Mount Vernon’s senior class lead Mustangs to regional girls wrestling title

WYOMING — You might’ve heard of the Fierce Five with USA Gymnastics. In Mount Vernon, there’s something similar.

Kiersten Swart, Carly Elliott, Adeline Whisner, Kaylee Kintzel and Gracie Pinckney make up the first four-year senior class for Mount Vernon’s girls wrestling program.

And, on Friday, four out of five won Class 1A Region 5 titles, punching their tickets to next week’s girls state wrestling tournament in Coralville. The Mustangs also won the regional team title with 214.5 points.

“This senior group is just so special,” Mount Vernon head coach Trevor Trende said. “There’s no other way it could’ve went.

“We just had a picture-perfect day.”

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For Mount Vernon’s senior class, Swart started a dominant finals run for the Mustangs. In her final against Wilton’s Audra Cross, Swart got a fall in 2:33.

It was all about mindset for Swart en route to her 110-pound regional title.

“I feel like I was in the right headspace,” Swart said. “I was focused and that helped me get through the tournament.”

The next senior to take the mat in a regional final was at 145 pounds with Whisner, who likely had one of the most exciting finals matches of the tournament.

Whisner was tied 0-0 with North Tama’s Addison Hochstetler in the final 15 seconds of the match. It was at that point when Whisner’s realization of the possibility of wrestling her final match as a Mustang sunk in, and she got a takedown and, ultimately, the fall in 5:55.

“I had no idea there was that little of time left,” Whisner said. “I was thinking this could be my last match I ever wrestle. We practice double legs in practice every day and have been grinding real hard this past week.

“I was just going to go for it. And, it paid off.”

Right behind Whisner was Kintzel, who pinned West Branch’s Gisele Gross in 1:35 to win the 155-pound regional title.

Winning her finals match, in healthy fashion, made Kintzel’s win a little extra special. It was last season when Kintzel dislocated her elbow in the regional final and was unable to compete at the state tournament.

“My performance meant a lot to me,” Kintzel said. “Coming back this year, qualifying, and actually making it was just amazing.”

Capping off the senior stretch for Mount Vernon was Pinckney at 170 pounds, who defeated Cascade’s Sophia Stephan with a 44-second pin in the finals.

“I pushed the limit,” Pinckney said. “I wanted to get my matches done and post some pins. My coach told me to get the pins in for team points. So, I hurried up with my business and got it done.”

Elliott competed for the Mustangs at 115 pounds and posted wins over North Linn’s Addyson Ratliff with a 54-second fall and Cascade’s AJ Mitchell with a 7-4 decision. However, she would fall in the consolation semifinals to end her Mount Vernon wrestling career.

Trende knows while the seniors will be gearing up for their run at next week’s state tournament, their legacy is already cemented in Mount Vernon girls wrestling history.

“They are the trailblazers,” Trende said. “They have impacted this program in more ways than one. No matter what happens next week, they’ve left the program in a better place than when they found it.”

Joining the Mustang seniors at state next week will be the 105-pound regional champion Kate Martin, 125-pound runner-up Alexi Glaza, and 190-pound runner-up Maci Stoner. Mount Vernon’s seven state qualifiers mark the most in program history.

For Pinckney, it provides a realization of what’s possible next week in Coralville.

“I’m looking forward to just going out, working hard, and being with my team” Pinckney said. “We can win a state title and that’s so awesome.”

What’s even more awesome is the people she will have a chance to win a state title with — her fellow seniors, like Kintzel.

Fighting back tears, Kintzel shared what makes this senior class special, aside from their determination and leadership to the Mustang girls wrestling program.

“This team is my family,” Kintzel said. “I love each and every one of them to death. I would do anything for them.

“It means the world to be able to lead them.”