Comet wrestlers take 12 out of 14 bouts in rout of Chickasaws

By John Burbridge
sports@charlescitypress.com
CHARLES CITY — Just a couple years removed from their Class 2A Dual Team State title and Traditional State runner-up showing in 2018, the New Hampton-Turkey Valley wrestling program has been a recent formidable power.

But when the Chickasaws came to Charles City to battle the Comets in their old gym on Thursday, it was the hosts that held the power.

The Comets were able to take 12 out of 14 varsity bouts while winning with a 1980s-era Super Bowl-like final score of 50-9.

Charles City won the first five bouts of the evening starting at 126 with freshman Nathan Lopez getting things rolling with a fall victory over Brady Speltz at the 3:13 mark, followed by senior Bronson Forsyth’s major decision (17-9) over Alex Kriener at 132, IAWrestle No. 8-ranked 138-pounder Alex Staudt’s 8-4 decision over Kael Glenn, Kyle Blunt’s 5-3 decision over Conner Gorman thanks to a late third-period takedown to break a tie in their 145-pound bout, and IAW No. 8-ranked 152-pounder Roush Jaeger getting a fall victory over Colton Rochford at the 5:01 mark after Jaeger was guaranteed at least a technical-fall win as an averted near-fall would have given him a 20-5 lead.

All this put the Comets up 22-0.

Soon after, No. 7-ranked 170-pounder Elliott Sinnwell and 182-pounder Caden Collins earned back-to-back 7-2 decisions over respective Chickasaws Ryan Pickar and Jacob Reicks.

When Charles City 220-pound sophomore Tino Tamayo decisioned (9-4) Austin Hemann and Comet heavyweight sophomore Chase Crooks got a major-decision win (8-0) over Jacob Durnan, it clinched the dual win for the Comets.

Subsequent fall victories by 106-pounder Jacob Vais over Peyton Anderson (2:26) and by freshman 113-pounder Gage Kilby over Alex Philo, and with Charles City 120-pound sophomore Drew Staudt ending the night with a 3-2 win over Dylan Usher thanks to a nifty reversal late in the third period, added to the margin of victory.

Both of the Chickasaws’ wins came from their resident IAW-ranked wrestlers.

In the 195-pound bout, No. 9-ranked Comet senior Jack Sindlinger almost pulled off an upset against No. 2-ranked Evan Rosonke, a state podium placer from last year. Sindlinger was leading 7-4 late in the third period, but Rosonke was able to score 4 quick points with a takedown-2-point-near-fall combo to pull off an 8-7 victory.

Chickasaw junior Carson Babcock, ranked No. 7 at 160, pinned Comet freshman Ethan Peterson 1:35 into their bout.

It was senior night for the Comet wrestling program as senior wrestlers, trainers and cheerleaders were honored with their parents.

Participants for the upcoming Iowa Wrestling Officials and Coaches Association Girls State Tournament to take place Friday and Saturday at Waverly-Shell Rock were also formally acknowledged. Last year, Charles City placed third at the inaugural tournament.

The Comet boys are due to host Waukon on Friday in the old high school gym, and then travel to Osage to battle the Class 2A No. 5-ranked Green Devils in the annual “Saturday Night Wrestling Dual” between the two schools.

Varsity Results
CHARLES CITY 50, NH/TV 9
106: Jacob Vais (CHCI) over Peyton Anderson (NHTV) (Fall 2:46) 113: Gage Kilby (CHCI) over Alex Philo (NHTV) (Fall 3:19) 120: Drew Staudt (CHCI) over Dylan Usher (NHTV) (Dec 3-2) 126: Nathan Lopez (CHCI) over Brady Speltz (NHTV) (Fall 3:14) 132: Bronson Forsyth (CHCI) over Alex Kriener (NHTV) (MD 17-9) 138: Alec Staudt (CHCI) over Kael Glenn (NHTV) (Dec 8-4) 145: Kayden Blunt (CHCI) over Conner Gorman (NHTV) (Dec 5-3) 152: Roush Jaeger (CHCI) over Colton Rochford (NHTV) (Fall 5:02) 160: Carson Babcock (NHTV) over Ethan Peterson (CHCI) (Fall 1:35) 170: Elliott Sinnwell (CHCI) over Ryan Pickar (NHTV) (Dec 7-2) 182: Caden Collins (CHCI) over Jacob Reicks (NHTV) (Dec 7-2) 195: Evan Rosonke (NHTV) over Jack Sindlinger (CHCI) (Dec 8-7) 220: Tino Tamayo (CHCI) over Austin Hemann (NHTV) (Dec 9-4) 285: Chase Crooks (CHCI) over Jacob Durnan (NHTV) (MD 8-0)
Junior Varsity Results
NH/TV 30, CHARLES CITY 18
126: Brayce Howlett (CHCI) over Daniel Aispuro (NHTV) (Dec 5-4) 132: Gavin Rings (NHTV) over Trevor Peterson (CHCI) (Dec 7-6) 138: Zachary Graeser (CHCI) over Teigan Howe (NHTV) (Fall 1:35) 138: Zachary Graeser (CHCI) over Quinten Reicks (NHTV) (Dec 13-6) 145: Ryan Franzen (NHTV) over Colton Crooks (CHCI) (Fall 1:50) 145: Colton Crooks (CHCI) over Troy Schmitt (NHTV) (Fall 3:55) 152: Ryan Franzen (NHTV) over Brahiam Rios (CHCI) (Fall 1:53) 152: Isaac Howe (NHTV) over Brahiam Rios (CHCI) (Fall 0:35) 170: Tyler Reicks (NHTV) over Cade Williams (CHCI) (Fall 0:53) 170: Austin Geerts (NHTV) over Cade Williams (CHCI) (Dec 6-4)