Fast start propels No. 6 Alburnett to Senior Night boys wrestling dual win over No. 12 Mount Vernon

ALBURNETT – A bright spotlight, walk-up music for each wrestler and large crowd.

The stage was set and Alburnett put on a show.

The Class 2A sixth-ranked Pirates won the first eight matches and strolled to a 51-21 victory over No. 12 Mount Vernon, 51-21, in a non-conference boys wrestling dual for Senior Night on Thursday. Alburnett claimed 10 of 14 bouts with five pins and three technical falls.

“A lot of the reason why we shut the lights off, have a spotlight and do the music is just to give them an experience of what that kind of atmosphere is like, because in my own personal experience, it was a lot of fun,” Alburnett Coach Clayton Rush said. “I like to give it to them.”

The Pirates’ 165-pounder Hunter Sauer was one of three seniors in the varsity lineup and joined classmate Atlee Dewitt (120) as winners. He said he has wrestled under the spotlight a few times and waited for this all week. Senior night success will be hard to forget.

“It's really nice,” Sauer said. “It's something I’ll remember for a while. It's a good memory.”

Rush said it helps to have a tough team that will bring the fight like Mount Vernon. With the championship season beginning – conference tournament Saturday and regional duals and possibly State Duals next week – this served as a good way to prepare for upcoming challenges.

“We have a team, right now, you haven't let the moment get too big for you,” Rush said. “We're in the season right now where you're going to want to have that as a skill.

“They do (put on a show). They keep their composure and they battle.”

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Alburnett (28-3) responded with a performance worthy of a few bells and whistles. They produced a fast start and built a 42-0 lead. Fifth-ranked Tyler Gerhold (106), Landon Howe at 113 and No. 4 Dewitt opened with three consecutive pins. Jaxson (126), 132-pounder Kam Roberts, second-ranked Owen Henriksen at 144 added technical falls before Ayden Lawrence moved up a weight and recorded a pin at 150. Clayton Strang (138) squeezed in a decision during that stretch.

“When you can start a dual like that it only benefits you,” Rush said. “We have the guys in place to do things like that.”

Sauer surrendered the opening takedown but stormed back for a 10-6 decision over Will Goodlove. He scored takedowns in each of the last two periods and the final four points. After the win, he celebrated briefly with a quick hand slap to Rush on the edge of the mat.

“I didn't know what to expect, like pressure-wise,” Sauer said. “After feeling that pressure on my head, I realized I had to adjust. My coach tells me that we just need a stay the course and just keep fighting. Do what we can.”

Top-ranked heavyweight Eaghan Fleshman closed with an exclamation point on the dual win, pinning No. 8 Andrew Dix.

Mount Vernon won the first of two ranked matchups. The Mustangs’ top-ranked Mikey Ryan tallied four takedowns and defeated No. 11 Cooper Franklin in a 13-5 major decision. Luke Robinson (190) and Jaxon Anderson at 215 won by fall and Caysen Curran had a technical fall at 175 for Mount Vernon.

Alburnett will host a 2A regional dual Tuesday. The Pirates have a bye and face the semifinal winner between No. 10 Davenport Assumption and No. 17 Solon.

“We knew we would just have to fight and compete,” Sauer said about Thursday’s dual. “And I think we're at a good spot going into the postseason.”

Alburnett 51, Mount Vernon 21

AT ALBURNETT

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

106 pounds – Tyler Gerhold (A) pinned Matthew Goodlove, 1:16 (1,0); 113 – Landon Howe (A) pinned Ryker Logue, 1:28 (3,0); 120 – Atlee Dewitt (A) pinned Leo Burgess, 1:00 (1,0); 126 – Jaxson Port (A) tech. fall Camden Meyer, 16-0 (3,0); 132 – Kam Roberts (A) tech. fall Jake Shady, 17-1 (4,0); 138 – Clayton Strang (A) dec. Chasen Caskey, 9-5 (1,1); 144 – Owen Henriksen (A) tech. fall C.J. Martin, 20-4 (6,0); 150 – Ayden Lawrence (A) pinned Eli Casey, 4:49 (1,2); 157 – Mikey Ryan (MV) major dec. Cooper Franklin, 13-5 (4,1); 165 – Hunter Sauer (A) dec. Will Goodlove, 10-6 (2,1); 175 – Caysen Curran (MV) tech. fall Beckett Flannagan, 18-2 (3,0); 190 – Luke Robinson (MV) pinned Wyatt Schrader, 2:00 (2,0); 215 – Jaxon Anderson (MV) pinned Wyatt Kissling, 1:07 (1,0); 285 – Eaghan Fleshman (A) pinned Andrew Dix, :50 (1,0)

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns – Mount Vernon 14, Alburnett 24. Reversals – Mount Vernon 2, Alburnett 3, Escapes – Mount Vernon 12, Alburnett 9. Nearfall points – Mount Vernon 7, Alburnett 25. Penalty points (awarded) – Mount Vernon 0, Alburnett 0. Total match points – Mount Vernon 65, Alburnett 114.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com