Koresh, Halligan reach finals at NEIC Wrestling Meet

By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

WAVERLY — It’s the ball sports, like football, that often get the tab “game of inches.”

Dylan Koresh’s 152-pound championship match against Crestwood’s Chris Guest during the Northeast Iowa Conference Wrestling Meet, Saturday at Waverly-Shell Rock was a “battle of centimeters.”

One of two Comets to advance to the finals, the Charles City junior was taking his lumps early against Guest, who scored an early takedown and then would repeatedly slam Koresh back down to the mat whenever Koresh struggled to get a standing base.

Koresh was down 4-1 late in the first period, but with a penchant for coming from behind while taking control in the latter periods, Koresh was able to cradle Guest in the second period and appeared thisclose to getting the slap for the fall victory.

Then with about 20 seconds left in regulation with the score tied at 8, Koresh was thisclose again from getting near-fall back points for a would-be title.

Instead, the Crestwood senior was able to fight off the pressure before scoring a takedown in the added period for the sudden victory.

It was the only final match of the tournament that went to overtime as the Comets were deprived of an NEIC individual title for the second straight year.

Charles City senior Josh Halligan was able to advance to the 220-pound finals after pinning Crestwood’s Stone Peckham with 12 seconds remaining in regulation of their semifinal, but lost to New Hampton-Turkey Valley’s Areon Day, who recorded the fall victory in 3:02.

Day was one of six individual champions for the Class 2A top-ranked Chickasaws, who won the meet with 231 team points. Other NHTV champions included sophomores Johnny Dreckman (106) and Evan Rosonke (182); junior Max Babcock (138); and seniors Michael Blockhus (145) and Noah Glaser (170).

Thanks in part to Guest winning his thriller against Koresh, Crestwood was able to overtake the hosting Go-Hawks for second place by a 1-point margin (218.5-217.5). Other Cadets winning titles were juniors Kaden Anderlik (120) and Colter Bye (160), and senior Jacob Knutson (HWT).

Junior Ian Heise (138) and sophomore Brayden Wolf (195) won titles for the Go-Hawks.

Fourth-place finishing Decorah (149 points) had three individual champions with sophomore Kzyser Engen (113), freshman Jackson Rolfs (132) and 126-pound senior Philip Ihde, who is undefeated at 23-0.

The Comets placed fourth with 109 points, and had three wrestlers win their third-place consolation matches.

Charles City sophomore Bronson Forsyth was able to best Waverly-Shell Rock’s Noah Heise with a 7-5 decision in their 113-pound consolation final.

Charles City senior Sam Niichel pinned NHTV’s Max Schwickerath late into their 182-pound consolation final while picking up his 21st win of the season.

Then to close the longest running conference tournament in the state, Comet senior heavyweight Tylor Zuspan pinned Tom Clark of NHTV 1:52 into their third-place match.

Northeast Iowa Conference Meet

Jan. 27

AT WAVERLY-SHELL ROCK

TEAM PLACINGS

1. New Hampton-Turkey Valley 231, 2. Crestwood 218.5, 3. Waverly-Shell Rock 217.5, 4. Decorah 149, 5. Charles City 109, 6. Waukon 80, 7. Oelwein 50.

INDIVIDUAL PLACINGS

106

1st Place – Johnny Dreckman of NHTV

2nd Place – Nathaniel Bigalk of Crestwood

3rd Place – Marcus Gibbs of Waukon

4th Place – Ethyn Chestnut of Waverly-Shell Rock

1st Place Match

Johnny Dreckman (NHTV) 25-20, So. over Nathaniel Bigalk (Crestwood) 19-18, Fr. (Fall 0:30)

3rd Place Match

Marcus Gibbs (Waukon) 18-19, Fr. over Ethyn Chestnut (Waverly-Shell Rock) 3-20, Fr. (Fall 1:16)

5th Place Match

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

113

1st Place – Kyzer Engen of Decorah

2nd Place – Matthew Slifka of Crestwood

3rd Place – Bronson Forsyth of Charles City

4th Place – Noah Heise of Waverly-Shell Rock

5th Place – Carsen Jeanes of Oelwein

6th Place – Alex Kreiner of NHTV

1st Place Match

Kyzer Engen (Decorah) 27-6, So. over Matthew Slifka (Crestwood) 22-21, So. (Fall 5:47)

3rd Place Match

Bronson Forsyth (Charles City) 18-12, So. over Noah Heise (Waverly-Shell Rock) 13-12, Fr. (Dec 7-5)

