Four Patriots made semi-state

Twenty-five years ago this week, the Jay County High School wrestling program took a step in the right direction.

The Feb. 5, 1996, edition of The Commercial Review featured a story about the Patriot wrestlers advancing four to the semi-state tournament. The team had not sent more than three to the semi-state since 1988.

Bart Brandenburg (119 pounds) earned a return trip to the semi-state meeting. He was joined by first-timers James Myers (125), Andy Schmit (130) and Damien McIntire (215).

The top three wrestlers in each weight class earned a semi-state berth.

“I was real pleased,” said JCHS coach Craig Campbell. “We almost snuck six through there. I think we’re progressing along nicely, every tournament … we’ve improved. Looking at the youth of the guys coming back — three of the semi-state qualifiers are juniors and the other two alternates are just sophomores.”

Brandenburg scored the most dramatic victory for the Patriots, edging Travis Estes of Centerville 2-1 in the third-place match. Myers beat Centerville’s Richard Craig 9-5 to earn his semi-state berth while Schmit pinned Justin Barnhart of Pendleton Heights and McIntire shut out Centerville’s Derek Jordan 5-0.

The victory improved McIntire to 31-5, making him the team’s first 30-match winner since the 1980s.

Shawn Jordan (140) made it to the third-place match but lost 13-1 to Brian Alyea of Northeastern. Aric Hartvig also fell one victory short of a semi-state berth as he suffered a loss by pin to Chad Stanley of Pendleton Heights.