Sophomore Kate Martin and junior Kiersten Swart are a pretty dynamic 1-2 punch at the top of the lineup for Mount Vernon girls wrestling.
But they are not competitive. Got it?
Against Clear Creek Amana on Thursday, Jan. 8, Martin pinned her opponent, Lola Spencer in 29 seconds at 110 pounds.
Then at 115 pounds, Swart pinned Disha Ratnakaram in 28 seconds.
“We’re not competitive,” Martin said. “She is a big help. She pushes me in practice every day and gets me into positions I wouldn’t normally get into. And that really helps.”
Swart finished second at the 2025 state meet, losing in the finals to Gable Hemann of Osage. Martin finished fourth, losing her third-place match to Serenity Turner of Knoxville by fall in 31 seconds.
“That was kind of upsetting,” Martin said. “I feel like my mindset is completely different this year. I’m just going after it, instead of focusing on winning and losing.
“Also, I trained a lot this summer. It has definitely paid off.”
Martin is ranked No. 1 at 110 pounds in Class 1A. Swart is ranked No. 4 at 115 in 1A.
“They both will run through a wall for you,” Mount Vernon Coach Trevor Trende said. “They do all the extra work and go above and beyond.
“But they are both quiet. When they first worked out together, there wasn’t much said. But they have developed a neat relationship.”
“Kate has gotten so much better,” Swart said. “She put in a lot of work this offseason.
“We try to make each other better. She makes me better.”
Swart started the season late after a stress fracture in her leg near the end of her cross country season. So, she has not hit her ceiling, yet.
“It was really hard sitting out,” Swart said. “I’m glad I’m back now.”
Mount Vernon beat CCA 66-11 after downing Benton Community 42-36 on Thursday night. The Mustangs then went 4-0 at the Lady Cat Duals at Benton on Friday, Jan. 9, beating BCLUW-SH 48-36, Benton 48-30, Grinnell 60-12, and Johnston 48-19.
Then, wrestling a third day in a row and without their full lineup, Mount Vernon finished sixth at the 12-team Anamosa Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 10.
Swart took gold, and Kaylee Kintzel (155) and Gracie Pinckney (170) each got silver.
And Swart recorded her 100th career pin Saturday, becoming the second wrestler in program history to accomplish the feat (Libby Dix). Martin sat out to rest her injured ankle.
Mount Vernon 42, Benton Community 36
100 – Aubrey Krueger (BC) won by forfeit. 105 – Victory Dursky (BC) won by forfeit. 110 – Double forfeit. 115 – Kate Martin (MV) pinned Miya Grieder :26. 120 – Kiersten Swart (MV) pinned Paig Eastman 1:16. 125 – Makinzee Petre-King (BC) pinned Carly Elliott 1:54. 130 – Alexi Glaza (MV) pinned Adelyn McDonald 1:35. 135 – Lyla Glaza (MV) pinned Marissa Nolte 1:12. 140 – Izzy Schoettmer (BC) pinned Josie Hocker 5:47. 145 – Layna DeMoss (BC) pinned Adeline Whisner 1:31. 155 – Lizzy Wolf (BC) pinned Kaylee Kintzel 4:25. 170 – Gracie Pinckney (MV) pinned Jordan Koehler :30. 190 – Audrey Dix (MV) won by forfeit. 235 – Maci Stoner (MV) won by forfeit.
Mount Vernon 66, Clear Creek Amana 11
100 – Emma Staebler (CCA) won by forfeit. 105 – Double forfeit. 110 – Kate Martin (MV) pinned Lola Spencer :29. 115 – Kiersten Swart (MV) pinned Disha Ratnakaram :28. 120 – Carly Elliott (MV) pinned Terann Gerdts 1:19. 125 – Nora Naig (CCA) tech. fall Brynn Hoeppner 18-2 5:57. 130 – Alexi Glaza (MV) won by forfeit. 135 – Lyla Glaza (MV) won by forfeit. 140 – Josie Hocker (MV) won by forfeit. 145 – Adeline Whisner (MV) pinned Addy Schrock :53. 155 – Kaylee Kintzel (MV) pinned Olivia Hansen 1:10. 170- – Gracie Pinckney (MV) pinned Lucy Bowers 1:18. 190 – Audrey Dix (MV) won by forfeit. 235 – Maci Stoner (MV) pinned JaCole Stanton 3:03.
