We felt it. Everyone did. It started in March of last year—when Alex Taylor and Ash Brokaw became the first two individual state champions in our school’s history. That moment wasn’t just about wrestling. It was about a shift. A change in mindset. For the first time in a long time, Mount Vernon didn’t just want to win. We knew how.
For years, our teams have had the heart. We’ve had the talent. But something always held us back—doubt, maybe, or the belief that greatness belonged to someone else. But that belief shattered when our wrestlers stood at the top of the podium. They showed us the truth: the only thing stopping us… was us.
That momentum didn’t stay on the mat. It lit a fire. In the spring, two of our teams made it to the state finals. Suddenly, the talk in the hallways wasn’t just about practice—it was about purpose. Determination. Pride. The whole school, the whole community, rallied behind them. The stands were packed. The cheers were deafening. We weren’t just playing games anymore—we were building something.
We were building a culture.
Kennedy Howard carried that flame into track season, rising above the bar—literally—and making her mark in pole vault. This fall, the torch was picked up by our golf team and our football team. Lucy Rush is dominating the cross country meets winning six of the last seven tournaments, and our football team is fighting for every inch under the Friday night lights. And through it all, the support hasn’t wavered.
Three spirit buses. One hundred and forty students. That’s what showed up to our last big game. Three buses full of pride, noise, and unshakable belief. Other schools watched in disbelief. But for us, it just felt right. We finally understood something deeper than stats and trophies.
We understood what it means to be a community.
Mount Vernon has always had something special. But now, we see it clearly. We’ve stopped asking if we can win and started showing the state of Ohio that we do. But even more than that—we’ve learned that real strength comes from standing together. From showing up. From lifting each other up whether it’s the first round of the playoffs or the final seconds of a championship.
We are not just Orange and Black.
We are voices echoing across fields, gyms, and stadiums. We are teammates and classmates. We are a town that believes. And win or lose, that belief is here to stay.
Mount Vernon is rising—and this is only the beginning.
