C-M wrestlers down HLV on Senior Night

COLFAX — The Colfax-Mingo boys wrestling team came out fast during its home quadrangular on Thursday.

The Tigerhawks controlled their dual with South Iowa Cedar League foe HLV but struggled in contested matches against Earlham and were edged by Wayne Community in their finale on Senior Night.

Colfax-Mingo defeated the Warriors 54-24 but lost 58-18 to Earlham and 43-29 to Wayne.

“We wanted to come out fast. We haven’t always done that the past year or so,” Colfax-Mingo head boys wrestling coach Stacey Rice said. “We start slow in the first dual way too much, so it was nice to get off to a good start. We knew Earlham and Wayne were going to be tough, especially with five open weights.”

The Tigerhawks had an 8-5 disadvantage in forfeits in the duals against the Cardinals and Falcons.

But the team’s lone senior Caden Sykes and Logan Roam each went 3-0 with two forfeits for the night. Cason Fitch, Jayden Cherveny and Tegan Dybevik each went 2-1.

Fitch started his night with a win by fall and ended it with a technical fall victory against Wayne. It was the 100th victory of his career.

“I felt like I missed out on it some. I got it a little later than I wanted to,” Fitch said. “But overall I got to it my junior year. That’s a big accomplishment.

“I felt great in the first one, but I was a little tired in that last match. I have more to work on, and I’ll get back at it next week.”

Fitch and Sykes do their best to lead in the wrestling room, but Colfax-Mingo’s squad is filled with a plethora of freshmen and sophomores.

Colfax-Mingo was 4-0 in contested matches against HLV and had a 5-4 surplus in forfeits. Roam (106), Cherveny (120), Fitch (126) and Alex Hartson (215) all won by fall, while Xavier Cross (150), Kyle Wood (165), Willie Fitzgerald (175), Sykes (190) and Dybevik (285) all took forfeits.

The Tigerhawks were 0-6 in contested matches against Earlham. Roam, Sykes and Nathan Endersbe (215) accepted forfeits.

Fitch, who is ranked No. 12 in Class 1A at 126 pounds, lost 11-3 to 10th-ranked Dallas Conoyer.

“I faced him a couple of times before. I wasn’t in the right headspace,” Fitch said. “I should have been quicker at the start and he takes random shots so I knew staying low would be important. I didn’t execute that off the start. That just led to an early deficit right away. The first period kind of killed the style.”

In the dual against Wayne, the Tigerhawks were 3-4 in contested matches and 2-4 in forfeits. Dybevik rallied to win his match by fall at 285, Sykes earned a pin at 175 and Fitch’s 100th career victory was a 19-3 technical fall. Roam and Cherveny took forfeits at 106 and 120.

“The guys gave 100 percent effort for six minutes,” Rice said. “Some of the guys showed frustration in their losses when they came off, but I told them the most we can ask from them is 100 percent effort. And as long as I get that, I won’t complain. That’s how they learn, too. If they give effort but can’t finish a takedown, for instance, we teach those moments and hopefully make them better for it.”

Sykes was the lone Tigerhawk recognized for Senior Night. He improved to 24-4 in his only season at Colfax-Mingo.

“Some of the kids don’t have that belief that they can be good. (Sykes) has that inner belief, and he’s brought that to the team this year,” Rice said. “We need more of that in the room. It bleeds through to the other guys. He’s been a great addition. I just wish I had him more than just this year.”

Class 1A No. 12 Dybevik (12-2) suffered his first loss since returning from injury and returning to the rankings at 285. He was defeated by fall against Earlham.

Fitch is now 23-3 after the 2-1 night at 126. He joined his older brothers Cauy and Cyden in the 100-win club.

“There’s 100 support from that family. That’s the third Fitch boy who’s got to 100,” Rice said. “He gives 100 percent effort in the room and sets a great example. I couldn’t ask for anything more from him.

“He wanted to go 3-0 tonight, but Canoyer’s tough and he’s really quick. He’s really good on top. Last year, the first match was not close and then the second one was an overtime match. We can regroup and correct the mistakes now before we may have to face him again.”

Notes: The team was open at 113, 132, 138 and 157 all night. They surrendered forfeits at 150 twice and 144 once, too. Rice said the team has three wrestlers at 106 but none of them weigh more than 100 pounds, Wood was not available at 157 or 165 because of an injury and the team may have lost another wrestler to transfer. “It’s really a domino effect,” Rice said. “You lose some of the duals because you don’t have enough weights. But in the room, the more bodies you have the more competition there is.” … Wayne went 3-0 on the night after a 33-27 win over Earlham and a 58-18 victory over HLV. Earlham downed HLV 49-12. … Thursday’s quadrangular is the Tigerhawks’ only home meet of the season but they will host districts next month.