C-M grapplers ready for state’s biggest stage

Colfax-Mingo wrestling coach Erin Hume has felt his Tigerhawks have made great strides on the mats the past few seasons.

He just isn’t sure many others outside the community feel the same way.

Colfax-Mingo senior Cauy Fitch has been ranked most of the past two seasons, but the Tigerhawks’ team hasn’t been given much respect as a whole despite winning a South Iowa Cedar League championship and finishing in the top three or better at sectionals the past two seasons.

This year, Colfax-Mingo clinched its first trip to the regional dual tournament in 15 years and then put four grapplers into the Class 1A state wrestling field.

Fitch leads the way as he has aspirations to climb the medal stand at 120 pounds, but junior Cyden Fitch has just four losses on the season, sophomore Noah Strohmeyer went 26-6 in only his second wrestling season and junior Trystin Ross seems to always be at his best when the calendar hits February.

“We always have great fans, and they are super supportive. They are excited for our guys,” Hume said. “It’s a been a fun year. The guys wrestled lights out at districts.”

Cauy Fitch’s 120-pound bracket includes two former state champions in top-ranked Adam Allard of West Sioux and second-ranked Daniel Kimball of Don Bosco.

Fitch’s side of the bracket has Kimball as the two seed. If sixth-ranked and sixth-seeded Cauy Fitch (31-2) wins his first-round match with Hinton’s Aiden Christiansen (32-11), he’ll likely face third-ranked and third-seeded Casey Baker of Interstate 35.

Baker (43-2) defeated Cauy Fitch by a 12-2 major decision earlier this season. But the Tigerhawk senior enters the state tournament with 19 straight wins.

“He’ll take it one match at a time, but he’s on a mission and wants to show everyone he can make the podium,” Hume said. “He’s pretty focused. This is his final chance to make some noise.”

Cauy Fitch’s younger brother Cyden also earned a state berth. He’s in the 138-pound bracket but was unseeded. Hume felt like he could have and should have been one of the top eight guys but they’ll move forward and play the familiar role of underdog.

Cyden Fitch (28-4) drew fourth-seeded and third-ranked Cael Frost (37-7) of Don Bosco in the opening round. His side of the bracket also features top-ranked and undefeated Cobe Siebrecht of Lisbon and three other ranked wrestlers.

“He has tunnel vision right now,” Hume said. “He should be a seeded guy, but he’ll have the chance to show he should be now.”

Ross (31-15) is another unseeded Tigerhawk, and he’ll open his 160-pound run with 10th-ranked and fifth-seeded Michael Baker (43-8) of Underwood.

Ross’ second match will be against either fourth-ranked senior Chase McAlister (41-4) of South Central Calhoun or fifth-ranked sophomore Elijah Wagner (46-3) of Lake Mills. Top-ranked John Henrich (41-0) of Akron-Westfield also is on Ross’ side of the bracket.

“He’s showed up in the postseason the last two years, and he’s beaten guys who have beaten him earlier in the year,” Hume said. “He’ll be ready to go.”

Strohmeyer (26-6) is in just his second year of wrestling. Just getting to state for him is a win, but Hume is excited for his lightweight grappler to experience the state tourney.

“I don’t like his draw, but for him, the experience will be big,” Hume said. “He’s got two years left and this will help him get even better next year.”

Strohmeyer will be two of the first names called in the 1A session as he sits at the top of the 106-pound bracket and will face top-seeded and third-ranked sophomore Damon Huston (42-1) of Midland.

Strohmeyer’s side of the bracket includes three wrestlers ranked in the top six.

Cauy Fitch was 1-2 in his state tournament debut last year. He’s coaching his teammates about what to expect.

“He’s been talking to them about just wrestling their style,” Hume said. “They can’t get caught up in the atmosphere.”

The 1A session kicks off at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.