Mount Vernon took the team title at the 57th annual Mount Vernon Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 9.
The Mustangs scored 218 team points, led by four gold medalists – Klayten Perreault (106), Jake Haugse (120), Jase Jaspers (138) and Mikey Ryan (150).
Jackson Jaspers (144), Jackson Hird (165) and Ethan Wood (285) finished runner-up.
“I thought we wrestled well,” Mount Vernon Coach Vance Light said. “But it’s December, not February, so we’ve got some things to work on.”
Wapsie Valley was second with 165. Lisbon, despite only bringing about half its roster, finished fourth with 122 points.
“This is a good tournament with some tough guys,” Lisbon champion Tiernan Boots (144) said.
Boots, ranked third in 1A, beat his friend from down the highway, top-ranked (2A) Jackson Jaspers of Mount Vernon, 3-2 in the finals.
“That could’ve gone either way,” Boots said.
Indy Ferguson (215), ranked third in 1A, was runner-up for the Lions. Coach Aaron Helmrich was impressed by his semifinal win over Jean Ngoma of Cedar Rapids Xavier, ranked sixth in 3A. Ferguson won by decision, 3-2.
“Indy getting redemption was awesome,” Helmrich said. “He had a real good match against him.”
Among the Mustang champions, Perreault, ranked No. 1 in 2A, was pretty impressive with two pins and a 9-1 major decision over the fifth-ranked wrestler in 3A, Braxton Hutchinson of Burlington.
“I try to think I’m not really the top seed,” Perreault said. “As the top guy, if you come in thinking you’re the top guy, you’re not going to be the top guy by the end of the day.”
Jase Jaspers, ranked No. 2 in 2A, proved he was the top guy, but needed a takedown with less than 10 seconds remaining to beat Cadyn Wild of Davenport Assumption (ranked No. 3 in 2A) in the championship, 4-2.
“I used my scrambling ability,” Jaspers said. “I wrestled with my brother a lot, and he teaches me a lot.”
It was a step forward for the Mustangs, who won this event a year ago, but with only one champion (Perreault).
“I think our team is definitely improving,” Perreault said. “We’ve got some young talent and a whole bunch of good guys. We’ve got a good chance this year.”
Mount Vernon also won a dual Thursday, Dec. 7, beating Clear Creek Amana 43-26 in Tiffin.
Lisbon won three duals the same night in Delhi, topping Maquoketa Valley 54-24, East Buchanan 48-36 and Starmont 60-18.
The split-squad Lions also participated in the five-team Springville Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 9. Every Lisbon wrestler left with a win, with Cael Stricker (106), Ben Kelley (132) and Gavin Carmer (165) going undefeated.
Mustangs dominate home invitational
December 14, 2023
About the Contributor
Ryan Suchomel, Sports Reporter
Ryan Suchomel is a sports reporter for the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun.