VW wrestlers shut out of state meet

Van Wert independent sports

MARION – Three Van Wert High School wrestlers advanced to the Division II District Tournament at Marion Harding High School this past weekend. Unfortunately, none of the local wrestlers finished in the top four of their weight class to advance to the Division II State Wrestling Tournament next week in Columbus.

In Friday evening’s contests, which were delayed two hours due to weather, 140-pound sophomore Colton Royer lost a 4-0 decision to Cameron Campbell of Sandusky Perkins. Cougar senior Cory Hirschy got a win in the 189-pound weight class, pinning Nick Dzurnak of Parma Padua Franciscan in 1 minute, 6 seconds, while junior James Hardman pinned John Goergeson of Padua in 35 seconds.

In the next championship round, Hirschy pinned Jake Hogan of Shelby a second before the end of the third period in 5 minutes, 59 seconds, but Hardman lost by a pin to Nick Wagoner of Shelby in 2 minutes, 24 seconds.

Saturday morning started well, with Royer pinning Nick Deems of Rocky River in 4 minutes, 34 seconds; however, the Cougar grapplers would win only one more match the rest of the tournament.

In the next round, Royer was pinned in 1 minute, 56 seconds by Drew Williams of Tiffin Columbian, ending Royer’s run in the double-elimination contest. Hirschy was matched against Josh Lehner of Lexington, both of who had identical records until Lehner pulled out a 5-0 decision to drop Hirschy into the loser’s bracket. Hardman won his match by pin in 1 minute, 9 seconds against Josh Amburgery of Sheffield Brookside.

It was all over, though, in the next consolation round, when Hirschy lost a 3-1 decision to Sean McGee of Oak Harbor putting him out of the running to compete at state, and Hardman lost by pin in 45 seconds to Devin Cox of Mansfield Madison Comprehensive to end his day.

In the final round, Hirschy was matched against Hogan of Shelby, who he had beaten in the second round Friday, but this time the Shelby wrestler was victorious by a 4-0 decision. Hirschy, a senior, ended his season and wrestling career with a sixth-place finish in the district competition.