The Mount Vernon News sports department’s MVN ATHLETE of the WEEK is a weekly feature that spotlights local student-athletes and their schools. Based on their performances, we will select an ATHLETE of the WEEK and recognize other outstanding athletic accomplishments.
Local teams are now finished with winter competition, with the exception of wrestling, which heads to the OHSAA state event this weekend. Spring sports are starting, and girls sports was in a lull before the next group of games begin. On the boys side, one wrestler won gold in district competition and our Athlete of the Week is Cowin Becker, Northmor wrestling.
Athlete of the Week
Cowin Becker
Among nearly two dozen local wrestlers who gained berths in the district tournaments that took place last weekend, 17 wrestlers punched their tickets to the state meet, but only one was champion in his weight class. At the Division-III District Tournament at Harrison Central in Cadiz on March 3-4, Northmor’s Cowin Becker was the only Knox County grappler to bring home gold, winning the 120-lb. championship by defeating Trace Williams of North Union by a 4-2 decision. The win brought Becker’s season record to 42-4 and dropped Williams to the same 42-4 mark. On his way to the championship round, Becker defeated Jacob Dailey (11-10) of Meigs by a pin in 0:27, pinned Bellaire’s Gabe Chaplin (24-12) in 1:27, beat Martins Ferry’s Dylan Ward (46-4) by major decision 9-1, then took down Williams in the final.
Becker moves on to this weekend’s OHSAA State Tournament: Division III at the Jerome Schottenstein Center OSU, where he will face Liberty Center’s Drew Mathews (32-16) in the first round.
Northmor Athletic Director Blade Tackett said Becker is an outstanding wrestler and an outstanding individual. “Cowin comes from a well-decorated family and continually lives up to high expectations,” Tackett said. “His oldest brother Conan was a state runner-up as a senior and has wrestled at Kent State since graduation. His other older brother Conner was a state champion and would have most likely been a two-time state champion, but could not wrestle at state in 2020 due to COVID-19. Conner currently wrestles at Duke.”
Tackett places Cowin Becker alongside his medal-winning siblings. “Well, Cowin is just as talented in his family dynasty, as he placed seventh last year at state as a freshman,” Tackett said. “Now, as a sophomore, he is a district champion and looking to do even better at state this time around. His competitiveness and drive are matched off the floor, as well. He is a 4.0 student. His brothers were the same way and that is why I admire his family. Cowin is a 4.0 student because he wouldn't accept anything less. He is also a talented football player and track athlete. He has the ability to motivate himself to be great in every facet of life and that kind of attitude will make him a successful individual in the future.”
To coaches and community members, join us in our award process. Send us your choices for MVN ATHLETE of the WEEK, a recap of their prowess in competition and a photo of them and give them the community recognition they deserve. Encourage your community members and coaches to contact us each week. Send your selections to mike.blake@mountvernonnews.com.
