By Mike AvittI scanned this picture from an 1965 Ayrian. This photo also appears in the January 28, 1965 Mount Ayr Record-News.
From left we have Coach Doyle Thomas, Mike Duckworth, Jim Dillenburg, Jerry Knight, Duane Dillenburg, Roger Trullinger, Dennis Stephens, Ed Hightshoe,
Larry Rinehart, Pat Irving and Tom Larson. John Larson is not shown. Roger Trullinger, Jerry Knight and Dennis Stephens were the co-captains.
The Raiders
began comptitive wrestling in the 1959-60 school year and it has now been 50 years since this team posted a 9-0 record. This remarkable season
started on November 28, 1964 against Creston with a comfortable 23-14 victory. The next event, however, would be the closest match of the season.
The Corning
Red Raiders put up a tremendous effort on December 2nd and led 18-16 going into the final match. But big Mike Duckworth shutout his opponent 4-0 to seal a
19-18 win for the Mount Ayr squad.
Another close call was against Leon in their gym on January 16. Pat Irving beat his foe 1-0. Pat was prevented
from going to the state tournament the previous year by this very same opponent. John Larson got a pin with one second left in his match and Mount Ayr
beat the Cardinals by five points.
Jerry Knight was the star of the team and he wasted no time pinning his man in the final match of the season
on January 30th. Mount Ayr thumped Creston to finish the year with 9 wins and no defeats.
Three Raiders secured first place in the District Finals at
Audubon. Pat Irving, Dennis Stephens, Jim Dillenbburg (2nd in District) and Jerry Knight all went on to the state tournament being held that year
in Waterloo. Knight took third place at state and finished his senior year with a 24-2 record.
The Mount Ayr High School class of 1965 will be honored
at the Alumni Banquet in the Mount Ayr High School commons area on May 23rd. We're planning another great program again this year and hope to see many
of you. Watch for the announcement coming soon in the Record-News.
Photograph courtesy of Mount Ayr Record-News
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2015
