MOUNT VERNON – An individual berth in the annual OHSAA state wrestling tournament is a tough climb for a prep athlete.
Mount Vernon’s Colton Spurgeon (42-7 last season) expected to face Peyton Fenton (34-5) of Elyria in the Division I state tournament on March 13 at Columbus’ Schottenstein Center in front of thousands of spectators. But it wasn’t to be.
The two sophomores, along with all other state qualifiers, had their hopes of standing on the state podium dashed when the tournament was shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it was canceled for public safety, one could understand any disappointment. Spurgeon, however, turned his focus toward this season.
“You can’t really do much about it,” Spurgeon said. “I feel bad for the seniors last year. It could have been their only time making the state. I have two more years to go back at it and get on the podium, but they don't have that.”
Centerburg’s Donnell Marshall (32-3 last season) was set to take on Oak Harbor’s Matthew Dewitz in Division III.
“It was the day before and I was really excited to go, actually,” Marshall said. “I had cut weight and everything. Then the news came. I was prepared for it, but I really didn't think it was going to happen. When I found out, I was hoping they would reschedule it to sometime in the summer.”
There was no rescheduling, however. Like Spurgeon and others, Marshall focused on the road ahead. That meant his senior year in football and another shot at a state berth in wrestling.
Marshall, battling an injured shoulder, couldn’t participate in Centerburg’s tri-match in Newark on Saturday, Dec. 12.
On Friday, Dec.11, the Yellow Jackets, coming off a team COVID-19 quarantine, lost to visiting Galion, 48-30. Spurgeon won his 120-pound bout, pinning Kiddren Clark.
The Utica trio of Wesley Wydick (106), Clayton Smith (113) and Brock Wygle (120) are also back after gaining a state berth in Division III last season.
In the very tough Barnesville Doan Ford Invitational on Dec.12, Wygle placed fourth at 126 pounds and Wydick (113) placed sixth. Clayton Smith didn’t wrestle because of an elbow injury.
“I’m just glad we got that tournament in, with all that good competition, because you don’t know how the rest of the season is going to go,” Wygle said. “Getting canceled (at state) happened last year, but I’m not going to let it affect me. Yeah, it sucked, but I have to put the work back into it if I expect to go back.”
Not everyone in the area is back, however. Highland’s Christian Miller qualified in Division II before graduating in the spring. It was Miller’s first time qualifying for the state meet.