5th Place Match

Carsen Jeanes (Oelwein) 32-13, Fr. over Alex Kreiner (NHTV) 11-18, Fr. (Fall 4:32)

120

1st Place – Kaden Anderlik of Crestwood

2nd Place – Dylan Albrecht of Waverly-Shell Rock

3rd Place – Carson Babcock of NHTV

4th Place – Corban Rowley of Decorah

5th Place – Alec Staudt of Charles City

1st Place Match

Kaden Anderlik (Crestwood) 35-1, Jr. over Dylan Albrecht (Waverly-Shell Rock) 30-10, Jr. (Dec 8-2)

3rd Place Match

Carson Babcock (NHTV) 40-6, Fr. over Corban Rowley (Decorah) 17-11, Sr. (Fall 1:46)

5th Place Match

Alec Staudt (Charles City) 10-18, Fr. over () , . (Bye)

126

1st Place – Philip Ihde of Decorah

2nd Place – Evan Yant of Waverly-Shell Rock

3rd Place – Hunter Fousek of Crestwood

4th Place – Tyler Block of Waukon

5th Place – Brayden Anderson of NHTV

6th Place – Blake Smith of Oelwein

1st Place Match

Philip Ihde (Decorah) 23-0, Sr. over Evan Yant (Waverly-Shell Rock) 33-9, So. (Dec 3-2)

3rd Place Match

Hunter Fousek (Crestwood) 26-16, Jr. over Tyler Block (Waukon) 22-16, So. (Fall 0:47)

5th Place Match

Brayden Anderson (NHTV) 12-8, So. over Blake Smith (Oelwein) 15-16, Jr. (Dec 8-4)

132

1st Place – Jackson Rolfs of Decorah

2nd Place – Mason Cleveland of NHTV

3rd Place – Andrew Schwab of Waverly-Shell Rock

4th Place – Hunter Bye of Crestwood

5th Place – Lance Egan of Waukon

6th Place – Andrew Roete of Oelwein

1st Place Match

Jackson Rolfs (Decorah) 28-6, Fr. over Mason Cleveland (NHTV) 42-6, Jr. (Fall 6:31)

3rd Place Match

Andrew Schwab (Waverly-Shell Rock) 15-19, Jr. over Hunter Bye (Crestwood) 16-21, Fr. (Dec 9-4)

5th Place Match

Lance Egan (Waukon) 11-25, So. over Andrew Roete (Oelwein) 19-25, So. (Dec 5-3)

138

1st Place – Ian Heise of Waverly-Shell Rock

2nd Place – Max Babcock of NHTV

3rd Place – Miles Hansmeier of Waukon

4th Place – Brendan Lovstuen of Decorah

5th Place – Clay Schemmel of Crestwood

1st Place Match

Ian Heise (Waverly-Shell Rock) 30-14, Jr. over Max Babcock (NHTV) 36-11, Jr. (Dec 8-3)

3rd Place Match

Miles Hansmeier (Waukon) 29-10, Jr. over Brendan Lovstuen (Decorah) 15-12, Jr. (Dec 8-3)

5th Place Match

Clay Schemmel (Crestwood) 17-20, Fr. over () , . (Bye)

145

1st Place – Michael Blockhus of NHTV

2nd Place – Ryan Steffen of Crestwood

3rd Place – Dalton Woodyard of Waverly-Shell Rock

4th Place – Drake Logan of Oelwein

5th Place – Cole Reams of Charles City

6th Place – Nate Rolfs of Decorah

1st Place Match

Michael Blockhus (NHTV) 47-0, Sr. over Ryan Steffen (Crestwood) 28-8, Sr. (MD 22-9)

3rd Place Match

Dalton Woodyard (Waverly-Shell Rock) 31-15, Sr. over Drake Logan (Oelwein) 23-10, Jr. (Fall 1:05)

5th Place Match

Cole Reams (Charles City) 3-11, Jr. over Nate Rolfs (Decorah) 5-11, Fr. (Fall 4:20)

152

1st Place – Chris Guest of Crestwood

2nd Place – Dylan Koresh of Charles City

3rd Place – Jacob Herrmann of Waverly-Shell Rock

4th Place – Clayton Taylor of NHTV

5th Place – Joey Barron of Oelwein

6th Place – Nathan Johnson of Waukon

1st Place Match

Chris Guest (Crestwood) 29-10, Sr. over Dylan Koresh (Charles City) 25-8, Jr. (SV-1 10-8)

3rd Place Match

Jacob Herrmann (Waverly-Shell Rock) 31-15, Jr. over Clayton Taylor (NHTV) 19-12, Jr. (Fall 1:56)

