Mount Vernon joined the WaMaC 15 years ago.
On Saturday, Jan. 27, the wrestling team won its first Wamac title, dominating the field in Williamsburg.
“We’re going in the right direction,” Mount Vernon Coach Vance Light said. “We wrestled pretty well.”
Mount Vernon tallied 202.5 points, topping Clear Creek Amana (178) and West Delaware (172.5) for the title.
The Mustangs had five wrestlers win Wamac titles, including senior Klayten Perreault (106 pounds), who was named the Most Outstanding Wrestling of the day by league coaches.
“He’s been having a hell of a year so far,” Light said. “He’s well deserving of the award. Three years ago, I think he won three matches. Now he’s undefeated, and looking pretty good.”
Also making the trip to the top of the awards stand were Jackson Jaspers (144), Mikey Ryan (150), Jackson Hird (157) and Ethan Wood (285).
“That might be more winners than we had the first five years total,” Light said.
Hird was the only unranked wrestler in that group. But he came into Saturday with a 20-8 record, and was the top seed.
Around the holiday break, Hird made the shift from 165 to 157 to help the team.
“It sort of feels kind of the same, but the kids aren’t way bigger than me anymore,” Hird said. “They are more my size. I like that a lot.”
Hird pinned Blake Mather of West Delaware in the finals in 3:58.
“Going down a weight has been working out well so far,” Light said.
Ryan, ranked fifth, had to deal with No. 9 Nile Sinn of Williamsburg in the 150-pound title match. Sinn was desperate to score late in the match, won by Ryan 3-2, and tried leaping over his opponent twice.
“We’ve had some battles and we know each others’ styles,” Ryan said. “It is hard to score points against him.”
Jackson Jaspers earned his 150th career victory during the afternoon, and was presented a giant cookie to celebrate of that, and his second Wamac title.
“It’s a big deal,” Jaspers said. “The Wamac always has a lot of tough kids. Coming out on top, it’s a good deal.”
Third-ranked Jaspers rode out Ryker Jones of CCA in the finals, winning 6-0.
“I like staying on top and staying in control,” Jaspers said.
Earlier in the week, the Mustangs, ranked No. 2 in 2A, beat No. 1 (1A) Alburnett 34-33 on criteria (more matches, 8 to 6) in a dual in Tiffin. Mount Vernon also beat Central DeWitt, 62-11.
Those two wins made the Mustangs 25-1, setting a new school record.
Mount Vernon was set to host a regional dual Tuesday, Jan. 31, and may be competing next at the State Duals on Saturday at Xtream Arena.
Light was also named the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Northeast Iowa Coach of the Year.
Mount Vernon’s Jackson Hird grapples with West Delaware’s Blake Mather during the 157-pound championship match Saturday, Jan. 27, at the Wamac Tournament in Williamsburg. Hird won by fall in 3:58.