Hirschy breaks record during WBL meet

Van Wert independent sports

CELINA – Several Van Wert High School wrestlers placed at the 41st annual Western Buckeye League Tournament held Saturday at the Celina Fieldhouse. The Cougars placed seventh as a team with 78 points. Wapakoneta won the tournament with 209 points and seven individual championships.

The Cougars missed senior Connor Massillo, who is out for the season with a shoulder injury. Fellow senior Cory Hirschy placed first at 189 pounds and broke the school career pin record held by Brandon Kline with the 71st pin of his high school career. It was just the latest honor for Hirschy, who also won the Western Buckeye League tournament as a sophomore in the 171-pound weight class.

At 130 pounds, junior Sean Dorsch of Van Wert was the runner-up. Sophomore Terrin Contreras finished third in the 285-pound weight class. Freshman Jermaine Defore at 119 pounds and sophomore Colton Royer at 140 pounds both finished in fourth place. A breakdown of wrestlers by weight class follows:

• 119 pounds – Defore: Bye, Bye, L pin 1:45, Bye, W pin 1:48, L pin (fourth place)
• 130 pounds – Dorsch: Bye, W 9-1 major decision, W pin 6:31 in overtime, L 3-5 (second place)
• 135 pounds – Daniel Thompson: Bye, L 0-2 in overtime, W pin 3:43, W 2-0, L 1-10 major decision
• 140 pounds – Royer: Bye, W 7-2, L pin 1:52, Bye, W 8-2, L 2-4 (fourth place)
• 152 pounds – Jordan Daniels: Bye, L 7-13, Bye, W 11-1 major decision, L 2-7
• 160 pounds – Gabe Hill: Bye, L pin 2:59, Bye, L pin 2 minutes
• 171 pounds – Kyle Loshe: L pin 2:23, L pin 49 seconds
• 189 pounds – Hirschy: Bye, W pin 1:09, W pin 3:01, W 2-1 (first place)
• 285 pounds – Contreras: Bye, W pin 1:43, L 8-10, Bye, W pin 2:36, W pin 30 seconds (third place)

The Cougars will compete next Saturday, February 19, at the Division II sectional tournament at Lima Shawnee High School. The top four placers in each weight class will advance to district competition on Friday, February 25, and Saturday, February 26, at Marion Harding High School.