Mount Vernon News

MOUNT VERNON — As the Mount Vernon High School wrestling team prepares for the 2006-07 season, it would be easy to count it down and out even before it hits the mat. The loss of four-time state qualifier and two-time state runner-up Travis Popham (graduation), in addition to state runner-up Jedd Moore (transfer) and state qualifiers Cody Quick (graduation) and Trever Davis (transfer), leaves the Yellow Jackets searching for a new identity.

Mount Vernon coach John Brown knows he has some holes to fill, and he is looking for it all to start with three-time state qualifier and state runner-up at 125 pounds Michael Lybarger.

“I see this as one of those years that everyone calls a rebuilding year or reloading year,” said Brown. “We have some nice, young kids in the program that are really going to step up this year. They are going to have to derive a lot of leadership from Michael Lybarger, who is a senior this year and a returning state qualifier. It will be a lot like it was with Travis last year. We’re going to ride that leadership and mix in the younger kids.

“We also have a lot of wrestlers back out that weren’t out last year. J.J. Maglott was undefeated as a freshman and he is back out. Trevor Boyd is back out this year and he also won as a freshman. I think we’ve got some hidden talent overall.”

Two other Jackets that proved themselves as freshmen last season are Charlie Hill and Mason Smith. Both will be counted on to perform at a high level this season.

“Mason Smith is back and he was a district qualifier,” said Brown. “Charlie Hill, who was a district alternate, is back and we are going to have those two separated weight wise. ... I think we will surprise some people. A lot of people dropped us from the radar because of the people we lost, but by the end of the year, I think we are going to be back in the mix and surprise a lot of people.”

The Jackets must replace a large, proven senior class. Each and every member provided a solid base for the younger Jackets last season.

“It is going to be real tough to replace them,” Brown said. “That senior class was real solid. Anytime you have seniors at 152, 160, 171, 189 and at heavyweight, that’s boom, boom, boom right in a row and it is really hard to replace. It is going to take its toll, but the plan is for us to bring the younger kids along and hopefully, by February, we’ll be ready.”

Brown prefers to refer to the losses of Moore and Davis as addition by subtraction. While he would have loved to have them on his team this season, the turnout of wrestlers in their absence has him looking up.

“I think it might have actually opened the doors for some of these guys to come back out,” Brown said. “A lot of these kids that came up through the program, but didn’t see the openings and didn’t come back out, are back now. The loss of [Moore and Davis], I think, is more of an opportunity for other guys to step in. You hate to lose guys of that caliber, but two people don’t make a team. I think we’ve got other guys who are ready to step up.”

The undisputed leader for Mount Vernon, Lybarger is gunning for his first state title this season. After finishing second as a junior, he has worked hard to get himself atop the podium.

“A large part of Michael’s focus is getting that first state title for Mount Vernon. It hasn’t happened yet,” said Brown. “I hope we are able to keep the pressure off of him. He handles things in a different manner than most — he stays real cool, confident. Those are keys that are going to help him down the road. I want to make sure that, through the course of the year, he doesn’t feel like he has to carry the team. He needs to learn to be a good leader and let those who follow, follow. I’ve already told him he is going to be leading by example.”

The loss of Davis will be felt the most by Lybarger. The pair have been wrestling partners for several years and helped get each other to where they are.

“I think it hurts,” said Brown. “Straight up from youth wrestling, they have been together. They have made each other better. One would elevate the other and vise versa, but at this point, I think it is a good thing for Michael. He and Trevor had been together so long, they knew each other’s tendencies. It is kind of nice to be forced to make a change. We’ve got some other good people on the team that will give different looks for him and may help him make that last step up to the top.”

With a young, unproven team, Brown isn’t exactly sure what to expect this season. He knows, though, that he will get the best effort his team can give.

“We are looking at a lot of things and seeing where the kids are going to fall,” said Brown. “When the smoke clears, I think we are going to be pretty solid. The big key is how well we can bring the young kids along. We have a pretty rugged schedule so we can’t let them get down on themselves. They have to understand that the sectional tournament is probably one of the easier tournaments we go to. ... We hope the preparation pays off.”

The Jackets begin the season on Saturday, playing host to the Wazie Invitational. Originally cancelled after last season, the Wazie was reborn and anchors the Jackets’ schedule. It will be the start of a busy season, which includes a conference change to the Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division.

“We are going to step right in with our tournament on (Saturday), and it is a hard tournament to open up with. We’ve got Toledo Waite coming, Mason is coming from Cincinnati and Hilliard Darby is one of the top teams in Central Ohio. We are drawing teams with a lot of talent from all over the state. It is going to be a nice opening weekend. Then we head off to Cincinnati, which has 32 teams. Then we head to Brecksville, which is one of the better tournaments in the state. Our dual meet schedule is very rugged. In addition to our conference, we have Reynoldsburg, who is ranked in the state and the No. 1 team in the Central District. We also have Marysville as a dual even though we are not in the same conference, and Olentangy is going to be one of the top teams in the area. The schedule is still real rugged.

“We will have to see what develops. Our conference is going to change again in two years. Olentangy is obviously going to be the favorite. They had a talented, young team last year and they didn’t lose much. Westerville South should be good, Worthington Kilbourne always had some nice wrestlers and Dublin Jerome is new to the conference. Pickerington Central has been very tough in the past so it should be very competitive.”

Wrestling begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday at Mount Vernon High School.