Seniors and future Comets honored during wrestling dual against Indians

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — ’Tis the season to ring in the new and bid farewell to the old.

In that spirit, on Thursday the Charles City Comets wrestling team hosted its first dual of the New Year after the holiday break inside the high school’s old gym while taking time to honor its graduating seniors as well as pending future Comets.

The Waukon Indians were the visitors.

In a varsity meet plagued with forfeits with most going in Charles City’s favor, the Comets defeated their Northeast Iowa Conference rivals 52-29.

Charles City’s first wrestled victory of the evening came three bouts into the meet at 113 — the dual started at heavyweight.

Comet sophomore Jordan Young earned a major decision victory over Ethan Gibbs. Though the score was 15-2, in some ways the match was much closer.

With Young leading big, Gibbs nearly secured a cradle on Young only to have Young fight it off. Gibbs also excited the visiting crowd with several near-fall threats, but Young’s quickness and agility foiled all attempts while turning the tables for several back points for himself.

Charles City got consecutive fall victories in the 160- and 170-pound bouts with Kayden Blunt first pinning his opponent at the 2:37 mark before Trevor Peterson stuck his man in 57 seconds.

Two of Charles City’s ranked wrestlers — Tino Tamayo (220) and Chase Crooks (HWT) — were not in action, though Tamayo did get his hand raised for the forfeit win at 220.

Both were honored with Colton Crooks and Kaylee Hennick as part of the Comets’ “Senior Night”.

Before the varsity match, members of the Chucktown Wrestling Club and from the Charles City Middle School team — which is having a banner year in terms of numbers and dual/tournament victories — were honored.