Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Kendal Clark of Humboldt gives her sister, Ashlyn, a hug after she pinned Independence’s Kenzie Fischels during the IWOCA state championship round on Saturday in Waverly. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

WAVERLY — Since she was a little girl, Kendal Clark has been lacing up her basketball shoes once winter rolls around.

In fact, hoops has always been the sport of choice in the Clark family.

When the chance to try something new surfaced this past fall, though, the Humboldt junior thought it over and took a chance.

Two months later, the decision to juggle both sports proved to be a historic one.

Before November, Clark had never set foot on a wrestling mat and had barely even watched a meet. In fact, no one had ever wrestled in her family before.

Now Clark is a state champion — the school’s first on the girls’ side in the sport.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Clark said. “It was insane. I didn’t even know how to react — and everything just overcame me.

“It is so surreal to be the first girl at Humboldt to be a state champion. Even saying ‘state champion’ doesn’t seem real.”

When Humboldt head coach Chad Beaman made plans with the school to start a girls wrestling program, Clark was considering giving it a try — as long as it wouldn’t interfere too much with basketball.

“Our coaches explained everything to us and broke it all down,” Clark said. “I thought about joining, and the kids were talking about it. I just didn’t know if it would work with my schedule.

“I talked to my family. My mom (Kristi) said, ‘why not?’ My dad (Derrik) said he had two rules: I couldn’t wrestle boys, and I couldn’t cut weight. So I went for it.”

Clark, who has competed on the big stage at the state track meet and the Drake Relays along with playing at state softball, was a little nervous as the IWCOA Girls Wrestling Championships rolled around on Friday.

“So much was going through my mind,” Clark said. “I just knew I had to go for it and give it my all. I was so nervous, but when I walked in, I got that feeling in the gym. It was go time. I was able to overcome those little nerves.”

After Saturday night, Clark proved that the decision was a good one as she dominated the 170-pound field, going 4-0 with three falls.

In her first tournament match on Friday night, it only took her seven seconds to push the nerves away and earn her first state victory.

“Looking at my bracket, I just broke down each match and knew what I needed to do,” Clark said. “I didn’t know how far I would get, and whatever happens, happens.”

Saturday’s quarterfinal match was a little tighter, as the eighth-ranked Clark won a close 7-4 decision over Osage’s No. 4 Leah Grimm.

In the semifinals, it was back to pins for Clark (11-1) as she advanced to the championship round with a fall in 4:27 over Sioux Central’s Morgan Griffin — the second-ranked wrestler at 152 pounds.

Clark’s title was cemented with a pin of Independence’s sixth-ranked Kenzie Fischels (14-2) in 1:13.

“I just want to thank all of my coaches, my family and friends for being there to support me,” Clark said.