DES MOINES — Perry’s Khyler Carstarphen, a sixth grade student at St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Perry, won the 11-12 year old 65-pound division national title at the Corn Cob Nationals, a youth wrestling tournament held Mar. 12-13.
Khyler, is the son of Chris and Penny Carstarphen, and younger brother of Kirsten and Kaleb, both Perry graduates. He was one of 588 youth competing in the 14U tournament, which was held at the Jacobsen Center on the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
He is coached locally by Perry Junior Jay instructors Jay, Chris and Joel Nelson, and also competes for the Viking Wrestling Club at Grandview College, where he is coached by four-time All-American grappler Brandon Benvenuti.
Carstarphen claimed first place at the Grade School State Tournament in Des Moines Dec. 27, 2015 and was fourth at the Winter Nationals in Omaha Jan. 3. He claimed the title at the Iowa USA Wrestling State Tourney in Cedar Rapids Jan. 24, but then missed the AAU district and state tourneys with a hand injury.
He will be in competition April 2-3 at the USA Post Season Nationals in Cedar Falls and again April 15-17 at the Heartland USA National Elementary Duals in Council Bluffs as he takes to the mat in the folk style format.
