Iowa state duals wrestling tournament: Mount Vernon receives boost from Clark Younggreen’s return

CORALVILLE — No way Clark Younggreen was going to miss this opportunity.

The Mount Vernon senior had spent too much time with his teammates over the years and realized their potential. Not even a knee injury that ended his football season prematurely could keep him off the mat.

“I really wanted to get back,” Younggreen said. “The biggest thing is I’m a senior and we’ve been together for all these years. I wanted to get back out with the team more than anything.”

The 220-pound state medalist rehabbed torn ligaments to return to the lineup, helping the fourth-ranked Mustangs to their first state duals tournament since 2005. He also contributed to Mount Vernon’s 51-19 throttling of No. 5 Creston in the quarterfinals Saturday at Xtream Arena.

“He’s just a good, hard-working individual,” Mount Vernon Coach Vance Light said. “If he thinks he can go, he’s going to go. Just one of those kids.”

Younggreen’s season was in jeopardy due to a contact-related knee injury left him with a completely torn medial collateral ligament and partially torn posterior cruciate and anterior cruciate ligaments.

“It was kind of a freak thing,” Younggreen said. “It wasn’t anything where I landed on it or twisted it weird. It was just off of impact. After that it was day by day, getting back to where I am now.”

Progress was made before December. He was able to shed an immobilizer brace and started riding a stationary bike. He was cleared to do more, including jump rope, more bike training and slowly work into activity.

“I was rehabbing twice a day with a therapist to tear up that scar tissue and make it so I could get the range of motion back in my knee,” Younggreen said. “About Thanksgiving was when I decided I’m going to work hard and get back in the room and wrestling.”

Younggreen made his debut on Jan. 12 for Senior Night, recording a first-period pin against Independence. It came a week earlier than expected but he said he was ready. Coaches were concerned about his individual opportunities at district and traditional state, but he was determined to be back for the team.

Selfless, fearless and MCL-less.

“It tells you a lot about his character,” Light said. “We had a good team last year. We didn’t lose any seniors. We knew we were going to have another good team coming back.”

Light also noted that the senior class has enjoyed athletic success across the board. The Mustangs reached the state finals and have had a strong basketball season. Now, wrestling is in the state dual semifinals for the first time since 1997.

“The senior class at Mount Vernon has done really well,” Light said. “It tells you a little bit about the athletes we have in our school.”

Fourth-ranked Younggreen helped the Mustangs reach the state duals with a decision in the regional duals against Davenport Assumption. He contributed an 11-3 major decision over Quinten Fuller against the Panthers.

“For me, I wanted to be out there for the team,” Younggreen said. “I wanted to have this experience, right here. A run at state duals.

“For me, it’s everything. It’s a blessing. I’m so grateful to be out there competing and doing what I can do.”

Alburnett Pirates pin Emmetsburg

Third-ranked Alburnett blitzed No. 6 Emmetsburg, winning the first six matches with bonus points for a 57-24 victory in the Class 1A quarterfinals Saturday morning. Only one match went the distance and the dual ended in just 37 minutes.

“They just know this is the time of year where you get on the mat and get off the mat,” Alburnett Coach Clayton Rush said. “When they step on the mat, they just know when you get a chance to put a guy away, especially in a dual format, then put them away.”

Alburnett did exactly that. Preston Klostermann (126) and Dawson Becker (132) started the dual with consecutive sub-minute pins. Brody Neighbor added a first-period fall at 138 and the Pirates had a quick 18-0 lead.

“I think our warmup that our coaches put us through helps because it prepares us for matches,” Neighbor said. “Everyone feeds off each other’s energy out there. When we win, our whole team wins.”

Gunnar Keeney won by injury default in the first period at 145. Luke Schneider (220), 106-pounder Atlee Dewitt and Rowdy Neighbor at 113 also produced pins for Alburnett. Tayten Coufal closed with a technical fall at 120. Shayden Washburn posted a major decision in the lone six-minute bout.

“We want to go out there and do the same as our teammates,” the 138-pound Neighbor said. “Pin everyone. Win all the matches, all the close matches and just score extra points.”

The victory set up a semifinal bout with No. 2 Wilton, which handled Logan-Magnolia, 70-12, in the quarterfinals.

Ward’s wild finish

In the midst of West Delaware’s lopsided 47-18 win over No. 7 Webster City, Hawks 195-pounder Will Ward provided an exciting finish to secure the team’s semifinal berth.

Fifth-ranked Ward faced No. 2 C.J. Hisler. Ward scored a takedown just seconds in, but soon after gave up a reversal and had to fight off his back. Hisler allowed only escapes and led 7-5 as time ticked down.

Ward hit a headlock for a takedown with 16 seconds left and added three nearfall, holding Hisler on his back until time expired for a 10-7 upset.

The senior state medalist said Hisler kept using underhooks and he had to try something. He also mentioned West Delaware Coach Jeff Voss doesn’t let him practice headlocks.

“I’m glad he did it once,” Voss said with a laugh. “He had to take him to deep water a little bit to get it done.”