HILLIARD – Erich Rhodeback etched his name in Mount Vernon lore by becoming the third state champion in school history at the OHSAA Division I state track and field championship on Saturday, June 5, at Hilliard Darby.
Rhodeback took home the title in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 37.95, beating out Beechcroft’s Jayden Douglas (38.24).
“I didn’t know it was going to happen at the beginning of the year and I’m really excited,” Rhodeback said. “We worked really hard this last week on getting that first hurdle down to right around 5.05. All the work we put in on that … I’m really excited for me and I’m excited for our coaching staff.”
It’s the second state title in as many seasons after Sam Bethea won the 110-hurdles, becoming the first Yellow Jacket state champion in 20 years. The only other to reach such a status was Brett Coffing, who won the high jump in 1999.
“(Rhodeback has) always had the physical ability,” Mount Vernon coach Kathy Thayer said. “It’s the mentally being tough and believing in yourself. And that was part of our training this year, was having confidence.”
Add Cory Berg’s win in the high jump at the 2020 state indoor meet and something special is being built at Mount Vernon.
Rhodeback’s 18 points helped the Jackets finish tied for eighth with Pickerington Central and Brunswick out of 84 scoring teams, behind champion Pickerington North (43).
“It feels great that everybody is on the same page,” Thayer said. “If you can establish a program that has that family atmosphere where everybody supports each other and everybody is working toward the same goal … it’s hopefully setting us up for success in the future.”
Rhodeback knew he had a chance to take home state gold early in the season. His times were at the top of the state.
“The third meet when I ran the low 38 time, it really put me out far from everyone in the state,” he said. “That’s when I realized that I really had a shot at this.”
Thayer knew long before.
“Ever since he was a freshman, he stood out,” she said. “It was just working on his endurance and his speed to put together a good race. Then it was just, ‘OK, let’s time how fast it would take to get to the first hurdle. What’s the first phase of your 300-hurdle look like? Second phase? Third phase?’ It was just training him to constantly improve.”
Rhodeback took home the silver medal in the 110-hurdles (14.39) behind Dublin Jerome’s Silas Kayuha. It was a disappointing result because Rhodeback beat out Pickerington North’s Zemen Siyoum (14.46), whom he had been chasing this postseason.
“I’m really excited I got second, but it was not a great time by any means,” Rhodeback said. “I’m really happy for Silas, but it’s disappointing because me and (Zemen) had both beat him at districts and regionals.”
Rhodeback hasn’t decided about his future yet. A recruiter from the University of Akron approached him in the tent after his meet was over.
“If I decide to go ... I have a few colleges that I’m supposed to talk to here today,” Rhodeback said. “I’ll just see what ends up being my best offer. I just have to see if they have the major I want (agriculture business) and go from there.”
Rhodeback’s medals weren’t the only awards Mount Vernon took home at state. Bryce Wiles, who competed in the 200-meter dash, earned an Academic All-Ohio certificate.
Wiles was eliminated in preliminaries, finishing 13th with a time of 22.35.
“Bryce had a great meet,” Thayer said. “For him, everything is new. He’s coming in without that experience that other athletes have. For him to come in and excel and do that well … it’s amazing.”
