Current Bridgeport High School wrestling Coach Chris Courtney has said it. So has his predecessors.

 

What they’ll tell you that the annual Winner’s Choice Wrestling Tournament in Fairmont is one of the most grueling regular season meets of the year. That may lead one to believe that’s why the Indians finished 17^th out of 30 teams in a competition won by Waynesburg (Pa.) with East Fairmont finishing runner-up.

 

Such, however, was not the case at the event at the Fairmont Senior Field House. Rather, illness and injury saw the Indians only have wrestlers competing in seven weight categories. While that was the bad news, the good news was that four of those seven placed in the highly competitive meet featuring wrestlers from the state’s top programs and beyond.

 

“I kept both of the Summers boys (Kavaughn and Kemo) out as they recover from illness. Addison (Courtney) was out due to current health problems. I kept 120, 182, and 195 out due to experience because this is a very tough tournament,” said the coach. “I wanted their bodies to recover from (the) Cameron (Invitational) and get ready for push to the end of year.”

 

One of the wrestlers competing was the surprising Derek Starkey at 126. He finished fifth and nearly finished higher as he advanced to the semifinals by pinning his foe – Ritchie County’s Connor Spaudling – in 4:20. Starkey, 11-3 on the year, just missed finishing higher as he lost a 6-5 decision in overtime to a foe from Washington.

 

Once in the consolation semifinals, he dropped a tough 4-1 match to a foe from Pennsylvania. The fifth place title came his away after a win by injury default.

 

Starkey then lost 4-1 to North Allegheny (Pa.)’s Freddy Junko in the consolation semifinals and took fifth place by injury default versus Fairmont Senior’s Mikey Jones.

 

“He had hard fought matches and competed in every match,” said Courtney of Starkey. “He is evolving as expected.”

 

At 160, Austin Gibson was another BHS wrestler to finish fifth. Gibson (17-2). Gibson fell onto the wrong side of bracket with an early setback, but managed to get into the consolation semifinals where he also fell to a foe from Pennsylvania.

 

Gibson proved to be up to the task in the fifth-sixth place match. His outscored is opponent from Parkersburg by a 3-1 score to earn the points for the Tribe and the fifth place finish.

 

The Indians final of three wrestlers to finish in fifth place during the meet was Josh Wojciechowicz. Wrestling at 170, Wojciechowicz (18-5), started off strong with a bye and back to back pinfalls.

 

Once he made it to the semifinals he battled adversity with a loss to a foe from Oak Hill and then a pinfall to another Pennsylvania opponent. His fifth place was secured thanks an injury default against his competitor from South Harrison.

 

Bridgeport managed one other individual to get on to the podium. Aidan Gibson (20-4) finished in seventh place in the 145 pound classification.

 

Gibson’s back and forth day started with a bye. He followed that with a 6-4 win against an opponent from East Fairmont and then dropped a 5-2 decision to an out-of-state foe.

 

He bounced back to pin the opposition from Morgantown and then fell by decision to a grappler from University. When it came down to placing in the seventh or eighth spot, Gibson moved up with a win by injury default.

 

Courtney was pleased with his three experienced wrestlers that placed. However, he thinks they can do even better.

 

“They are as talented as anyone in their weight class,” said Courtney of the Gibson’s and Wojciechowicz. They need to believe more in themselves and expect to win. They are all good kids, but need to get meaner on the mat; work their game plan, push the pace of the match, and complete their moves with authority. 

 

“It is tough to teach grit, but we have been giving it our best shot this week in practice,” said Courtney. “At the end of the day they have to wrestle with confidence. When they do they will like where they end up.”

 

Bridgeport got performances from three other wrestlers last weekend. Bladen Roush filled in at 132 for Kemo Summers and Clayton Hammond did the same for Addison Courtney at 138. J.T. Muller wrestled for the Tribe at 160 in the meet.

 

The tournament, which is ran like the state tournament, is a good prep ground for the wrestlers. Courtney said it also could help in other areas.

 

“It showed our weakness.  We will learn more from the losses than the wins. This weekend gave us insight to areas we can improve,” said Courtney. “We have to learn from this past weekend and simply get better and we will.” 

 

The Indians are back on the mat today. They will take part in the Mountaineer Matchup that begins at 4 p.m. and continues Saturday at 10 a.m.

 

Editor's Note: Photos are of, from top to bottom, Derek Starkey, Austin Gibson, Josh Wojciechowicz and Aidan Gibson. Photos courtesy of Jason Wojciechowicz; Photos by Jodi Muller.