Last week we recapped some of the great performances by local school programs and their student-athletes in 2022, and this week we wrap up our review of last year with cross-country and wrestling.
Boys Cross-Country
At the 2022 Boys KMAC cross-country championship, Mount Gilead won, with Fredericktown placing second and Northmor third.
The KMAC Runner of the Year was Will Baker of Mount Gilead, and his coach, Jake Hayes, was named Coach of the Year.
Regional qualifiers were Mount Gilead (district champions), Fredericktown and Northmor (district champions).
Baker was district champion and Aidan Reitmire (Cardington-Lincoln) was a regional qualifier.
In MOAC competition, Highland placed second to Shelby, and Joel Roberts was Highland’s top finisher in the championships, finishing sixth.
In the OCC, Mount Vernon placed fourth to winner Lexington, and the top Jackets finisher was Matt Salvucci in fifth place.
Girls Cross-Country
Girls KMAC Cross Country Awards went to Fredericktown’s Elsa Hoam for Runner of the Year and her coach, Bob Geiger, as Coach of the Year.
Fredericktown was KMAC league champion and regional qualifiers were Mount Gilead, Fredericktown and Northmor.
Elsa Hoam was district champion and individual regional qualifiers were Payton Tucker of Centerburg, Taylor Severt and Adrian Clutter of East Knox, and Loey Hallabrin and Magi Hallabrin of Cardington-Lincoln.
In MOAC competition, Highland placed second to Shelby, and Lauren Gaber was Highland’s top finisher in the championships, finishing sixth.
In OCC competition, Sophie Zoldak was the top Mount Vernon performer with a fifth-place finish in leading the Lady Jackets to second place.
Wrestling
The winter season is underway with several wins in 2022 by local wrestlers, with the season continuing into 2023.
Among the crowns won so far this season, Mount Vernon’s Mason Mitchell won at 150 pounds at the Paul Hackett Classic at Hamilton Township High School in Columbus.
Northmor’s Cowin Becker won at 126 pounds at Big Walnut High School in Sunbury, Ohio, and Olentangy Berlin won with 268 points and the Golden Knights earned 124.5 points.
At the Marion Harding Classic wrestling invitational on Dec. 28-29, Highland’s Cael Gilmore won at 138 pounds and Caylan LeMaster of Centerburg finished second at 157 pounds.
At the Tom Ellis Classic Invitational, Caleb Wetzel, Cael Gilmore and Rem Baker each won their weight divisions for Highland, and at the second annual John Brown Memorial, Mavrick Gregory won for Mount Vernon and Blake Elliott won for East Knox.
Among stat leaders so far this season are Fredericktown's Lucas Herbst at 14-5 with 14 pins and teammate Mason Hoeflich at 14-4 with 11 pins.
Last season, Northmor’s Niko Christo was selected as KMAC Wrestler of the Year, and Centerburg’s Caylan LeMaster was Co-Wrestler of the KMAC Tournament with Elgin’s James Crabtree.
Notable events included Emma Rinehart, Mount Vernon High School’s only female wrestler, placing third in the 115-pound weight class at the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association (OHSWCA) Girls State Wrestling Tournament.
