Weber, the team’s lone returning state-qualifier, faced Waverly-Shell Rock’s standout junior Bas Diaz in their championship bout.

Ranked No. 2 among Class 3A 150-pounders and coming off a 145-pound state championship season as a sophomore, Biaz took a 4-2 lead after one period before recording a fall victory midway through the second period. Diaz improved to 17-2; Weber fell to 18-7.

With 144-pound junior Jacob Vance and 165-pound senior Colton Anderegg each placing fourth in their respective brackets, Charles City placed sixth among the six teams (94.5 team points) behind Waukon (127), New Hampton/Turkey Valley (175.5), Crestwood (182), Decorah (207) and Class 3A No. 4-ranked Waverly-Shell Rock (278.5), which participated in its last NEIC tournament as the Go-Hawks are due to leave the conference after the current school calendar year.

Other NEIC individual champions included Decorah 106-pounder Gavin Knutson; Crestwood 113-pounder Mitchell Schmauss; Waverly-Shell Rock 120-pounder Alex Hornyak; Waverly-Shell Rock 138-pounder Zane Behrends; Decorah 144-pounder William Fullhart; Decorah 157-pounder Brody Hansen; Waverly-Shell Rock 165-pounder Ethan Bibler; Waverly-Shell Rock 175-pounder Braxten Westendorf; Decorah 190-pounder Thomas Sexton; New Hampton/Turkey Valley 215-pounder Braden McShane; and Waverly-Shell Rock heavyweight Caden Wetherell as the defending Class 3A state champion Go-Hawks claimed seven titles out of 14 weight brackets.

Charles City is scheduled to participate in a tournament this Saturday (Feb. 3) at Hampton-Dumont ahead of the Class 2A-District 6 state-qualifier the following Saturday (Feb. 10) hosted by the Class 2A No. 1-ranked Osage Green Devils.