C-M’s Cauy Fitch advances to 1A state quarterfinals

DES MOINES — Colfax-Mingo’s Cauy Fitch jumped out to a lead, stayed smart and leaped into the quarterfinal round during a Class 1A 120-pound first-round match on Thursday.

Fitch led 2-1 after one and a reversal and takedown in the second period pushed the lead to 7-2 before the Tigerhawk senior scored a 10-7 win by decision over Hinton’s Aiden Christiansen.

“It feels pretty good to move on,” Cauy Fitch said. “Coach told me to get as many points as I could in the first period. That was the goal. The lead was important.”

The victory was the biggest positive on a day when the three other Tigerhawks who qualified for the state tournament were eliminated.

Sophomore Noah Strohmeyer (106) and juniors Cyden Fitch (138) and Trystin Ross (160) all went 0-2 after facing tough draws in their respective brackets.

“The goal is always to make the podium and be a state champion, but the positive is we get all three of those guys back,” Colfax-Mingo coach Erin Hume said. “Being here can be motivation. Not reaching the goals has to and will drive them into next season.”

Cauy Fitch (32-2) went 1-2 at the state tournament last season but lost his opening-round match. This season, in his final year to earn a state medal, he stayed on the championship side of the bracket.

“He wanted that one bad,” Hume said. “He wanted to get that first one under his belt. Looking at it, you could think he wrestled cautious, but he was in complete control no matter what the score showed.”

He got an early takedown and then countered or fought out of several shots from Christiansen throughout the first period. An early reversal in the second extended the lead to 4-1 and a takedown at the end of the period made it 7-2.

Christiansen (33-12) rallied in the third with an early escape and then a takedown, but an escape and takedown by Cauy Fitch made it 10-5.

Christiansen, who won his elimination wrestleback to stay alive, got a takedown to close the gap but Cauy Fitch advanced.

“Getting that first takedown and getting the lead, is a big confidence boost,” Hume said. “He thrives on being ahead. He did what he needed to do. I didn’t feel like he was ever going to lose.”

Cyden Fitch (28-6) continued to compete despite an injured shoulder. He lost a 10-2 major decision to third-ranked Cael Frost of Don Bosco in the opening round and then was defeated again 10-2 by fourth-ranked Teagan Lundquist of Southwest Valley in the wrestleback.

Both opponents worked very hard for pins, but Cyden Fitch went the distance despite not being 100 percent physically.

“You want to find a kid who is a gamer, and Cyden is a gamer,” Hume said. “That was the first time he’s been on his back the entire season. He wasn’t pinned at all this season. Cyden wrestled up a class to make the state tournament, he wrestled with one arm to make it here and he wrestled with one arm in both matches. You can’t ask for anything more when a kid gives that kind of effort.”

Strohmeyer (26-8) was pinned in both of his matches. Third-ranked Damon Huston (43-1) of Midland scored the fall in the first period in the opening round and then sixth-ranked Kael Brisker (46-3) of Wilton eliminated Strohmeyer with a second-period fall.

“His lack of mat time compared to his opponents showed, but you wouldn’t think he’s only been wrestling for two years,” Hume said.

Ross (31-17) started his day with a 16-5 major decision loss to No. 10 Michael Baker (44-8) of Underwood. In the consolation elimination wrestleback, Ross lost 16-1 to fourth-ranked Chase McAlister (42-5) of South Central Calhoun.

Cauy Fitch’s quarterfinal match will be against a familiar foe in third-ranked Casey Baker (44-2) of Interstate 35. Baker defeated Fitch earlier this season and defeated a few times last year, as well.

The 1A quarterfinals and second-round consolations start at 9 a.m. on Friday. The semifinals and third-round consolations kick off at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

Contact Troy Hyde at
641-792-3121 ext. 6536 or thyde@newtondailynews.com