MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon’s Luke Mullins goes through his pre-bout routine of stretching before matches.
Clearly, it works.
The 190-pound senior recently notched his 100th career victory at the Maumee Bay Classic. On Saturday, he swept through his bracket to help the Yellow Jackets claim the Licking County League Championship (LCL).
“We look to Luke as a leader on the team and count on him to win the tough matches when we need it the most,” explained Corey Firebaugh, the Jackets’ wrestling coach.
Mullins was dominant en route to adding three more wins to his resume.
“I know I put in a lot of hard work, but my training partners put in the work on their own as well,” he said. “They are awesome, and sometimes they go unrecognized because not everyone sees them.”
To reach the century mark, he joined an impressive list of names who have coursed through the MV program.
“It goes back to my coaches, and, again, training partners,” Mullins said. “Without them, I don’t think I would get anywhere.”
The grappler said that time and experience have taken some of the nervousness out of going onto the mat.
“I used to get, like, really nervous, and then I would kind of just figure it out after the first period,” he said. “I’ve figured out how to take my nervousness and turn it into a kind of energy.”
That practice routine is just part of his pre-match regimen.
“I get my stretches in and make sure I am feeling good,” he said. “I want to make sure that I can get into my low stance. One thing that helps is that my feet are a little fast.”
His most recent conquests came at the expense of Wyatt Severign, a sophomore from Granville, Licking Heights senior Jarrick Sexton, and, in the championship bout, Ryan Mulkey, a Watkins senior.
No single wrestler can win a team championship, and Mullins had plenty of company atop the podium.
“We won the LCL on Saturday; our champions were Gabe Thomas at 144 pounds, Maverick Gregory at 157 pounds (Gregory took top honors at the Maumee Bay Classic, in Oregon, Ohio. earlier this season), Carter Hill at 175, and Luke at 190 pounds,” Mullins said.
Mullins to wrestle at collegiate level
As for what the future holds, Mullins has chosen his next educational path.
“I have committed to Wheeling University. It’s a beautiful campus right on the edge of Ohio and West Virginia,” he said.
Wheeling University is a Division II school in the Mountain East Conference. Firebaugh looks forward to following his 190-pounder’s career.
“I am excited to see his development as a wrestler at the next level,” the coach said.
The Lady Jackets placed third in the tournament. Ash Brokaw, who has also reached the 100-win plateau, took top honors once again.