MVL Girls wrestling fast facts Coach: Trevor Trende (2nd season) 2023 finish: 44 of 138 teams at state meet Returning letterwinners (12): Betsy Morf, Kiersten Swart, Ellie Shebetka, Ella Krob, Audrey Tucker, Kasey Nevins, Meika Neal, Sarah Peterson, Kaylee Kintzel, Gracie Pinckney, Libby Dix, Aly Lashley.
This year is the second sanctioned season for girls’ wrestling in Iowa.
The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Mustangs return three wrestlers who qualified for state last season. Libby Dix was runner-up at 170 pounds.
Gracie Pinckney (155) and Aly Lashley (235) also qualified.
“Last year was just a big learning curve for us,” Mount Vernon Coach Trevor Trende said. “I’d say 80 percent of the girls were fairly new to the sport. We had to kind of really focus on the fundamentals.”
Girls’ wrestling remains one class. In the IWCOA preseason rankings, the Mustangs have just one ranked wrestler – Dix is second at 170 pounds.
But the Mustangs have 12 returning letterwinners overall, and have a lot of newcomers in the wrestling room, eager to build up the program.
“I know way more,” Pinckney said. “I’ve learned a lot more.”
“We are going into the season with nothing to lose,” Trende said. “That’s kind of our mindset.”
The schedule has also expanded. The Mustangs have 8 tournaments scheduled (including WaMac on Jan. 19) and a handful of dual matches. The season begins Thursday, Nov. 16, at the South Tama Invitational.
Coach: Trevor Trende (2nd season)
2023 finish: 44 of 138 teams at state meet
Returning letterwinners (12): Betsy Morf, Kiersten Swart, Ellie Shebetka, Ella Krob, Audrey Tucker, Kasey Nevins, Meika Neal, Sarah Peterson, Kaylee Kintzel, Gracie Pinckney, Libby Dix, Aly Lashley.
Second season for MVL girls’ wrestling
November 16, 2023
About the Contributor
Ryan Suchomel, Sports Reporter
Ryan Suchomel is a sports reporter for the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun.