Mount Vernon senior Libby Dix continues to make the amazing seem routine.
On Friday, Jan. 24, Dix became the first girls’ wrestler to be a four-time WaMaC Champion by pinning her way through her bracket at the WaMaC Invitational in Mount Vernon.
“It is awesome; it is so great,” Dix said. “But you definitely have to go out and wrestle. Every tournament is the same, you have to go out and do your thing.”
The returning state champion at 190 pounds, the top-ranked Dix improved to 35-0 this season. She beat Ella Geodken of West Delaware by pin in 50 seconds in the finals.
But Mount Vernon coach Trevor Trende was a little disappointed that his senior wasn’t named the Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament. That went to Chloe Sanders of Vinton-Shellsburg.
“I’m a little frustrated,” Trende said. “My vote goes to Libby. I’m biased. But she’s the first-ever WaMaC four-time conference champion and pinned both of her opponents in less than a minute. That shows true domination.
“But I only count for one vote.”
Sanders, top-ranked and top-seeded at 140 pounds, won two matches by pin to improve to 46-2.
South Tama County became the third different team to win a WaMaC title in the fourth year of the girls’ tournament. (No team scores in 2002, Independence in 2023, and Vinton-Shellsburg in 2024.) Mount Vernon finished third, V-S was second.
Dix was joined on top of the awards stand by junior Kiersten Swart, who won three matches to take gold at 110 pounds.
That included a tense final against McKenna Rogers of Solon. The two had battled the night before (Thursday) in a dual at Solon.
Swart won that matchup by pin in 5:51. The rematch went to Swart by decision, 1-0.
“I think every time you wrestle an opponent, they figure out a little more about you,” Trende said. “Now we have to go back to the drawing board.
“Kiersten needs to be more on her offense.”
Swart made a second-period escape stand up. She was warned for stalling in the third period, and immediately went back on the attack and never got a second warning.
“I was kind of just trying to keep the lead,” Swart said. “I tried to get some shots in, but it didn’t work out that way. It was a tough match.”
Junior Addi Whisner made the finals at 145 pounds, but couldn’t upset top seed Paisley Bro of South Tama County. Bro won by pin in the second period.
“Addi has beat her before, but tonight just didn’t go out way,” Trende said. “You always learn from your losses.”
Both Gracie Pinckney (170) and Kaylee Kintzel (155) battled back to take third place. Carly Elliott (100) and Josie Panos (235) each finished fourth.
Pinckney, ranked No. 2 at 170, was upset by No. 4 Bayna DeMoss of Benton Community in the semifinals. Trailing 6-4 going into the final period, Trende and Pinckney opted to take top position for the final period.
“I know that’s where she’s strong,” Trende said. “But I told her she’s got a minute, and then she’s got to cut her. She was determined to ride and get the win that way.”
DeMoss wouldn’t be turned, and held on to win by decision. DeMoss was pinned by No. 1 Autumn Elsbury of South Tama County in the finals.
Other Mustang placewinners included Kate Martin (105), sixth; Lexi Glaza (120), eighth; Lyla Glaza (135), sixth; and Hannah Jones (140); seventh.
Trende felt confident that they all have a chance to make a mark Friday, Jan. 31, at the state-qualifying meet in Solon.
“This next week is crucial,” Trende said.
In addition to the Solon dual Thursday, the Mustangs also competed in the Solon Corridor Duals on Monday, Jan. 20. They downed Clear Creek Amana 57-6 and lost to Cedar Rapids Prairie, 53-21.
WaMaC Championships
Team scores – 1. South Tama County 260.5; 2. Vinton-Shellsburg 173.5; 3. Mount Vernon 157.5; 4. Independence 154.5; 5. Williamsburg 137.5; 6. Solon 133; 7. West Delaware 127; 8. Benton Community 117.5; 9. Marion 74; 10. Center Point-Urbana 65; 11. Grinnell 39.5; 12. Clear Creek Amana 33.
Championships (plus MV top 8)
100 – Alina Ajruloski (Indee) pinned Emma Staebler (CCA) 2:58. MV: Carly Elliott, fourth.
105 – Kara VeDepo (Solon) pinned Jayva Gomez (STC) 1:09. MV: Kate Martin, sixth.
110 – Kiersten Swart (MV) dec. McKenna Rogers (Solon) 1-0.
