MANSFIELD, Ohio — His high school career ended a week earlier than hoped, but Brandon Mount’s scrapbook is overflowing nonetheless.
The Richland Source Boys Soccer Player of the Year, Mount crammed a lifetime’s worth of memories into the past four years.
The senior played in back-to-back state championship games, helping Mansfield Christian win a state title in 2014. He was selected the North Central Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association Player of the Year in Division III for a second year in a row and became the first MCS player to earn a spot on the All-Ohio first team in consecutive seasons since Will Cochran in 2011 and 2012.
He broke the MCS single-season record with 41 goals this fall, giving him 92 career goals. He also had 32 career assists.
“He has had a great career at MCS,” Mansfield Christian coach Stephen Armstrong said after the Flames lost a heart-breaker to Columbia in the regional semifinals. “He is going to be tough to replace.”
The same can be said for several of Mount’s MCS teammates who joined him on the All-Richland Source team. Seniors David Cochran and Sam Paul were instrumental in Mansfield Christian’s remarkable run. Cochran had 17 goals and 20 assists this fall, giving him 35 career goals and 44 assists. Paul 16 assists this fall and will forever be remembered for his game-winning goal in overtime of the 2014 state championship game.
MCS sophomore Jared McPeek is well on his way to an All-Ohio career. The sophomore scored 22 goals this fall and has 41 goals through two seasons.
Mansfield Christian goal keeper J.P. Trueblood made 69 saves this year. The Flames surrendered less than a goal a game.
Lexington’s Connor Baughman moved to forward after Kyle Alexander’s graduation and the Minutemen never missed a beat. Lex won a second straight Division II district title and Baughman was an All-Ohio first team pick in Division II and was selected the NCOSSCA Division II Player of the Year.
While Baughman was the centerpiece of Lexington’s offensive attack, seniors Cole Richards and Tristan Kraft anchored the defense. Richards was an Ohio Cardinal Conference and NCOSSCA first-team pick and narrowly missed out on a spot on the All-Ohio team. Kraft was selected the OCC Defensive Player of the Year for his work in goal.
Midfielder Jace Morris was also instrumental in Lexington’s run to the Sweet 16. The senior was an OCC first team pick and a NCOSSCA second team selection in Division II.
Ontario had its best season since 2006, reaching the district championship game before falling to Lexington. The Warriors were led by high-scoring forwards Erik Klimczymski and Jake Hairston. Klymczymski was an All-Ohio second team pick in Division II and a NCOSSCA first team selection. Hairston earned a spot on the NCOSSCA second team.
First-year Clear Fork coach Mike Longshore leaned heavily on forward Caleb Merendino and goal keeper Shane Klenk. Both were selected to the OCC first team. Klenk was an NCOSSCA first team pick, while Merendino was a second-teamer.
Temple Christian won the Ohio Christian School Athletic Association thanks largely to the play of the high-scoring tandem of Jake McClelland and Nick Standridge. The Crusaders rumbled to a 6-0 win over Dominion Academy in the semifinals and roughed up Calvary Christian 7-2 in the finals.
