May 19 Edition
The Bridgeport News

by Jeff Toquinto
News Editor

When the pressure reached a critical point for
Bridgeport High School's boys track team last
Thursday, the Indians simply brushed it aside. Because
of that, the Tribe brushed away the competition and
captured the Class AAA Region II title at Lewis County High School.
The boys managed to pull away from Eastern panhandle
power Jefferson County to take the crown. The boys
finished with 102 points, which was enough to edge out
the Cougars' total of 81.
"I really don't think the team felt pressure," said
BHS boys coach Jon Griffith. "We go out every meet and
every event with the same goal, which is to work toward a personal best."
Apparently the strategy is working this year. The boys
are 115-1 heading into the state meet with the only
loss being to Cabell Midland in the Gazette Relays.
Still, even though the victory margin was 21 points in
the regional meet, it appeared a pressure situation
was in the offing as, with two events left, BHS was
nursing an 84-77 lead. The good news was that one of
those events was the 300 meter hurdles. Enter Matt Wilson.
Wilson, who had already turned in a dominating effort,
had a little more left in the tank. Wilson turned up
the jets and posted a winning time of 40.8 seconds.
The mark not only helped push BHS over the top for the
title, it locked down high point honors for Wilson with 32.5 points.
If there was any doubt about the outcome, that was
erased when teammate Grant Burton turned in a
runner-up effort in the same event.
"Going into the 300 hurdles with even a small lead
allowed me to breathe a little easier," said Griffith.
"We have three outstanding hurdlers in that event
(Wilson, Burton and Justin Findley). Findley pulled
his hamstring and finished seventh, otherwise we would have gone 1-2-3."
For Wilson, the effort was another in a long line of
dominating showings throughout the season. The junior
standout also took wins in the 110 hurdles and the
high jump, while taking part in the shuttle hurdles relay team that won.
Wilson posted a time of 15.19 seconds in the 110
event, while clearing 6 feet in the high jump. Wilson
teamed up with Burton, D'Andre Parker and Phillip
McElfresh to win the shuttles relay with a time of 58.51 seconds.
"Matt had another good meet," said Griffith. "Our
region is not particularly strong in the hurdle
events, but Matt still gave a good effort in all of his events."
After that, the Indians did not win another event.
However, they placed high enough throughout the
competition to steadily add to their winning total.
The hope is that they placed enough individuals in the
top four (those placing one through four in individual
and relay regional events qualify) to battle for the
state title at this week's state track and field meet
at Charleston's Laidley Field.
The rest of the qualifiers include P. McElfresh (100
dash, 3rd, 11.38 seconds); Jeff Weimer (100 dash, 4th,
11.4 seconds); Burton (110 hurdles, 4th, 16.38
seconds); team of Alex McElfresh, Steven Lewis, P.
McElfresh and Weimer (4x100, 2nd, 44.15 seconds - a
new school record); team of A. McElfresh, Wesley
Eades, P. McElfresh and Weimer (4x200, 3rd, 1 minute,
34.51 seconds - a new school record); Matt McCaugherty
(high jump, 2nd, 6 feet); Nathan Schwenk (pole vault,
4th, 12 feet); and Jamal Henderson (long jump, 2nd).
Also qualifying were Erick Green (pole vault, 11 feet,
6 inches - met qualifying standard), Nick Green (pole
vault, 11 feet, 6 inches - met qualifying standard)
and Sam Romano (shot put, 46 feet, 2 inches - met qualifying standard).
The state meet begins tomorrow. It will conclude Saturday.
"There are some very good teams, including the ones in
our region," said Griffith of the state meet. "The top
teams in the state are probably Parkersburg South and
Cabell Midland."