FORTVILLE — Returning after a long holiday break, recovering from a long weekend tournament a few days prior, and a young, inexperienced team.
Those things all played a part in Mt. Vernon’s 42-29 loss to Pendleton Heights on Wednesday.
“We had a senior out tonight and that definitely hurt us, but we’re just not in shape right now. We’re very young, and over Christmas break when the kids have that much time off, to keep a young team focused is an extremely difficult task, and that showed tonight,” Mt. Vernon head coach Randal Hayes said. “Pendleton just out-wrestled us tonight in every position. They were better on their feet, and they were definitely better on top. They’re in much better shape than we are.”
With the dual meet starting at 106 pounds, the Marauders had one of the strongest areas of their lineup hit the mat first.
And they did their job, putting Mt. Vernon ahead 13-6 after four matches.
Ty Barnhart defeated Pendleton’s Gage Warrum by fall quickly in the first period, and after the Arabians answered with a pin of their own at 113, the Marauders added two straight wins.
At 120, Connor Bayliss won by major decision 9-0 over Elijah Wolf, and in one of the most anticipated matches of the night, Eli Broady defeated Max Bowers at 126 pounds.
Broady entered the night with a 22-2 record and ranked eighth in the state in the weight class, while Bowers entered a perfect 23-0.
With a 4-1 lead entering the final period, an early takedown by Broady put him in full control and he used that to his advantage. He wrestled defensively over the final two minutes to hold on for the 6-3 win.
“That has to do with him coming off of the Al Smith tournament. [Broady] wrestled all the top guys and I think he’s just worn down a bit. He was dominant in those first two periods and then in the third, I think he was just like I got a lead, so let’s just shut it down,” Hayes said. “We don’t always want him to wrestle like that, but that kid was undefeated, so that’s a big win.”
Over the next three matches, though, it was the Arabians turn to show one of the strongest parts of their lineup.
They reeled off three straight wins by fall, and a fourth win by decision to go ahead 27-13.
At 132 pounds Alex Heineman pinned Carson Hill in the second period, at 138 pounds 25-1 Jay Covington pinned Britton Bittner in the second period, and at 138 pounds the Arabians state-ranked, undefeated wrestler, Jack Todd, pinned Robert Dodson.
With a third-period swing towards Pendleton Heights’ favor, PH’s Gavin Yarger defeated MV’s Trenton Craner by decision 12-6 at 150 pounds, and all but sealed the Marauders fate.
“The two things you can control are being in shape and being tough, and we didn’t do either tonight. We were gassing in the second period. “Hayes said. “We talk about winning the third period no matter what. If you’re losing at least outscore them in the third period and show that you’re in shape and are a tough out. We just didn’t do that.”
With a forfeit looming at 285 pounds, Mt. Vernon needed wins in all five matches to have a chance.
They got three and nearly had a fourth.
Brooks McKeeman won by fall at 157 pounds, Elijah Kiner won by major decision at 175 pounds, and Devin Kendrex won by fall at 215 pounds.
“With some of our more advanced guys, Devin got the pin, but we thought there should’ve been a few more,” Hayes said. “Some of those guys, though, are still recovering from the Al Smith a few days ago.”
Garrett Pederson’s pin over Vanden Vail at 165 pounds, and Chris Crank’s win by decision 8-4 over Joliba Brogan at 190 pounds were enough for the Arabians to hold on to the lead.
Mt. Vernon is back in action on Saturday at the Jennings County Super Six.
