Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Ryan Duckett of St. Edmond grabs Gavin Rich of Clear Lake on Thursday in the Gael gym. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Eugene Carlson has been an assistant coach at St. Edmond for 17 years.

For the time being, Carlson is completely comfortable with keeping Vinnie Harvey’s seat warm matside.

Harvey, a St. Edmond graduate and former standout Gael wrestler, was named the program’s next head coach after last season. Because of paperwork issues, though, that plan is on the backburner.

“Because of a licensing delay at the beginning of the season, Eugene Carlson will be the head coach for St. Edmond wrestling,” said St. Edmond athletic director Steve Neuberger. “We are still happy to have Vinnie Harvey as a member of our wrestling staff.”

Carlson, who has been part of the kids and junior high program for a number of years, is looking forward to the challenge this winter.

“This is Vinnie’s team,” Carlson said. “The Good Lord put me in this position through a tough time, but we just have to endure and move forward.”

The Gaels hosted a North Central Conference triangular with Clear Lake and Clarion-Goldfield/Dows on Thursday night.

The Gaels lost to the Cowboys (72-6) and the Lions (66-6). Clear Lake beat Clarion-Goldfield/Dows (36-24).

For the Gaels, 10th-ranked sophomore Ryan Duckett (3-1) picked up two falls at 106 pounds for the Gaels. Duckett pinned Clarion-Goldfield/Dows’ Kaeden Langfitt in 41 seconds, and also earned a fall over Clear Lake’s Geoff Miller in 44 seconds.

“Ryan is a leader,” Carlson said. “He just keeps getting better and better, and he keeps working to improve.

“Last week, these guys were a little nervous. But we talked about coming out and not being afraid to lose and you seen that with Jonah (Hindt), throwing a headlock right away. Just come out and try to get better. I’ve been telling them to be proud of what they’re doing; they need to understand they are couragous for trying something that they have no (varsity) expierence doing.”

The Cowboys picked up six victories in their win over the Lions. Clarion-Goldfield/Dows fell behind 15-3, but two quick falls tied the score.

Top-ranked Spencer Trenary (285) regsitered a fall in 13 seconds, and Langfitt earned a pin in 20 seconds.

Bryce Allen (126) picked up a 5-3 decision, and Reed Abbas (138) logged 4-3 decision. Carter Dietz (160) won 5-3, and Sam Wigans (182) won 11-4.

Against the Gaels, Tyler Stein (113), Remington Hanson (132), Cael Ahrens (160) and Carter Dietz (170) earned wins by fall for C-G/D.

The Gaels are back in action on Saturday when they head to the Emmetsburg Invitational.