MILLERSBURG – The Mount Vernon wrestling team put in a solid performance in their post-season dress rehearsal in the Ohio Cardinal Conference tournament at West Holmes High School on Saturday, Feb. 13.
The Yellow Jackets placed fourth as a team with 133 points — behind Ashland (351.5 points), West Holmes (256) and Mansfield Madison (137); and ahead of Wooster (104.5 points), Mansfield Senior (71.5) and Lexington (21).
The Jackets were led by seven placers, including Colton Spurgeon atop the 120-pound class, who overcame a tough challenge from runner-up Case George of Ashland in the process. George was the defending OCC champion and a two-time state qualifier. Spurgeon has defeated George twice this season.
“It was a pretty quality tournament,” Spurgeon said. “West Holmes, Ashland and Mansfield are pretty good teams, but I think we held our own against them. Case George was having some health issues when I faced him earlier this season. I definitely wanted to get a shot at him when he was ready, and I got the job done.”
Nate Stradley (285) and Dylan Hartman (113) both finished the day in second place for Mount Vernon. Gabe Harmon (220) and Connor Lang (132) were third, and Brock Blankenhorn (106) was fourth for the Jackets.
“We sat eight guys because we have the sectional coming up,” Mount Vernon coach Nate Cornell said. “Some of our guys are banged up. We sat Gabe Shannon, who would have placed high and that hurt us team-points-wise. Rylan Firebaugh (126) is also having some injury issues. He went out there and wrestled one match (placing third for the day). He looked good, but he was moving gingerly, and so after that match I pulled him from the tournament.”
Despite the injury, Firebaugh pinned Wooster’s Dylan Hudson in his only match. That win was good enough to get him a third-place finish.
The Jackets continue to get better as the season goes on. After a loss to Newark earlier in the season, they have really picked up the tempo, especially in practice.
“I think we did pretty well as a team,” Stradley said. ”We have a few things to tweak before sectionals, but the team looks great right now. I think it’s the energy in the room. In the beginning of the season, we were going 75 to 90%. Now we’re going past 100%. Whenever Coach (Cornell) wants us to go harder, we’re always down for it.”
Ashland senior Jake Bever, the eventual winner at 285, gave Stradley the most trouble.
“I’ve been wrestling him for about three years,” Stradley said. “He’s pretty good. He’s a pretty strong dude. He definitely has more technique down than I do.”
Now, Spurgeon and the rest of the Jackets are focused on this weekend’s sectionals.
“I’m going out there to win it,” Spurgeon said. “There’s nothing else to really do. Keep the pace high and see what I can get done out there. My conditioning is better. If you’re in good shape, you can score points throughout the match.”
Spurgeon was Mount Vernon’s only state qualifier last season but did not get to compete because the state tournament was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
