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.
Track exploits overtook baseball and softball production, as two Yellow Jackets won double gold to lead Mount Vernon to team wins in their own meet. Our Athletes of the Week are Sarah Phillips (Mount Vernon track) and Jack Craigo (Mount Vernon track).
Female Athlete of the Week
Sarah Phillips
Sweeping her sprint events at the Jackets Invite, Lady Jacket Sarah Phillips won back-to-back sprint championships. In the 100-meter dash, Phillips blazed a time of 13.01 to win the race by 0.14. Then she stretched out to win the 200 in 26.21, for a winning margin of 1.13 seconds. In winning Athlete of the Week recognition, Phillips edged out her double gold-winning teammate (see below) by placing first in all four of her heats while setting new personal marks.
Mount Vernon track coach Kathy Thayer said she couldn’t be happier that Sarah is receiving the recognition. “Sarah has put in so much work in the offseason, focusing on building strength and power,” Thayer said. “Her focus and dedication are paying off. Earning four first-place finishes and setting new personal records in her two open events is quite the accomplishment. We can't wait to see how she finishes off her senior season."
Honorable mention goes to Phillips’ teammate, Mount Vernon’s Marissa Rutter, who won the two hurdles events at the Jackets meet. Rutter completed the 100-meter hurdles in 15.86 to win by a 2.39 margin. Rutter finished the hurdle sweep by winning the 300 in 49.79, with a 6.34-second margin of victory.
East Knox’s Taylor Severt won gold in a big way at the meet, taking the 3200-meter run with an expansive amount of daylight over the No. 2 finisher, by a whopping 33.98-second margin, in a time of 12:36.05. And Mount Gilead’s Madilyn Elson had a 1-2-3 day, winning gold in the 200 in 27.24 seconds, to win by 1.61 seconds, while finishing second in the 400 and third in the 100.
Honorable mention also goes to the Northmor softball machine. On May 5 and 6, the Lady Knights scored 47 runs in less than 24 hours, destroying Genoa Christian 25-0, and followed that up with a 22-0 win over Mansfield Christian.
Leading the offense, McKenna VanDyke went 3-for-3 with a homer, triple and three RBIs vs. Genoa. Maddie Simpson was 3-for-3 and four other Lady Knights struck for multiple hits. Against Mansfield, Simpson went 3-for-4 and three other Northmor batters had multiple-hit games.
On the “D” side of the domination, Northmor’s Shelby Cooper tossed a one-hitter, striking out 13 in the win over Genoa Christian, and Kate Kissling pitched a one-hitter with eight strikeouts vs. Mansfield Christian.
Male Athlete of the Week
Jack Craigo
Mount Vernon’s Jack Craigo liked home cooking and he showed it as he won a track event and a field event at the Jackets Invitational Track Meet at Mount Vernon High School. Craigo won the 110-meter hurdles by 0.85 seconds, with a run of 16.49. Then he turned to the field and won the high jump with a leap of 5’6” for his second gold medal in the competition.
Mount Vernon track coach Kathy Thayer said Craigo is a team inspiration and influencer. “Jack continues to have an excellent season,” Thayer said. “His passion and love of the sport is so encouraging for the rest of our team.”
Honorable mention goes to East Knox’s Nathan Streby. He is headed for Ohio State University to run track, and on his way, he dominated the Jackets Invitational 3200-meter run, finishing it in 9:50.21 to win by a Secretariat-like margin of 47.29 seconds.
On the diamond, honorable mention goes to another Yellow Jacket, Konner Daughriety, who knocked in six runs and belted a homerun in MV’s 11-3 win over Newark Catholic.
Grant Bentley is in this feature often and in Northmor’s 6-0 win over Fremont, he showed off his pitching, hitting and base-running skills. On the mound, Bentley pitched a complete-game, three-hit shutout, striking out nine opponents. At the plate, he was 3-for-3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base and a run scored.
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.
