Cody Karstetter takes 2nd in Wolfpack Open
/By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief
Charles Page 2015 graduate Cody Karstetter never failed to make waves while he was at Sand Springs, and he has taken that outstanding talent and sportsmanship to North Carolina where he's wrestling for the #16 Tar Heels.
While the 2015 Oklahoma State Runner-Up and Junior National Freestyle Dual Champion has yet to compete in a collegiate dual, he has participated in two tournaments thus far and has placed in each.
At the Virginia Tech Open, Karstetter won his first collegiate match with a 12-2 major decision over #23 West Virginia's Jonathan Ragsdale. His next match, however, was a 6-4 loss to Thayer Atkins of Duke.
He rebounded with a 16-0 tech fall of #21 Old Dominion's Steven Simpson, then took down another West Virginian in a 7-6 decision over Devin Brown. His run finally came to an end in the battle for 5th and 6th place as Dominion's Alex Madrigal brought him down 13-6.
His next tournament went even better, bringing in second place in 125 pounds at the Wolfpack Open. He defeated teammate Cody Karns 6-1, then battled it out 11-5 with Gardner-Webb's Cortez Starkes. To add style to his streak, Karstetter got payback on Thayer Atkins 4-3 to make it to the final round.
The Championship match-up was against the #10 wrestler in the country at 125, David Terao of American University. Terao took an early lead with a two-point takedown 12 seconds into the first period. Karstetter managed an escape, but went into the second period 4-1 after Terao pulled him down once against with 58 seconds left.
Karstetter had the offensive starting position in period 2 and Terao scored a two-point reversal three seconds in. Karstetter escaped 17 seconds later, but once again it was Terao with the sole takedown of the period.
Karstetter scored first in the third period with an escape, but was taken down twice more for a resounding 13-4 major decision.
Less than a month into his Freshman season, Karstetter sits at an impressive 6-3 for the season thus far and is 35-12 since his high school career came to an end. Needless to say, Karstetter is more than just carrying on a long family tradition--he's establishing himself as an outstanding sportsman all his own.
