It’s a notable saying that the best laid plans of mice and men sometimes go awry. Cooper Hineman had a plan – and it went awry.

 

When you read this, however, you’ll see that his planning – despite what transpired – was not in vain. And that Hineman is no mouse, but a young man still headed for big things.

 

Many probably know that Cooper Hineman entered his senior year at Bridgeport High School with some pretty lofty goals on his plate on the extracurricular front. The standout student-athlete was hoping to add a state championship wrestling title his portfolio and be a member on what he was hoping to be a fifth-straight Class AA state baseball championship team.

 

He didn’t just hope for those things to happen. Cooper Hineman worked to get himself in the best shape of his life to make it more realistic than just thoughts in his head. Most notable was his quest to earn a wrestling title in the 160-pound division. It was a sport he had competed in, and with success, since he was four-years-old.

 

“Cooper was mentally and physically ready to end his senior wrestling campaign on top of the podium. He put in the time in the offseason and was prepared to climb and plow his way through the field,” said BHS wrestling Coach Chris Courtney.

 

Hineman never reached the podium. He never plowed through the field. And the saddest part of it all is that he didn’t do anything wrong for that first goal in wrestling not to be reached.

 

In December, the hard work that Cooper Hineman had put in to get to the top of the Class AA wrestling standings were shredded. And they were shredded due to an injury that left his shoulder, sadly, shredded as well.

 

It all happened before his first regular season match.

 

“I was in practice and just wrestling. I shot through on a take down and Addison (Courtney) sprawled away from me and my shoulder popped. It shocked me more than anything,” said Hineman. “After a few seconds I tried to move it and Coach Courtney had to work on it to get it right again. It never felt good after that. It felt like this was a bruise, but it was a lot worse than a bruise.”

 

Courtney, who happens to be Orthopedic Surgeon at United Hospital Center in his spare time, knew it was something serious. He vividly recalled the injury.

 

“Cooper’s shoulder and arm was hyperextended and rotated outwards. It was subluxed and close to being dislocated. I reduced it,” said Courtney. “We held him out of competition initially then let him try it out. It was never right; thereafter.  The injury drastically hindered his wrestling style and his ability to perform.”

 

The good news, which really wasn’t good news in the long run, was that the MRI that came back negative for a torn labrum and the diagnosis was for fluid and swelling. Hineman said Dr. Joseph Fazalare, an Orthopedic Surgeon at United Hospital Center treating, still felt that it was torn.

 

“Dr. Fazalare said he was 95 percent sure and was on top of everything. My MRI showed a few spots that looked funny, deformities or possibly torn,” said Hineman. “I thought if it wasn’t torn or even if it was I could use a brace and get through it.”

 

For a few meets, Hineman wrestled. He would strap a brace on and go. He ended up being 10-2 when the pain became too much.

 

“I basically wrestled with one arm, but it was the other stuff that was a real problem. I hadn’t slept in three weeks because of the pain. My personality was different. I felt best thing for me to do was to give it up,” said Hineman. “When I gave it up, I had to deal with pain from the injury and just being sick over knowing it was done.”

 

The decision, as one may imagine, was just as painful.

 

“You realize this is your last chance. It absolutely crushed me. I spent many nights talking to my parents and crying about it in my living room,” said Hineman. “I can’t explain the difficulty in making that decision, but wrestling has pretty much been my life. I have no problem telling you I was emotional when I came to the realization it was over.”

 

On Feb. 9, Hineman had surgery. He said once inside of his body it showed that the front of the labrum was torn and the back was in bad shape. To add to it, a bone spur was removed and his shoulder was eventually pieced back together.

 

“I just took the sling off recently,” said Hineman. “I usually wore it in public and at school and would have it off at home to get my body used to it again. A lot of times I would lay there thinking back to how confident I was and the time I put in and then I was injured. Even now, that’s a hard thing to think about.”

 

For Hineman, the future isn’t totally bleak. There’s a chance, albeit a small one, that he could swing the bat for the Bridgeport baseball team before the season is over.

 

“That’s something I hope to do, but I don’t want to get my hopes up too high just to get them crushed,” said Hineman. “I’m going to therapy with Mark Pinti and if it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t happen, I’ll help out with practices and be at as many games as I can be at.”

 

Coach Robert Shields is hopeful he’ll get to swing the bat this year. And if not, he said he’s welcome to help out.

 

“He’s given us a lot and having him around isn’t going to do anything but help,” said Shields. “It’s tough to see a senior go through what Cooper’s going through.”

 

Last year, Hineman played in nearly every game for the Tribe. He was a regular in left field. This year, he just hopes to be able to take a few cuts at the ball in the batter’s box.

 

Courtney, like Shields, hates the situation Hineman faces.

 

“As a coach, we want success for all of our wrestlers. Losing a leader and captain is a void very tough to fill,” said Courtney. “Cooper is every coach’s dream. Great student, coachable, and leader by example. Not to mention he is an exceptional athlete to boot.  From a wrestling standpoint what set him apart from most is his ability to ‘flip a switch’ and compete with the highest level of intensity and anger. That is a trait in this sport that can't be coached. If he carries that with him in higher education and his career he will be very successful.”

 

That higher education is what Hineman is focused on now. And he knows where his next stop is.

 

“I plan on going to West Virginia University and studying engineering,” said Hineman. “My teachers at Bridgeport have me prepared and they’ve been a huge help with me because I’ve had to try and do things with my opposite hand. They’ve been great in making a bad situation tolerable.”

 

As sad as some may see this story, there is a silver lining. Hineman knew, even as a youngster, that wrestling was about discipline and goals. He knew then as he does now that it showed him things you had to do to get to where you wanted to be. This injury, he said, has magnified that.

 

“The one thing I’ve realized as I’ve been trying to get past this is that life goes on,” said Hineman. “There’s more for me in life and I have to make sure I take advantage of it.”

 

Spoken like a true champion whose life plans still haven’t gone awry. And Hineman didn’t need to be on a podium to earn the designation.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Hineman from his junior year, while he's shown competing this year with a brace and wrap to protect his shoulder. Third photo shows Hineman with his family and coaching staff on senior night for the wrestling squad, Bottom photo shows Hineman getting wrapped up to compete. Photos showing Hineman with his brace courtesy of Todd Hineman, while the other photo is by www.benqueenphotography.com.