'Best friends' move towards history for Mount Vernon in Class 2A

DES MOINES – The deeper into the state tournament the wrestlers at Wells Fargo Arena go, the deeper the emotional connection to the outcome becomes. With the stakes ratcheted up, tears tend to flow no matter the result, whether from joy or sorrow. The troop from Mount Vernon got to experience a joy on Friday that the Mustang program hasn't felt in 10 years. Both Trey Ryan (170 pounds) and Josh Cannon (220) – best friends off the mat – advanced to the state finals, a feat that hasn't been accomplished by two Mustang wrestlers at the state tournament since 2004. 'It feels good to have kids attain their goals (though) they're not done yet – they have another match tomorrow night,' said Mount Vernon Coach Vance Light, who was so excited after Ryan's win, he nearly cleared the scorer's table jumping in celebration. 'Our two guys who were champions together last time were pretty good friends, too. Champions come in pairs, I guess.' The previous two Mount Vernon wrestlers to be finalists in the same year were Jacob Craig (171 pounds) and Matt Kroul (heavyweight), who both took state championships. Light looked back fondly at the similarities between his two finalists then and his two finalists now. They weren't lost on his wrestlers, either. Cannon said this was a dream the two seniors have wished for for a long time. 'This is very special,' Cannon said. 'Me and Trey have been best friends since we were six years old. It's always been our goal to be in the state finals together.' Getting this all accomplished didn't exactly come easy, though. Ryan had to go through No. 1 Adam Drain of Mediapolis, who beat Ryan, 5-0, earlier this season, was champion at 170 pounds last year and is being recruited by Northern Iowa. The senior, who lost a state title in the final seconds last year at 160 pounds, went up 4-2 in the third when Drain gave him an intentional escape in search of points, then stayed on offense, earning the clinching takedown with two seconds left for a final decision of 6-2. Ryan explained his risky strategy after the match, essentially saying the best defense is a good offense. 'If he takes a shot, he can score,' Ryan said. 'If I'm shooting, I'm scoring and he can't. 'It means a ton. Another chance at a title is great. I'm excited for it. I can't wait.' As for Cannon, he had to go all the way to an ultimate tiebreaker with Atlantic's Tyler Christensen. The two went back and forth throughout the match, and traded points after a scoreless sudden-victory period. Cannon, who got to start in the down position because he scored the first point of the match, got the clinching point on an escape and with it the 9-8 victory. 'I knew I was going to start down because I scored the first point, so I (told myself), 'OK, I've gotten out twice, so all I have to do is get out again,'' Cannon said. ''Calm down, calm down, you've got this. You have 30 seconds.'' It just feels amazing. I just love that I get to use the skills God gave me.' They both may only be one match away from their dream, but it's a pretty high mountain to climb – as Ryan can attest. Ryan will face Tyler Lutes of BCLUW, and Cannon will face Wamac Conference rival Lance Evans, who is No. 1 and undefeated at 220. Light said he was glad Ryan has another shot at a title this year, and hopes he can use that experience of such a close loss to drive him this year. And between the inspiration among friends and matches of the past, Light hopes his seniors have another magical moment on the biggest stage in high school wrestling. 'Hopefully they've got six more minutes of high school glory in Iowa high school wrestling out there (Saturday night),' Light said. 'We've got to go back (to the hotel tonight) and do what we've been doing – joke around a little bit. Then when we get here (Saturday), they'll know it's business time.'