Cory Yoder will be the new Clarion-Goldfield-Dows boys wrestling head coach, beginning in the 2025-26 season. The decision was approved at the C-G-D school board meeting on June 10. Yoder has stepped up to lead the program after working as an assistant coach last season.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be the head coach of Clarion-Goldfield-Dows wrestling with their story program. This is not something I expected. I’m ready for the challenge this upcoming season, because it’s going to be an exciting season for the Cowboys in wrestling,” says Yoder. “Our job is to get the kids ready to perform each and every match and get them mentally prepared for what’s ahead of them. There’s a lot of pressure and expectations on this program and myself to get this job done. Our coaching staff, I promise you, we will put 110 percent effort into it. We will get the job done because we want to win those state titles this year.”
The Cowboys, last season, placed third at the Class 2A state dual tournament and qualified nine wrestlers for the state traditional tournament, placing 17th in the team race. With one departing following graduation, Eight are projected to return to the program next season. Yoder on the identity next year’s team is striving for.
“Getting after it and making people realize how good we really are. We’re gonna be tough to beat. People already know it because people have already reached out to me and said, you guys are gonna be real tough. I said, yeah, we’re gonna be real tough, but we got to put in the work to get the job done. There’s one thing my dad always said, leave no doubt. That’s one thing we’re gonna do. We’re gonna leave no doubt that we’re the best team out there.”
Yoder on the offseason training and mat time the team has put in.
“I try to talk to my kids as much as I can during the week. They keep in contact with me, and make sure they’re getting workouts over at Team Valley and everything else. These kids know what’s in front of them. A lot of kids qualified for Fargo and Freestyle, Colin Sesker, JT Kelso, Adrian Phetxoumphone, Cole Wibholm, and a bunch of other kids like Paxton Redenius. All these guys are coming into Team Valley, putting the work in, running, working out, Linden Phetxoumphone as well. All these kids are putting the time in. The whole team is excited.”
The next competition for some members of the Cowboys’ team will be the USA Junior and 16U National Championships on July 10-19th in Fargo, North Dakota.