115 – Ellie Weets (VS) tech. fall Hayden Wade (Wburg) 17-0 3:46.
120 – Morgan Krall (Indee) pinned Keston Spratt (Wburg) 4:50. MV: Lexi Glaza, eighth.
125 – Anna O’Rear (WD) pinned Camden Erhardt (VS) 1:51.
130 – Kylee Shoop (WD) pinned Brooklyn Mitchell (STC) 2:43.
135 – Ava Perkins (STC) pinned Cecelia Gryp (Wburg) 1:42. MV: Lyla Glaza, sixth.
140 – Chloe Sanders (VS) pinned Olivia Bonnema (Solon) 1:41. MV: Hannah Jones, seventh.
145 – Paisley Bro (STC) pinned Addi Whisner (MV) 3:24.
155 – Lizzy Wolf (BC) dec. Dakota Cornell (VS) 3-1. MV: Kaylee Kintzel, third.
170 – Autumn Elsbury (STC) pinned Layna DeMoss (BC) 5:53. MV: Gracie Pinckney, third.
190 – Libby Dix (MV) pinned Ella Geodken (WD) :50.
235 – Averie Gale (BC) pinned Harper Griffin (Marion) 1:00. MV: Josie Panos, fourth.
Mount Vernon 49, Solon 27
115 – Tess Richards (S) pinned Rose Pisarik 1:20. 120 – Lexi Glaza (MV) pinned Jadlyn Huynh 3:29. 125 – Makayla Keller (S) won by forfeit. 130 – Alannah Mahoney (S) pinned Liliana Grosse :49. 135 – Lyla Glaza (MV) dec. Alexis Anderson 6-4. 140 – Lucianna Miller (S) pinned Hannah Jones :33. 145 – Addi Whisner (MV) pinned Olivia Bonnema 3:18. 155 – Kaylee Kintzel (MV) won by forfeit. 170 – Maci Stoner (MV) won by forfeit. 190 – Gracie Pinckney (MV) pinned Adlie Miller :33. 235 – Libby Dix (MV) pinned Haiden Wolfe :41. 100 – Carly Elliott (MV) maj. dec. Layla Knazze 10-2. 105 – Kara VeDeop (S) dec. Kate Martin 10-9. 110 – Kiersten Swart (MV) pinned McKenna Rogers 5:51.
SOLON CORRIDOR DUALS
Mount Vernon 57, Clear Creek Amana 6
235 – Josie Panos (MV) won by forfeit. 100 – Carly Elliott (MV) dec. Emma Staebler 7-4 SV-1. 105 – Double forfeit. 110 – Kiersten Swart (MV) won by forfeit. 115 – Rose Pisarik (MV) won by forfeit. 120 – Lexi Glaza (MV) pinned Terann Gerdts :55. 125 – Double forfeit. 130 – Audrey Bulechek (CCA) won by forfeit. 135 – Lyla Glaza (MV) pinned Addy Schrock 2:42. 140 – Hannah Jones (MV) dec. Tabitha Eggleston 10-6. 145 – Addi Whisner (MV) won by forfeit. 155 – Kaylee Kintzel (MV) dec. Jordan Hunt 3-0. 170 – Gracie Pinckney (MV) won by forfeit. 190 – Libby Dix (MV) won by forfeit.
Cedar Rapids Prairie 53, Mount Vernon 21
100 – Elizabeth Burns (CRP) tech. fall Carly Elliott 17-2 5:17. 105 – Double forfeit. 110 – Kiersten Swart (MV) pinned Marie Burns 5:24. 115 – Abagayle Albert (CRP) pinned Rose Pisarik :50. 120 – Lexi Glaza (MV) dec. Brenna Ruff 14-10. 125 – Lily Gearheart (CRP) won by forfeit. 130 – Mackenzie Childers (CRP) won by forfeit. 135 – Claire Hynek (CRP) pinned Lyla Glaza 4:48. 140 – Maci Bruce (CRP) pinned Hannah Jones 1:13. 145 – Luisa Meade (CRP) pinned Addi Whisner 2:55. 155 – Marlee Peyton (CRP) pinned Kaylee Kintzel 3:22. 170 – Gracie Pinckney (MV) pinned Riley Powers :22. 190 – Libby Dix (MV) won by forfeit. 235 – Aliya Phillips (CRP) pinned Josie Panos 2:20.