Mount Vernon girls runner-up at state tournament

Mount Vernon senior Libby Dix just finished her high school wrestling career Friday, Feb. 7, at Xtream Arena in Coralville. Dix held up two fingers to the crowd.

“At first I kind of forgot,” Dix said. “But it is kind of a thing for people to do, showing how many titles they’ve won.”

It was her second straight state championship. This one came during the first split-class state tournament, beating Leah Stewart of Charles City in the 190-pound Class 1A championship.

It was a tight, 1-0 decision.

Stewart locked up with Dix early and often. Dix had a few throws on the edge of the mat, but couldn’t convert a takedown inbounds in the first two periods.

“She came in with a game plan, but she didn’t know what to do after she got there,” Dix said. “I had to be patient and wrestle a smart match. Not just shoot in to get just anything.” Stewart put on double underhooks to keep Dix from shooting for her legs.

“Stewart had a game plan and executed it well,” Mount Vernon Coach Trende said. “Libby would’ve liked to have scored a few more points, build a bit of a cushion. “Stewart didn’t want us to score points.”

So, it was still 0-0 after two periods, and Dix chose down.

After close to a minute of work on the bottom, Dix broke loose for an escape and one point. Dix was able to keep Stewart at bay to earn the win.

“I have worked on that a lot the last few years,” Dix said. “My freshman year, I was not great on the bottom. But I felt confident I would get out and get my point.”

Trende revealed that Dix had been battling an illness for two weeks and had lost about 10 pounds.

“I was a little worried, but by Thursday I was on medicine and feeling better,” Dix said. It is worth mentioning, Dix entered her final match with 99 career pins.

“It is a little frustrating to end on 99,” Dix said. “But that last one didn’t just come down to the state finals. Lots of girls forfeited to me and it is hard to get pins when you don’t have matches.

“But I’d rather have two state titles than 100 pins.”

The win capped an incredible career for Dix. Two-time state champion, three-time state finalist, with an overall record of 141-8. That included a run of 121-3 her final three seasons.

Dix isn’t sure if she will wrestle in college, yet. She may also do college track. Or maybe both. She is still deciding. But her last win as a Mustang helped boost Mount Vernon into second place as a team. They finished with 94 points, just 11 back of 1A team champion, East Buchanan.

“It was quite a thrill,” Trende said. “We had some momentum after winning the regional championship and qualifying six girls.

“The girls knew, that if they went out and wrestled hard, and don’t hold anything back, and don’t make the tournament anything bigger than it is … we’d have some big results.”

It was a team effort. In addition to Dix, 110-pound junior Kiersten Swart also made the finals. She ended up losing by fall to senior Gable Hemann of Osage.

She was trailing 11-0 in the third period when she got turned. Trende said they knew Hemann was trouble. Her first name is Gable, after all.

“She’s been wrestling her whole life, is from a wrestling family, and she’s a tough competitor,” Trende said. “It was a learning moment for Kiersten. She was pretty upset and hurt, but this season I saw a lot of growth from her mentally and on the mat.”

Swart can add her silver to the bronze she collected last season.

Freshman Kate Martin finished fourth at 105 pounds. She battled back with four straight pins after losing in the first round to fifth-seed Mercedes Ponce of Perry 7-3.

Martin pinned fourth-seed Emma Miller of Treynor in the consolation semifinals. Third-seed Serenity Turner of Knoxville got her in the third-place match by fall.

“She will have a target on her back next year, but she’s okay with that,” Trende said.

Junior Addi Whisner (145) also battled back after a first round loss, eventually finishing sixth.

“She’s the most improved wrestler on our team,” Trende said of Whisner.

Junior Gracie Pinckney (170) finished fifth. She lost in the quarterfinals to Brooklyn Graham of East Buchanan, who went on to win the 1A title.

Pinckney pinned top seed Brair Blake of North Tama in her final match.

“Gracie is a prime example that if you want to get really good, you have to put in the work in the offseason,” Trende said.

“Her bracket was loaded and she found a way to come back. An incredible performance by her.”

Junior Kaylee Kintzel (155) was hurt in the regional final and did not participate.

“The girls came out and did their job,” Trende said. “We scored a lot of team points and were able to bring back a trophy.”

Lisbon

The Lions enjoyed their first taste of the state tournament over the weekend, and had their first place winner, with Lillian Gaiser finishing eighth at 120 pounds in Class 1A.

“We had a blast down there,” Lisbon coach Seth Hall said. “Lillian really wrestled well. She got behind in a few matches, but never stopped.”

Gaiser, seeded 11th, opened the tournament by pinning sixth seed Veronica Schechinger of Riverside, then was pinned by third seeded Grace Storjohann of Aplington-Parkersburg/ Grundy Center. Storjohann finished second.

Gaiser then beat fifth seed Josilynne Lennon of Akron-Westfield before dropping her final two matches.

Freshman Emma Dietsch went 1-2 at 145 pounds. “That’s a big stage for a freshman,” Hall said. “It is good for her to know what it feels like. She’ll be ready to go from here on out.”