Comets host double-dual during ‘Senior Night’

By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — Ten-point leads tend to evaporate faster in wrestling than any other sport that keeps score.

Take the 145-pound varsity bout that pitted Decorah’s Kyzer Engen against Charles City’s Roush Jaeger during Thursday’s double-dual hosted by the Comets.

Engen had already built an 11-1 lead midway through the second period after nearly sticking the Comet sophomore twice. But in a blink of an eye, Jaeger scored a reversal and suddenly was thisclose in recording a match-ending pin.

After Engen fought himself out of danger, Jaeger nearly got him on his back again and may have been thwarted by the referee’s prone body making contact with Engen’s back when Jaeger pushed his opponent into him during the final seconds of the second period.

After some discussion about the proper score, Jaeger closed the gap to 11-6 going into the final period, but Engen was able to hang on to win the 13-8 decision.

Jaeger was able to bounce back to win his subsequent bout against Crestwood’s Cale Jackson with a hard-fought 9-3 decision.

The double-dual against the Vikings and Cadets served as “Senior Night” for Charles City due to it being last home meet of the season other than hosting the Northeast Iowa Conference Meet on Jan. 26. The Comets lost both duals — 45-31 to Decorah and 39-25 to Class 2A No. 10-ranked Crestwood.

Among those earning two wins for the Comets were junior 152-pounder Carter Proffitt and 160-pounder Elliott Sinnwell.

Proffitt first earned a 21-4 technical fall over Garrett Lovsteun to cap the varsity dual against Decorah, then out-fought Crestwood’s Hunter Bye for a 5-1 decision win.

After earning a first-period fall over his Decorah opponent to start the double-dual, Sinnwell was able to edge Crestwood’s Ross Niewoehner in one of the more thrilling bouts of the evening.

Both wrestlers were tied 3-3 well into the third period before Sinnwell scored a reversal to go up 5-3. With 25 seconds left in regulation, Sinnwell set Niewoehner free to make it a 1-point match. But Sinnwell stayed aggressive and scored a final-second takedown to cap the 7-4 decision.

Among the seniors honored was resident ranked 170-pounder Dylan Koresh. After earning a 17-2 technical fall victory over Decorah’s Elijah Mitchell, Koresh was pitted against fellow returning state podium placer Colter Bye of Crestwood.

With Bye and Koresh ranked No. 2 and No. 4, respectively, by IAwrestle.com in the Class 2A bracket, it was no surprise that the match would be a close one.

Going into the final period with a scoreless tie, Koresh allowed Bye to escape from the down position, but was unable to score a takedown to avoid the 1-0 loss.

Other Charles City Comets earning varsity victories included returning state placer Jack Sindlinger, who earned a 10-0 major decision over Crestwood’s Trent Burnikel in their 195-pound bout — the only match Sindlinger wrestled; sophomore Alec Staudt, who pinned Crestwood’s Trent Pisney 1:05 into their 132-pound bout — the only match Staudt wrestled; and freshman heavyweight Chase Crooks, who earned a 3-0 decision against Decorah senior Daniel Schwartzhoff.