Mount Vernon High School's wrestling program finished a successful 2022 season, and two of its most decorated student-athletes spring-boarded their high school accomplishments on the mat with college commitment signings at the MVHS Field house on Thursday.
Dylan Hartman committed to move on to Otterbein University in Westerville, and Colton Spurgeon will next wrestle at Ohio Northern University in Ada.
Hartman wrestled at 113 pounds for Mount Vernon and was a state alternate in the Ohio finals. He finished his senior year 37-11, third in the OCC championships, placing first at the Watkins Memorial Sectional and fifth at districts (the top four placers automatically qualify for state). He finished his Yellow Jackets career as a four-time letter winner, sectional champion, state alternate, district place winner, district qualifier and team captain, and he had more than 100 career wins.
At the Watkins Memorial Sectional on Feb. 26, in Pataskala, Hartman took home the gold, winning his 113-pound weight class by a major decision over Bobby Davies (Canal Winchester), 8-0.
Nate Cornell, MVHS wrestling coach, said Hartman was a leader on the team and in school.
“Dylan Hartman is a great kid on and off the mat," Cornell said. “He has very strong academic skills and dedication and has earned multiple academic awards throughout his high school career. On the mat, he is a quiet leader who leads by his actions and efforts. In his senior year, he was very driven in his weight management, practice intensity and mental focus, which led to an impressive senior season which landed him on the district podium and as a state alternate at the Schottenstein Center.”
Spurgeon wrestled at 126 pounds and finished 2022 with a 43-8 record. He placed first at the OCC championships, winning the gold by a fall over Milan Parobek of Ashland (37-5).
At the Ohio High School Athletic Association state wrestling tournament at the Ohio State University Jerome Schottenstein Center on March 11-13, Spurgeon fell short of reaching the podium by one match. Spurgeon ended his Jackets career as a four-time letter winner, four-time district qualifier, three-time state qualifier and one-time state placer, team captain and owner of 162 career wins at Mount Vernon High School, which placed him second all-time. He holds the Yellow Jackets’ 3-point nearfalls season and career records and the MVHS season record with 218 takedowns in his senior season.
“Colton Spurgeon is a tremendous person and wrestler,” said Cornell. “He is ultra-talented on the soccer field and wrestling mat, but where he shines the most is in his leadership. Even as a freshman, it was very apparent that Colton is a natural leader. When he talks, people listen, and whatever he does, people follow. His statistics and achievements are impressive from all of his wins, qualifications and records held, but what will be missed the most about Colton is his leadership within the wrestling program.”
