Carly Segebart wasn't planning on participating in sports at Arlington High School.
“Some of my friends told me I should do wrestling with them because it was going to be the girls' first year,” the senior said. “And I said, 'No.'”
Coach Doug Hart was able to turn that “no” into a “yes,” though, and on April 24 one of the program's original wrestlers celebrated becoming the first to sign with a college team. Segebart plans to join the Iowa Western Community College squad next school year after finishing her senior prep season 26-11 at AHS.
“I loved it,” the Eagle said of her high school experience.
The Reivers became Segebart's college choice when she was able to consider all factors.
“It had what I wanted to go to school in, which is culinary arts and business,” she said. “It has both of what I love — wrestling and food.”
That made IWCC the perfect fit.
“It was kind of, in my mind, the obvious choice so I can do both things that I love,” Segebart explained.
Iowa Western competes on a junior college level with matches predominately contested in Iowa and Nebraska. The team is coached by director of wrestling Josh Watts and associate head coach Monica Mendoza, and had wrestlers from across the country on its roster last season.
“They have a beautiful wrestling room there,” Segebart said, noting how she's excited to get to better know her coaches.
Though she never planned on high school sports, she's certainly looking forward to now wrestle at the next level.
“I'm really excited to make new friends and see how really different high school and college wrestling really is,” Segebart said.
