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Forfeits add up for wrestlers

Ben Selsing doesn’t have the numbers he’d like to see for his Waupaca Comet wrestling squad, but is convinced his team can be competitive this season in the Eastern Valley Conference.

“I wish we had some kids that were out in the past,” he said Thursday, Dec. 2, after the Comets opened the season with a 54-30 loss to Berlin. “If we can get them back and fill some weights, I think we can be tough.”

More than half of the Indians’ points in the meet came from six forfeits.

“We’ve already got three kids hurt from freak accidents in practice that are probably out for the year,” Selsing said. “It never helps when you start out with low numbers and you get three injuries. The biggest thing right now for us is the young kids continue to learn, the experienced kids continue to get better and finding kids to fill the weight classes.”

Although the Comets’ roster has plenty of untested wrestlers, Connor Avery and Cody Houtman are also back.

“Connor’s been one match away from state the last two years in a row and Houtman has improved every single year he’s been here,” Selsing said. “He’s worked really hard in the offseason with some lifting and he’s really putting forth a ton of effort to get better. Both of those guys are pushing each other. You can tell they’re getting better. They’re ready to roll this year and it’s exciting to watch them. They both put in the time and the effort. If you do that, you’re probably farther along than most of the other kids in the state.”

Houtman opened his season by pinning Berlin’s Alex Nigbor in 1:056 at 135, while Berlin forfeited to Avery.

Waupaca’s other win came on freshman Levi Petroske’s pin of Meronica Reilly in 59 seconds.

“We have some freshmen that are outstanding,” Selsing said. “I’m excited about those guys. Even our new guys that didn’t win tonight, you can tell they’re learning. They’ve never wrestled before and I’m proud of them because they stepped out on the mat.”

Berlin’s wins came on Mason LaBuda pin of Nick Cooper in 48 seconds at 112, Pete Marks’ pin of Mitchell Molder in 45 seconds at 145 and Favio Adame’s pin of Jacob Hobson in 5:37 at 285.

Freedom’s wrestling program has dominated the Eastern Valley Conference the past several years, but that could change this season, according to Selsing.

“Winneconne’s the team to beat,” he said. “I think they have 10 returners and two transfers over from Neenah and one was a state place-winner last year. Freedom’s always tough, Clintonville’s always tough and Little Chute usually has a pretty decent program. It’s kind of up in the air between a lot of teams. If we get a full lineup, we’ll be in the mix.”

The Comets will wrestle at Fox Valley Lutheran at 5:30 p.m. today (Thursday, Dec. 9) before heading to a full day of wrestling Saturday, Dec. 11, at the Akey Duals in Weyauwega.

“This might be the hardest-working group of kids I’ve had,” Selsing said. “There’s not a lot of them out there, but from top to bottom, they do nothing but hustle and work their tails off. The first thing I said to them after the match was that I was very pleased with how aggressive we were.

“We didn’t have a lot of weight classes, but in the ones we had, the kids went out there and attacked, even the kids that didn’t know what they were doing,” he added. “That’s all I can ask for.”

Waupaca Comets 2010-11 Wrestling Schedule Varsity

Thursday, Dec. 2 – vs. Berlin

Saturday, Dec. 4 – at John Roberts Duals, Antigo

Thursday, Dec. 9 – at Fox Valley Lutheran, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 11 – at Akey Duals, Weyauwega, 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, Dec. 16 – Waupaca Quadrangular, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 18 – at Marty Loy Classic, Fond du Lac, 9 a.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 29 – at Oshkosh on the Water Classic, 10 a.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 30 – at Oshkosh on the Water Classic, 9 a.m.

Thursday, Jan. 6 – at Freedom, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 13 – vs. Clintonville (Parents’ Night), 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 15 – at Cutler Classic, New London, 10 a.m.

Thursday, Jan. 20 – at Little Chute Double Duel, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 27 – at Winneconne, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 5 – Eastern Valley Conference Meet, Clintonville, 9:45 a.m.

Junior Varsity

Thursday, Dec. 2 – vs. Berlin

Thursday, Dec. 9 – at Fox Valley Lutheran, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 16 – Waupaca Quadrangular, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 18 – at Marty Loy Classic, Fond du Lac, 9 a.m.

Thursday, Jan. 6 – at Freedom, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 8 – at Little Chute JV Invitational, 9:15 a.m.

Thursday, Jan. 13 – vs. Clintonville (Parents’ Night), 7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 20 – at Little Chute Double Duel, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 22 – at Appleton West JV Invitational, 9 a.m.

Thursday, Jan. 27 – at Winneconne, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 29 – at Weyauwega-Fremont JV Invitational, 10 a.m.

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