5th Place Match

Joey Barron (Oelwein) 24-18, Jr. over Nathan Johnson (Waukon) 16-24, So. (Fall 1:52)

160

1st Place – Colter Bye of Crestwood

2nd Place – Bryson Hervol of Waverly-Shell Rock

3rd Place – Cale Reicks of NHTV

4th Place – Elliott Sinnwell of Charles City

5th Place – Carter Benzing of Waukon

6th Place – Bryan Graves of Oelwein

1st Place Match

Colter Bye (Crestwood) 32-3, Jr. over Bryson Hervol (Waverly-Shell Rock) 32-13, Jr. (Dec 3-1)

3rd Place Match

Cale Reicks (NHTV) 40-9, Sr. over Elliott Sinnwell (Charles City) 13-23, So. (Fall 1:20)

5th Place Match

Carter Benzing (Waukon) 13-23, So. over Bryan Graves (Oelwein) 29-11, Jr. (M. For.)

170

1st Place – Noah Glaser of NHTV

2nd Place – Tristan Hansmeier of Waukon

3rd Place – Gavin Wedemeier of Waverly-Shell Rock

4th Place – Dawson Palmer of Decorah

5th Place – Ernane Da Silva of Oelwein

6th Place – Jack Sindlinger of Charles City

1st Place Match

Noah Glaser (NHTV) 42-3, Sr. over Tristan Hansmeier (Waukon) 38-2, Sr. (Dec 6-3)

3rd Place Match

Gavin Wedemeier (Waverly-Shell Rock) 21-20, So. over Dawson Palmer (Decorah) 12-10, So. (Dec 5-4)

5th Place Match

Ernane Da Silva (Oelwein) 19-22, Jr. over Jack Sindlinger (Charles City) 18-18, So. (MD 13-2)

182

1st Place – Evan Rosonke of NHTV

2nd Place – Judd Grover of Crestwood

3rd Place – Sam Niichel of Charles City

4th Place – Andy Murphy of Decorah

5th Place – jentry staack of Waverly-Shell Rock

6th Place – Landon Berns of Waukon

1st Place Match

Evan Rosonke (NHTV) 33-12, So. over Judd Grover (Crestwood) 8-4, Sr. (Fall 1:37)

3rd Place Match

Sam Niichel (Charles City) 21-9, Sr. over Andy Murphy (Decorah) 20-19, Jr. (Fall 5:46)

5th Place Match

jentry staack (Waverly-Shell Rock) 10-16, So. over Landon Berns (Waukon) 22-19, Sr. (Dec 4-1)

195

1st Place – Brayden Wolf of Waverly-Shell Rock

2nd Place – Andy Lillegraven of Decorah

3rd Place – Max Schwickerath of NHTV

4th Place – Jared Knutson of Crestwood

1st Place Match

Brayden Wolf (Waverly-Shell Rock) 36-6, So. over Andy Lillegraven (Decorah) 24-8, Sr. (Fall 5:58)

3rd Place Match

Max Schwickerath (NHTV) 18-14, Jr. over Jared Knutson (Crestwood) 19-19, Sr. (Dec 9-6)

220

1st Place – Areon Day of NHTV

2nd Place – Josh Halligan of Charles City

3rd Place – Stone Peckham of Crestwood

4th Place – Luke Walker of Waverly-Shell Rock

5th Place – Caden Keck of Decorah

1st Place Match

Areon Day (NHTV) 43-4, Sr. over Josh Halligan (Charles City) 26-11, Sr. (Fall 3:02)

3rd Place Match

Stone Peckham (Crestwood) 23-7, Jr. over Luke Walker (Waverly-Shell Rock) 17-17, Fr. (Fall 5:48)

5th Place Match

Caden Keck (Decorah) 3-15, So. over () , . (Bye)

285

1st Place – Jacob Knutson of Crestwood

2nd Place – Andrew Snyder of Waverly-Shell Rock

3rd Place – Tylor Zuspan of Charles City

4th Place – Tom Clark of NHTV

5th Place – Daniel Schwartzhoff of Decorah

1st Place Match

Jacob Knutson (Crestwood) 30-7, Sr. over Andrew Snyder (Waverly-Shell Rock) 33-11, Jr. (Dec 5-1)

3rd Place Match

Tylor Zuspan (Charles City) 12-18, Sr. over Tom Clark (NHTV) 21-22, Jr. (Fall 1:52)

5th Place Match

Daniel Schwartzhoff (Decorah) 14-21, Jr. over () , . (Bye)