The Mount Vernon News sports department’s 20th ATHLETE OF THE WEEK nominations continue the established procedure of spotlighting student-athletes’ skills and performances on the fields and courts of action.
Based on performances, we ask ADs, coaches and the community to nominate one boy and one girl from their athletic programs to compete against other schools’ nominations. We ask for a recap of their worthy performances and a picture. Please send your nominations to me, Mike Blake, MVN Sports Editor, at mike.blake@mountvernonnews.com. Make sure YOUR school is represented.
This week, a girls basketball team player stepped up when others around her were ill and the team was up against it. On the boys’ side, a wrestler performed in golden fashion.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
The Cardington-Lincoln girls basketball team was continuing its storybook season. It was undefeated and hadn’t lost a regular season game for 51 straight contests and had a 65-game unbeaten streak in KMAC play. Then COVID-19 and flu hit. With team leaders down and subpar, the Lady Pirates lost to River Valley. During the game, 5-foot-3-inch senior Mikayla Linkous tried to rally her team. Midway through the first half, she was in the locker room throwing up. She came out in the second half and still hit five points in the fourth, but the effort was in vain and C-L LOST.
Following a health-related cancellation, the Lady Pirates next took to the court at Fredericktown. Still short-handed and under-the-weather, Cardington-Lincoln fell behind by eight points at the quarter. They gained a 1-point lead at half-time, and then Linkous took the game over with an 11-point barrage – and three 3-pointers – in the third. She added an additional five points down the stretch to seal the 40-37 win and get the Lady Pirates back on track and remain undefeated in KMAC play to win at least a share of the league crown. She finished with 19 points, five of 11 from 3-point range, four rebounds, four steals and an assist.
Cardington-Lincoln coach Jamie Edwards said, “Mikayla stepped up for us in a crucial point in our season. We have been battling through COVID-19 and missed practices trying to keep the unit healthy. Mikayla surely didn’t have to shake off any rust as she went 5-for-11 from the 3-point line, helping us secure our eighth KMAC League title in a row. She was always in the right place, at the right time. ... Every time we needed a big bucket, she knocked down a three. She seemed to have ice in her veins that night."
MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Three Mount Vernon wrestlers struck gold at last weekend’s Ron Thomas Senior Invitational at Jonathan Alder High School in Plain City, Ohio, and finished second among 21 teams. The Jackets were edged out of first by Licking Valley, 170-169, but got inspired gold performances from their wrestlers. One Yellow Jacket gold medalist was Dylan Hartman, at 113 pounds.
Hartman improved his season record to 19-5 and scored 25.5 points for Mount Vernon. In his weight class, he received a bye in the first elimination round, then went to work. In the quarterfinal, he won by fall over Preston Spridgeon (Kenton Ridge) at 2:49. In the semifinal, Hartman won by a tech fall over Wyatt Fowler (Grove City) at 6:00. In the first-place match against Licking Valley’s AJ Kimble, who entered that match with a 20-3 season record, Hartman prevailed by a 2-1 decision to earn the gold medal.
Mount Vernon wrestling coach Nate Cornell said, “In the last few weeks, Dylan has defeated a number of state-ranked wrestlers. This past week, he knocked off and controlled Korbyn Jones of Ashland (ranked No. 16 in D2) in our home dual vs. Ashland, by a score of 7-1. He followed up by beating a returning state qualifier, AJ Kimble (ranked No.15 in D2), in the finals of the Jonathan Alder tournament to be crowned champion of the event. Dylan’s mental focus and physical output this season have been outstanding. He is hungry in his senior season and is really performing well in the practice room, which then carries over to the competition mat."
Congratulations on a great week by our ATHLETES of the WEEK, Mikayla Linkous and Dylan Hartman, and congratulations to all local athletes for solid efforts.
To all local schools: Send us your athlete nominations for next week and show them and the community how much they mean to their schools.
