PICKERINGTON — The Mount Vernon High School wrestling team’s comeback surge fell just a little short on Thursday night as it lost to Pickerington Central, 36-34, in Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division action.
The Jackets (3-1 OCC) came out flat, getting behind with a few early losses. Starting out at 160 pounds, Mount Vernon’s Matt Smith, got caught off guard and pinned. Smith was followed by teammate Devin Allnut (171 pounds), who didn’t fare much better, losing a decision. Forfeiting at 189 pounds put the Jackets in a 15-0 hole immediately.
“As opposed to what we did against Westerville South last week, we had a lot of trouble getting started,” Mount Vernon coach John Brown said. “I think that we walked in kind of complacent and we expected people to lay down for us, and that didn’t happen. We had a terrible week of practice and it showed on the mats.”
The Jackets found themselves down 18-0 after Dane Cullen (215 pounds) lost his match by a decision. Heavyweight Ian Mizer looked like he would break the ice for Mount Vernon. After two strong rounds, however, he was turned and pinned in the third. That left Mount Vernon trailing 24-0.
“We lost some very winnable matches up top,” said Brown. “Ian stepped it up and wrestled a good match for two periods.”
Dylan Pauley (103) got Mount Vernon on the board with a decision and Matt Belcher (112) won in overtime to get the Jackets back in the match, but still trailing 24-9. Mason Smith (119) and Charlie Hill (125) each got falls and, suddenly, Mount Vernon only trailed by three, 24-21.
Brent Kramp (130) was leading in his match 13-4, but got turned and pinned. That didn’t stop the Jackets, however.
“Brent got caught in a scramble,” said Brown. “He got caught with the kid around his head and back after we were dominating the kid.”
Down 30-21, Mount Vernon got another lift from 135-pounder David Cullen, whose major decision got his team back to within 30-25. Corey Sheller (140) added a decision for the Jackets and Jordan Montgomery (145) followed with a fall. Incredibly, Montgomery’s win put Mount Vernon on top for the first time all evening, 34-30, with only one match left to decide.
Wrestling, however, is a team sport and the early losses had taken their toll. Mount Vernon freshman Nate Frye (152) was matched up against a senior, who pinned him.
“It was a shame that he was in that situation,” said Brown. “We had no choice but to throw him to the wolves. He was put in that situation by our early losses, and he had to carry the team on his shoulders. If we did a better job up top, he would not have been put in that situation. We just couldn’t catch a break earlier and it just killed us. When we did catch a break, we would end up getting caught on our back.”
Brown sees this loss as a wake up call for the whole team at a key point in the season.
“We need to realize that, with sectionals just around the bend, we have got to pick it up, or our season is not going to be what we wanted it to be. Maybe this is the loss that we need to get under our skin and get our butts moving in the next couple of weeks,” said Brown.
The Jackets host their final OCC match of the season on Thursday against Olentangy. They will be wrestling for a piece of the OCC title, and it will be Senior Night. Wrestling begins at 6:15 p.m. at Pleasant Street Elementary School.