Coach on the verge of retirement wins title

The Girls’ State Basketball Tournament wrapped up on Saturday with a long-time coach winning his first title. Top ranked Waukon won the 3A championship with a 71-46 win over Charles City and handed Gene Klinge his first state title in his 42nd year of coaching. It was his first season at Waukon after coaching for 41 years at West Central of Maynard. He says the girls bought into what he was trying to do, and he says they’re a good group of kids who never doubted what the coaches were trying to do.Klinge was contemplating retirement before deciding to take over at Waukon. He says he still enjoys coaching, and this ended up be in a perfect fit. He says he never dreamt this would happen.