Same host, new venue

Annual North/South All-Star Wrestling Meet to be held in Charles City Middle School’s competition gym

Staff Report

CHARLES CITY — The 39th-annual North/South All-Star Wrestling Meet has found a new venue.

It’s still going to be in Charles City, and it’s still going to be primarily North vs. South. But as for the new venue, it’s moving approximately a city block northeast.

The event, hosted by the Charles City Mat Club in conjunction with the Iowa National Guard, will take place Saturday for the first time in the new Competition Gym within the new Charles City Middle School, which is connected with the high school where previous North/South meets were held.

Senior state champions and state qualifiers will battle in what will likely be the last folkstyle matches of their high school careers. Previous meets have featured future collegiate All-Americans, NCAA champions and Olympic medal winners.

Two Comet state qualifiers are due to participate: two-time 220-pound state qualifier AJ Maloy, and 182-pounder Alex Koehler.

For Koehler, this will likely be his last hurrah competing on the mat as he is aiming to continue his football career in college.

Maloy, who picked up his 100th win and 50th pin of his career this past season, is still weighing his options about wrestling, playing football or doing both in college.

Another local state qualifier, North Butler 160-pounder Dalton Nelson, is also scheduled to compete. Nelson was a four-time state qualifier for the Bearcats. After sitting the first month of the season due to a broken ankle sustained during the football — he wrestled the remaining season with a steel plate in his foot — Nelson went on to place fifth at state while picking up his 150th and 151st wins of his high school career.

Osage’s four-time state qualifier Brock Jennings, who was the Class 2A 170-pound champion at this year’s state tournament, and his 220-pound teammate, Caleb Ring, who placed fifth at the state tournament, are due to represent the Green Devils this Saturday.

Waverly-Shell Rock’s Austin Yant, who placed third in the Class 3A 152-pound bracket,  and 170-pounder Trevor Byram, are also on the tentative list of competitors.

Other state titleists  due to compete include Western Dubuque’s Class 3A heavyweight (285 pound) champion Aaron Costello, who finished his senior season with a record Floyd Mayweather Jr. would be proud of (50-0).

North Scott’s Class 3A 220-pound champion Wyatt Wriedt is due to be on hand, so are Western Dubuque’s 182-pound champion Max Lyon, Southeast Polk Class 3A 145-pound champion Zach Barnes, and Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson’s 3A 126-pound champion McGwire Midkiff.

Also slated is a handful of state runners-up in 113-pounders Jacob Schipper (3A) of North Scott and Devon Meeker (1A) of Wapello; Southeast Warren 120-pounder Brady Kyner (1A), Sibley-Ocheyedan 145-pounder Dylan Schuck (1A), Iowa Valley 160-pounder Jacob Krakow (1A), and Southeast Polk 170-pounder Gavin Babcock.

Bout cards have yet to be determined as more wrestlers will likely be added.

The event starts at 6 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door.

The North/South All-Star Meet will be broadcasted live on IAwrestle.com.