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Mount Vernon’s Libby Dix continues quest for a second straight state wrestling title
Mustangs top-seeded 190-pounder opened with 2 pins; East Buchanan owns team lead with 5 semifinalists; Decorah, Benton, West Liberty boast 2 semifinalists apiece
Feb. 7, 2025 12:42 am
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CORALVILLE – Mount Vernon’s Libby Dix recalled her stroll through the Hall of Champions last year, aspiring to have her picture included with the other winners.
She claimed the 190-pound title a year ago and saw posters with her image displayed on the wall between the warmup area and competition floor.
“Walking through this year, it's really cool to see that,” Dix said. “Yeah, I accomplished my goal last year, but I also want to be there next year.”
Dix moved closer to a possible second straight crown, pinning her way to the 190 semifinals of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state wrestling tournament Thursday night at Xtream Arena. She was one of five Mustangs to secure a medal, sitting in second place with 42 points, 11 behind East Buchanan after Day 1.
“We've talked all week to not make this bigger than it is,” Mount Vernon Coach Trevor Trende said. “It's just another tournament. All of that preparation, leading into this tournament, these girls come in just free, ready to wrestle, wrestling free and wrestling their style. I think when you compete and have fun you get really good results from it.”
The results couldn’t have been much better for Dix. She opened with a 32-second pin over Chariton Keira Jackson. Dix reached her third straight semifinal, decking Hampton-Dumont-CAL’s Maren Subbert in 4:00.
“The semis make my coaches feel it,” Dix said. “The last two years I've had really close matches in the semis. I just really need to lock in tomorrow and get stuff done.”
Dix is a two-time state finalist. After she won gold as a junior, Trende talked to Dix about changing her focus, subscribing to the notion she was not defending a title but striving for new one.
“I said this was your ultimate goal, but now we kind of have to reset our goal,” Trende said. “Yeah, we accomplished that, but we still got another season and we want to come out on top, too.”
A setback at preseason nationals provided the right frame of mind to prevent complacency.
“It really put into perspective that, ‘Hey, I'm not the best,’” Dix said. “I still can improve and it's definitely a full reset and know that I still have to work towards this. I still have to go out every match like it's just another match and keep working towards my goals.”
Dix has impacted the entire team as its lone senior leader. She said the team has a strong camaraderie and are best friends outside of wrestling.
“She has enjoyed that role of just leading by example,” Trende said. “These girls love her. They follow her. She's a great teammate, a great person.
“That all just ties into her wrestling, too. She's nice off the mat, but then when she is on the mat, she's a competitor.”
The Mustangs second-seeded 110-pounder Kiersten Swart also reached the semifinals. She recorded two falls, pinning Sumner-Fredericksburg’s Braelyn Suckow in 28 seconds of the quarterfinal.
Mount Vernon placed five wrestlers on the podium. Kate Martin (105), Addi Whisner (145) and 170-pounder Gracie Pinckney secured top-eight finishes for the Mustangs.
Few teams were as impressive as East Buchanan, advancing five to the semifinals. Destiny Krum (135), Andelyn Cabalka (140), Tayla Stiefel at 145, Miley Walz (155) and 170-pounder Brooklyn Graham all went 2-0 and fed off each other’s success.
“We have a lot of in back-to-back weight brackets,” Krum said. “We are like a family. We spend every morning in practice … it’s a very good time.”
Krum placed fifth two years ago but missed the podium last season. She opened with two first-period pins, wrestling less than three total minutes.
“I’m feeling really good, considering last year I was sick and wasn’t the greatest,” Krum said. “Going in these first two matches, I felt really good. It was good to let loose and have some fun.”
The Buccaneers has an early advantage in the team race. All but one of their seven qualifiers scored at least three points during the first day. They entered the tournament with team title hopes, looking to improve last year’s runner-up finish.
“We were also just wanting each other to do well,” Krum said. “Pushing each other forward.”
Defending champion Decorah was third with 40 ½ points. The Vikings were led by top-seeded duo Chloe Sheffield (100) and 145-pounder Anastasia Simon. Sheffield posted a pin and major decision, while Simon notched pins of 20 and 48 seconds to reach the semifinals.
Benton Community and West Liberty each had two semifinalists. West Liberty’s Silvia and Bricsia secured top-six finishes at 120 and 190, respectively. The Bobcats’ Lizzy Wolf (155) and Layna DeMoss (170) cleared the quarterfinals and earned medals.
Sigourney-Keota’s state champion Reanah Utterback dominated her way to the semifinals with two first-period pins. The top-ranked 115-pounder will face Vinton-Shellsburg’s No. 4 Ellie Weets.
Union Community’s No. 2-seed Jillian Worthen, a 2023 state champion, remained unbeaten and reached the 130 semifinals. She will face Alburnett’s No. 3 Lyni Gusick, who opened with two pins. Gusick improved her seventh-place performance last season.
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