First-year Bridgeport High School wrestling Coach Chris Courtney is hoping a group of Indian wrestlers can make their mark not only for themselves at the state tournament, but for the program as well. A trio of grapplers will head down to Huntington today for the three-day state wrestling tournament at the Big Sandy Arena in Huntington.

 

Weigh-in takes place at 4:30 p.m. The first matches of the tournament kick of today at 6:30 p.m.

 

Bridgeport has qualified a trio of wrestlers to compete. Aidan Gibson, a freshman who was runner-up in last week’s Region II meet, will open up the tournament in the 106 pound division with a 26-5 record against Isaiah Giordano of Herbert Hoover, a sophomore who stands at 31-11 on the year.

 

“Aidan had a very solid match against last year’s state runner up, Noah Hodges (of Grafton),” said Courtney. “I think that match helped him with his confidence. I am looking forward to seeing his progress improve at states.  I know he is ready to accept the challenge.”

 

Gibson’s older brother Austin, a sophomore, also qualified for the meet. Courtney is hoping that Austin Gibson can bounce back from his championship match setback that left his as runner-up in Region II, but still qualifying for the state meet.

 

“That was not one of Austin’s better matches. He is a competitor. He will learn from his mistakes,” said Courtney of the regional match. “Wrestling has just as much an emotional toll as physical. Physically he is ready for the challenge of the state tournament. We just have to reinforce the emotional part.”

 

Austin Gibson will take a 28-9 record to the meet. He’ll face off against fellow sophomore Colton Clark of Ravenswood who has a 17-17 record in his first match of the meet.

 

Junior Cooper Hineman is looking to make noise in Huntington. Like the Gibson brothers, Hineman finished as a runner-up in Region II. He competed in the 160-pound classification to earn his bid.

 

Hineman will take a 31-7 record to Huntington. He'll match up against  Wyatt Strum of Oak Glen, a junior who is 30-17.

 

“Cooper had a very solid match. Cooper battles from the start of the match until the end. At times he is his worst enemy,” said Courtney. “During his finals match he gave up points in the final seconds of a couple periods due to his aggressive style.

 

“We have discussed mat awareness with him in regards to understanding where and how much time is remaining in the period. Sometimes it is best just to save a move for later in the match,” Courtney continued. “I feel he is underrated in his weight class. I am looking forward to Cooper playing the spoiler this weekend at states.”

 

Bridgeport finished as the No. 7 team in the regional. There were 17 teams that competed.

 

“Overall I was very pleased with our team’s performance. Looking back at where we started with these young men, I feel they have all grown and improved on and off the mat. I encouraged them to prepare in the offseason and come back hungry for next year,” said Courtney.

 

 Bridgeport has two other wrestlers that have qualified as alternates. The Indians will take Josh Wojciechowicz in the 126 pound classification and Jon Luke Massie at 145. In the event a wrestler in that category is injured, ill or unable to make weight to compete, they will get a chance to compete.

 

“Both have prepared hard this week in case they get the nod,” said Courtney.

 

As for the regional that was held at BHS, Courtney was pleased with how things went. It was the first-ever regional home meet in the school’s history.

 

“I was very impressed with (BHS Assistant Principal and Athletic Director) Mr. (Matt) Demotto and the administration at BHS for the organization that went into planning the regionals,” said Courtney. “Parents of my wrestlers, middle school (parents), youth wrestling organizations, as well as community friends and family worked very hard and delivered an exceptional tournament.

 

“The only area I would like to improve on would be attracting for BHS fans into the stands. Hopefully continued growth and success of our team will do just that,” Courtney continued. “I am very optimistic that BHS will be hosting more tournaments in the future.”

 

The state tournament continues Friday with weigh-ins at 9:30 a.m. The second session Friday, which is anticipated to last six hours, beings at 11:30 a.m. The third session of the meet on Thursday begins at 7:30 p.m. and is expected to last just under two hours.

 

Saturday will see weigh-ins beginning at 8:45 a.m. and the fourth session of the meet, which includes consolation semifinals and consolation finals starting at 10:45 a.m. That portion of the meet is estimated to last four hours.

 

The final and championship session on Saturday begins at 6 p.m. Title match will be in the Class AA-A division and the Class AAA division.

 

Adult general admission tickets are $8. Student tickets are $7. There are also ticket packages available for those wishing to attend the entire weekend.

 

Click HERE for the complete pairings in Class AA-A.