Kyle Vernon, of Mohrsville, recently returned from the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling State Championship tournament in Erie, where he placed 17th out of approximately 1,500 wrestlers. This was the first time in more than 10 years that a youth wrestler from Schuylkill Valley has made it to the state championship.
Luck was not on Kyle’s side as his first match at the tournament was against the eventual state champion in the 12 and under, 90 lbs. weight class. Following up the loss, Kyle went on to win his second match and then lost his third match in what his father, Matt Vernon, called a “nail-biter.”
Both Kyle and his family are very happy with how well he did and how far his season went after just missing the state championship last year during the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling Area Championship Tournament.
“Last year, I was very close,” said Kyle. He and his father explained that Kyle was one second away from winning when he lost.
He was thrilled to hear the news this year after the disappointment of just missing it the previous year.
“When I heard, I was basically wrestling my next match because a kid I beat won,” explained Kyle.
He continued on his experience at the state championship, “It was just a good experience. It was just fun overall, not just the wrestling part.”
Kyle’s season ended with a record of 30-4 which is close to his average record per season during his five years with Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling.
Following the end of the season, the wrestlers begin the state championship bracket in which all of the districts compete. Each district is made up of several counties. The top two wrestlers from each weight class represent their district. Matt explained that it is very hard to make the state championship at the youth level because there is no divisional breakdown as there is in middle and high school.
Kyle was not intimated in the least when he took the mat at states. “Not really,” he responded when asked. “They were just normal kids still.”
Reaching the state championship is the first ranked accomplishment for the Schuylkill Valley Middle School sixth grader who has been wrestling since second grade. His second ranked accomplishment would be earning three first place finishes in the Annual School Boy Tournament, which could be described as a Berks County Youth Wrestling Championship. One other Schuylkill Valley youth wrestler has earned that many, Colin Shober, a wrestler that Kyle looks up to.
Along with regular practices three days a week during wrestling season, Kyle also takes part in strength and conditioning, speed and agility and private practice lessons with coach Kyle Mauer and often times Duane Mauer (Schuylkill Valley High School Wrestling head coach). Kyle credits his coaches for the wrestler he has become along with his family.
“We are extremely proud of Kyle. He is a wonderful son. He is a wonderful child,” said Matt for the family. “We are proud of his athletic accomplishments but even more proud of his academic achievements. He’s a great example of what a student-athlete should look like.”
Not only does Kyle excel in wrestling, but he is also an honor roll student as well as the quarterback of his football team and pitches and plays shortstop for his baseball team.
Like his family, Kyle is very proud of his accomplishments and is excited to start wrestling for the middle school team.
