The Mount Vernon wrestling team went 6-6 last year, and coach Nate Cornell is counting on his seniors, who have been in the program for four years, to achieve the team goal – postseason tournament success.
“Everything we do is for our end-of-season goals," Cornell said. "Everything from early-season previews and scrimmages up through the OCC tournament is just practice and preparation for the postseason, when our season really begins during the state series (sectionals, districts, state).”
Cornell is in his 13th year coaching – eight years as an assistant, five as a head coach. It's his fourth at the helm at Mount Vernon.
“This senior class is the first class I came in with, so this is a special year,” he said.
Cornell is confident for the season as the squad returns 14 lettermen.
“We return a strong group," Cornell said, noting the team lost just one graduating senior. "We return a very experienced and battle-tested group. On top of all the returners, we have an impressive incoming freshman class. The freshmen were part of an undefeated season last year that saw them win every match and tournament during the regular season. Then a state championship in the OAC middle school duals.
"Jake Taylor, the leader of this freshman class, will be our varsity 150-pounder. He was also an OAC state placer and OHWAY state champion last year as an eighth-grader.”
Cornell’s team strategy is to work with his student-athletes “to become a confident, physical, and aggressive team that wrestles with an edge, always looking to attack first, compete in big matches, and score points. That attack first/points-scoring style is exciting for the wrestlers in practice and competition, and for the fans watching.”
From weight class 106 through weight class 175, his team competes in the room at practice and for varsity spots.
“After 175, we are light until 285 because some football players decided to not come out this year.," Cornell said. "At 285, to round out our lineup, we return four-year letter winner/starter and returning state alternate Nate Stradley. Our bookends at 106 with Brock Blankenhorn and 285 with Stradley are strong. It is always nice starting and finishing with those two guys.”
Cornell is counting on several returning lettermen to lead the Jackets this year.
“The three returning state qualifiers, Colton Spurgeon, Nate Stradley, and Emma Rinehart (Mount Vernon’s first female state wrestling qualifier) will lead by example in the room after performing so well last year when it counts," Cornelnl said. "Conner Lang and Gabe Shannon are two seniors who have worked their butts off for four years and were close last year winning matches at the Districts. Gabe Shannon is a three-time district qualifier and was a match away from placing and two away from qualifying, so he is someone ready to take the next step.
"Senior Dylan Hartman is in the right weight class this year as a senior, is very talented and will be a dark horse this season. Brock Blankenhorn and Kyler Howard had busy off seasons and will see the fruits of their labor from working so hard outside of wrestling season.
"Finally, Rylan Firebaugh, who is a returning District qualifier, one of the most talented wrestlers on the team and one of the best athletes in the entire school, is back and fully healthy ready to make a run after his last two seasons have been cut short due to injury.”
For Cornell and the Yellow Jackets team, “the expectation, year in and year out, is to work to improve every week as individuals and a team in hopes of putting together a strong run from the sectional through the state meet. The focus is to keep the big picture end-of-the-year goals of wrestling our best and peaking at the right time during the postseason. We want to end the season with 30-plus confident, aggressive, 'pushing the pace' wrestlers from the freshman class through the seniors.”
Cornell points to the Sectional wrestling tournament on Reb. 26, 2022, followed by the District tournament a week later, and the state tournament March 11-13.
Cornell wants to “pack the stands and add to our electric home mat advantage that is tradition at Pleasant Street under the light.”
One match to consider taking in is MVHS’ inaugural John Brown Memorial Tournament, Dec. 4, to honor former Jackets coach Brown, the man who built the program into what it is today. The event will feature an 18-team field with some of the best teams and wrestlers in Central Ohio.
The Mount Vernon wrestling season starts Dec. 2 with a home dual meet vs. Davidson at 6 p.m.
