Five matches into an Eastern Valley Conference dual meet with Clintonville, the Waupaca Comet wrestling team found itself on the short end of a 30-0 score.
However, the Comets chipped away at the Truckers’ lead and eventually returned home with a 43-34 win.
Waupaca also placed ninth at the Bulldog Cutler Classic in New London.
Waupaca 43, Clintonville 34
CLINTONVILLE – Three forfeits and a pair of pins helped the Truckers build a 30-0 advantage Thursday, Jan. 12.
Waupaca forfeited to Mike Klemp at 160, Jake Reiter at 182 and Charlie Poppe at 195. Clintonville’s Marcus Engle also pinned Mike Hagen in 4:45 at 170, while teammate Lucas Carrigg pinned Caleb Hobson in 1:08 at 220.
Waupaca got on the board after the Truckers forfeited to Logan Feldt at 285. That match started a string of six wins for the Comets, as Ben Leonard pinned Cody Guyette in 2:50 at 106, Eric Bolwerk pinned Kelsey Raasch in 3:15 at 113, Austin Gonyou won by forfeit at 120 and Levi Petroske defeated Dustin Zarnoth 7-4.
Joe Selsing then picked up an 8-0 major decision over Payton Dimick at 132 to give Waupaca its first lead at 31-30.
Jared Henschel gave the lead right back to the Truckers in the next match, however, as his 9-1 major decision over Miguel Barazza at 138 give Clintonville a 34-31 advantage.
The Comets’ Mitchell Molder sealed the win by pinning Jake Van Allen in 2:48 at 145 and Waupaca tacked on six more points after the Truckers forfeited to Tom Phillipsen at 152.
Bulldog Cutler Classic
NEW LONDON – Petroske won the 126-pound championship for the Comets’ only title at the 13-team tournament, held Saturday, Jan. 14.
He handed Menasha’s Jimmy Sell a 16-8 defeat in the finals.
Selsing placed fourth at 132 after defaulting the third-place match because of an injury.
Waupaca will wrap up the EVC dual meet schedule Thursday, Jan. 26, at Winneconne. Matches are slated to get under way at 6:30 p.m.