LADY CAT DUALS
Mount Vernon 48, BCLUW-SH 36
100 – Layla Price (B) won by forfeit. 105 – Hailee Robinson (B) won by forfeit. 110 – Kate Martin (MV) pinned Tateana Fikes :56. 115 – Kiersten Swart (MV) pinned Khloe Neal 1:00. 120 – Brynn Hoeppner (MV) pinned Brayleigh Gardner 2:43. 125 – Reese Schaffer (B) won by forfeit. 130 – Leila Wedgwood (B) pinned Alexi Glaza 3:57. 135 – Ceanna White (B) pinned Lyla Glaza 2:23. 140 – Josie Hocker (MV) pinned Casadee White 1:42. 145 – Adeline Whisner (MV) pinned Cheyenne Simmons 1:10. 155 – Taya Hollingsowrth (B) pinned Kaylee Kintzel 1:45. 170 – Gracie Pinckney (MV) pinned Megyn Hollingsworth 1:30. 190 – Maci Stoner (MV) pinned Kaitlynn Dickes 5:15. 235 – Audrey Dix (MV) pinned Reagan Schrad 3:14.
Mount Vernon 48, Benton Community 30
100 – Aubrey Krueger (BC) won by forfeit. 105 – Victory Dursky (BC) won by forfeit. 110 – Double forfeit. 115 – Kate Martin (MV) pinned Miya Grieder :44. 120 – Kiersten Swart (MV) pinned Paige Eastman 3:41. 125 – Makinzee Petre-King (BC) pinned Brynn Hoeppner 4:47. 130 – Alexi Glaza (MV) pinned Adelyn McDonald 1:06. 135 – Lyla Glaza (MV) pinned Marissa Nolte 1:38. 140 – Adeline Whisner (MV) pinned Izzy Schoettmer 1:40. 145 – Lyana DeMoss (BC) pinned Josie Hocker 1:33. 155 – Lizzy Wolf (BC) pinned Kaylee Kintzel 1:56. 170 – Gracie Pinckney (MV) pinned Jordan Koehler :07. 190 – Maci Stoner (MV) won by forfeit. 235 – Audrey Dix (MV) won by forfeit.
Mount Vernon 60, Grinnell 12
100 – Double forfeit. 105 – Piper Madren (G) won by forfeit. 110 – Kate Martin (MV) pinned Addison Beckman :54. 115 – Double forfeit. 120 – Kiersten Swart (MV) pinned Josie Thompson :51. 125 – Kyrie Chapman (G) pinned Brynn Hoeppner :34. 130 – Alexi Glaza (MV) pinned Baylee Boyd :43. 135 – Lyla Glaza (MV) pinned Trinity Carlson :45. 140 – Josie Hocker (MV) won by forfeit. 145 – Adeline Whisner (MV) pinned Adriana Versendaal 1:37. 155 – Kaylee Kintzel (MV) won by forfeit. 170 – Channing Kuker (MV) pinned Laney Lacaeyse 5:02. 190 – Gracie Pinckney (MV) pinned JZ Ward 1:03. 235 – Maci Stoner (MV) won by forfeit.
Mount Vernon 48, Johnston 19
100 – Double forfeit. 105 – Double forfeit. 110 – Kate Martin (MV) pinned Grace Petersen 1:00. 115 – Kiersten Swart (MV) pinned Harper Witt :33. 120 – Charlotte Spah (J) pinned Brynn Hoeppner 1:11. 125 – Kenniasty Carstensen (J) won by forfeit. 130 – Alexi Glaza (MV) pinned Lily Harms 2:54. 135 – Lyla Glaza (MV) pinned Maddi Fox 4:58. 140 – Adeline Whisner (MV) pinned Channel Murvee 1:19. 145 – Baylee Rees (J) maj. dec. Josie Hocker 13-5. 155 – Katelyn Hughell (J) dec. Kaylee Kintzel 7-0. 170 – Gracie Pinckney (MV) pinned Payton Traynor :55. 190 – Maci Stoner (MV) won by forfeit. 235 – Audrey Dix (MV) won by forfeit.
ANAMOSA INVITATIONAL
Team scores – 1. Cedar Rapids Prairie 229; 2. Decorah 170.5; 3. Cedar Rapids Jefferson 170; 4. Independence 146; 5. Iowa City High 136; 6. Mount Vernon 135; 7. Iowa Valley 112; 8. Saydel 102; 9. Anamosa 97; 10. MFL MarMac 56.5; 11. Pleasant Valley 53.5; 12. Midland 14.
MOUNT VERNON
110 – Kiersten Swart, 4-0, first. 120 – Brynn Hoeppner, 0-2. 130 – Alexi Glaza, 2-2, fourth. 135 – Lyla Glaza, 1-3, sixth. 140 – Adeline Whisner, 3-1, third. 145 – Josie Hocker, 1-4, fifth. 155 – Kaylee Kintzel, 3-1, second. 170 – Gracie Pinckney, 3-1, second. 170 – Channing Kuker, 0-2. 190 – Audrey Dix, 1-2, fifth. 190 – Maci Stoner, 2-1, third.