The Mount Vernon wrestling team bounced back from its season-opening loss to Galion with a five-team sweep to capture the championship at the River Valley duals on Saturday, Dec. 19, in Caledonia.
The Yellow Jackets came back from a 35-0 deficit to knock off the host Vikings 47-35 in the third round to highlight their day. The win came after victories over Marysville (51-18) and Bidwell River Valley (54-22). Mount Vernon closed the day with wins over Bishop Hartley (69-16) and Bishop Watterson (61-23).
Brock Blankenship (106 pounds), Emma Rinehart (111), Colton Spurgeon (120), Conner Lang (132), Gabe Shannon (138) and Gabe Harmon (220) all went undefeated in five matches to lead the Jackets.
Nate Stradley (285), who dropped his first two matches of the year, bounced back with four straight wins at River Valley.
SWIMMING
Mount Vernon picked up three victories at the five-team Tri-Valley duals on Saturday, Dec. 19, at the Muskingum County Family YMCA in Zanesville.
The Yellow Jackets, who went 3-1 on the day in combined team scores, picked up wins over East Knox (118-2), Cambridge (83-72) and New Concord John Glenn (100-41). They fell to host Dresden Tri-Valley (122-51).
Skylar Hill won the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 1:02.13 and was part of the 200-yard freestyle relay team with Bre McCluskey, Rylee Jarosz and Anna Rhodeback that finished first with a time of 1:55.36.
That foursome also finished second (4:34.92) in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
The relay team of Julie King, Liz Cline, Bekah Lebold and Jordan Schisler finished second in the 200-yard medley.
Cline (2:31.41) was second in the 200-yard freestyle; Hill (2:37.11), who was second in the 200-yard IM; McCluskey (1:14.01) in the 100-yard butterfly and Jarosz (1:21.45) in the 100-yard breaststroke.
Steve Brazeal (2:33.7) finished second in the 200-yard freestyle to highlight the boys team.
Hiba Ezzarovali competed twice for East Knox, placing 12th in the 100-yard freestyle (1:29.13) and 20th in the 50-yard freestyle (38.48).
GIRLS BOWLING
Mount Vernon got a series-best 363 out of Jace Kyle and held off visiting Highland in the Baker round to eke out a 1,792-1,790 win in non-league play on Monday, Dec. 21, at Colonial City Lanes in Mount Vernon.
Camryn Taylor rolled a 354 series for the Scots, who beat the Yellow Jackets 305-252 in the Baker round.
Muskingum University Invitational
Utica’s Jordan Lacy rolled a 438 three-game series to finish ninth out of 69 bowlers at the Muskingum Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 19, at Park Lanes in Heath.
Utica finished 10th out of 12 teams with a team score of 2,356, behind winner and LCL rival Heath (2,854).
Centerburg (2,108) finished 12th, led by Isabell Moreland with a 358.
Mount Vernon 1,869, Mansfield St. Peters 1,168
Jace Kyle rolled a game-high 204 to lead Mount Vernon to a 1,869-1,168 win over St. Peters in non-league play on Saturday, Dec. 19, at Colonial Lanes in Mount Vernon.
Kyle finished with a series-high 389, Izzy Moore backed her with a 335 and Chelsea King was also solid with a 318.
BOYS BOWLING
Centerburg’s Brock Hurtt rolled a three-game series of 544 to finish fifth out of 71 bowlers at the Muskingum University Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 19, at Park Lanes in Heath.
The Trojans finished eighth out of 13 teams with a score of 2,940, behind champion Heath (3,647).
Will Dunn rolled a 422 series to lead Utica (1,797), which finished 13th.
Mount Vernon 2,237, Highland 2,016
David Ballinger rolled a game-high 226 and a series-high 413 to lead Mount Vernon to a 2,237-2,016 win over Highland in non-league play on Monday, Dec. 21, at Colonial Lanes in Mount Vernon.
Trevor Ball also topped 200 with a 206 and finished with a 397 series for the Yellow Jackets.
Tyler Disbennett led the Scots with a 408 series, rolling a team-best 216 game along the way.
Mount Vernon 2,149, St. Peters 1,272
Tre Flowers rolled a game-high 231 and a series-high 404 to lead Mount Vernon to a 2,149-1,272 win over St. Peters in non-league play on Saturday, Dec. 19, at Colonial Lanes in Mount Vernon.
Trevor Ball backed Flowers with a 380 series for the Yellow Jackets.
