AURORA - Luckily for South Dearborn High School’s wrestlers, double-knit polyester material from the 1970s disco era probably will maintain its structural integrity for at least the next million years.
Just to prove they have a sense of history, current senior South Dearborn High School wrestlers donned those clingy old double-knit red singlets with the white & blue lettering - vintage 1980, actually, when Tyler Clark’s dad, Mike, was one of the original Knights - at Saturday’s home mat Knights Classic Invitational.

The occasion was extra-special, of course, because of senior standout Tyler Clark - who tied Jeremy Bolt’s 1995 SD record for career wrestling match victories (131 from 1992-95) last Thursday, in a 46-24 home dual meet win over Franklin County.
Clark’s quick (36 seconds) pin of FC’s Logan Kirkendoll tied Bolt, setting him up to break the record in Saturday’s Classic first round. “It was pretty much business as usual for me,” said the state’s No. 5-ranked 130-pound prep wrestler. “I just try and stay focused.
“By the way, those old singlets were still in pretty good shape.”
Three more wins for the Classic 130-pound weight class title Saturday pushed the wiry 5’7” senior’s career tally to 134-22, including this year’s unbeaten streak, 27-0 and counting heading into Saturday’s Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference meet at East Central.
Clark, 18, a two-time state finalist, as well as double sectional and regional champion, will be gunning for his fourth-straight conference title in that one.
The second son of Mike and Debbie Clark of Aurora (older brother Drew also was an SD grappler and sister Danielle, 10, is a fourth-grader at Aurora Elementary), Tyler clearly has the bloodlines. His dad, a member of SD’s second graduating class, was a football linebacker who wrestled between 162-185 pounds for then-coach John Johnson. Mom Debbie (Havlin) played volleyball and tennis at South Dearborn.
“We always tease Tyler that he had to get tough to keep Drew from beating up on him,” Mike Clark says. “Drew actually taught him a lot about wrestling to start.”
Tyler Clark draws universal praise from coaches, both his own and opponents’, and athletes.
“He’s a quality kid, a smart kid, who’s been in our program since kindergarten,” says longtime Knights head coach George Gardner. “He’s  definitely paid his dues. He’s always done the extra stuff. He works out hard and goes to wrestling camps. He’s never had trouble making weight. He might go up to 131 or 132 pounds during the week. But when Saturday rolls around, he’s always right back at 130.”
Assistant coach Brad Fentress almost echoes Gardner’s profile. “Tyler is definitely a hard worker. He’s a good student (3.7 grade point average, ranked in the top 30 of his senior class of 228), which also helps make him a student of the game. All the moves and techniques he uses have come quickly to him. His combination of athleticism and intelligence have gotten him where he is.”
A South Dearborn starter on the mat since day one of his freshman year, Clark went 34-10 that first season, finishing second at sectional and third at regional to reach the semistate tournament.
As a sophomore, Clark posted a 37-7 mark, sweeping to EIAC, sectional, regional and semistate titles for his first state finals berth.
Last season, Clark went 36-5, winning at conference and the first two levels of the state tournament again. But a semistate runner-up finish led to a first-round state finals ouster against eventual Indiana champion Jason Tsirtsis, a formidable Crown Point freshman.
“He’s got some things to accomplish in the next 4-5 weeks,” said Gardner of Clark’s looming postseason. “We haven’t had anyone place at state here since Mikey Lane (eighth), in 1997. We’re all hoping this is Tyler’s year.”
Asked to compare Clark with former SD record holder Bolt, now an Indianapolis real estate agent who pursued mixed martial arts, Gardner was reluctant. “Bolt was lightning quick, with a lot of natural ability. But Tyler probably has had a lot more mat time over the years.”