Mount Vernon continues hot start with dual victory over Clear Creek Amana

MOUNT VERNON - Mount Vernon has commanded attention early this season.

The Mustangs have ascended the Class 2A rankings, coming in fourth in the dual poll and eighth in the traditional ratings. Others are catching up to what the Mustangs already knew.

“We have everybody back from last year’s team,” Mount Vernon Coach Vance Light said. “We have a couple guys hurt. May or may not get them back. We don’t know yet. We’ll see.

“We had a pretty good idea we were going to have a good team.”

Mount Vernon continued its strong start to the season. The Mustangs won nine matches, including six pins, in a 45-28 victory over Clear Creek Amana on Thursday night at home.

Mount Vernon improved to 2-0 in Wamac Conference duals, adding a team title at Saturday’s Newton Classic tournament.

“They’ve all been wrestling pretty well,” Light said. “They’re working hard. We just have to keep a good attitude and keep working hard. Fix the little things they are doing wrong and keep working on the things they’re doing right. We’ll see where we’re at in a month and a half.”

The Mustangs had success last season, but crossed paths with four-time defending champion West Delaware before the State Duals. Lofty goals accompany returning experience and young talent.

“We knew we could be pretty good,” Mustangs two-time state medalist and 145-pound junior Jackson Jaspers said. “I think we could go to the team duals and do pretty good there. We have come together as a group, but a lot of us do think that.”

Interestingly, Mount Vernon has eight sets of siblings on the boys’ and girls’ wrestling teams. Six are brother tandems. The bond they have helps push one another to be their best.

“We’ve already been together,” Jaspers said. “A lot of us are brothers. We’ve been really tight.”

Mount Vernon displayed a penchant for pins. The Mustangs opened with three straight first-period pins. Ethan Woods (220), heavyweight Trystin Lashley and Klayten Perreault at 106 powered Mount Vernon to an 18-0 lead.

The Mustangs produced another four-match win streak, receiving falls from freshman Jase Jaspers (126) and 132-pounder Croix Shebetka and conescutive decisions from Mikey Ryan (138) and the older Jaspers.

Jackson Hird scored a takedown with eight seconds remaining for a 7-6 decision over Ryker Jones at 160 for the Mustangs

“He’s a strong kid,” Light said. “He stays after the guy. He never gives up and that’s the kind of kid you want.”

Mustangs’ 170-pounder Henry Ryan added a pint, building an 11-1 lead before stopping Ben Haughey in 3:33.

Mount Vernon was aggressive from the start of each bout. Five of the pins came in the opening frame and the Mustangs owned a 36-13 advantage in first-period points. A lesson learned a year ago.

“After they did that a couple times and figured out that it works, and it gets the other guy tired, they’ve bought into it,” Light said. “Now, they’re doing it.”

The Clippers (0-3) received pins from Jose Mendieta (120), Caden Baxter at 152 and 182-pounder Kade Phan. Mendieta stormed back from a 9-3 deficit to pin Kaleb Coon in 5:38. Baxter led 5-1 before his fall over Will Goodlove in 4:49.

Cale Nash, ranked eighth in 3A at 113, put CCA on the board. He scored all of his points in the final two periods, including a reversal, three nearfall and a late takedown for an 8-0 major decision over Jake Haugse.

AT MOUNT VERNON

Mount Vernon 45, Clear Creek Amana 28

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

220 pounds - Ethan Wood (MV) pinned Carson Bromwell, :46 (1,0); Hwt. - Trystin Lashley (MV) pinned Liam Carhoff, 1:03 (1,0); 106 - Klayten Perreault (MV) pinned Kade Kleinmeyer, 1:14 (1,0); 113 - Cale Nash (CCA) major dec. Jake Haugse, 8-0 (1,0); 120 - Jose Medieta (CCA) pinned Kaleb Coon, 5:38 (1,2); 126 - Jase Jaspers (MV) pinned Santiago Perez, 1:11 (2,0); 132 - Croix Sebetka (MV) pinned Nolan Howell, 1:51 (1,0); 138 - Mikey Ryan (MV) dec. Max Carlson, 8-5 (3,0); 145 - Jackson Jaspers (MV) dec. Beck Arant, 7-2 (3,0); 152 - Caden Baxter (CCA) pinned Will Goodlove, 4:49 (0,0); 160 - Jackson Hird (MV) dec. Ryker Jones, 7-6 (2,2); 170 - Henry Ryan (MV) pinned Ben Haughey, 3:33 (2,0); 182 - Kade Phan (CCA) pinned Watson Krob, 1:59 (1,0); 195 - Ethan Williams (CCA) won by forfeit.

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns - Clear Creek Amana 5, Mount Vernon 18. Reversals - Clear Creek Amana 3, Mount Vernon 3. Escapes - Clear Creek Amana 12, Mount Vernon 4. Nearfall points - Clear Creek Amana 9, Mount Vernon 12. Penalty points (awarded) - Clear Creek Amana 1, Mount Vernon 1. Total match points - Clear Creek Amana 38, Mount Vernon 59.