How an injured Conner McChesney continues to contribute to Fort LeBoeuf's wrestling team
NORTH EAST — At least there was solace for Conner McChesney.
The injured 189-pounder for Fort LeBoeuf’s wrestling team, who won by forfeit during Wednesday’s 43-21 dual victory at North East, still expects to compete this season.
McChesney, son of Bison coach Shane McChesney, separated his left shoulder last month. The senior, who qualified for the past two PIAA Class 2A tournaments, hasn’t actively competed on a mat since he won the 189 division during Hickory’s season-opening meet.
Wednesday’s victory, his second by forfeit since the injury, left him 7-0 this season and 91-27 overall.
“I’m supposed to go back to the doctor next week,” Conner McChesney said. “Guess we’ll see what (the timetable) is when I go back. This definitely stinks, but I’m trying to stay positive around the guys.”
McChesney was emphatic that — healed or not — he will participate in the upcoming postseason.
The same can’t be said for Logan Latimore, North East’s 189 starter. Members of the Grapepickers’ staff confirmed the sophomore will miss the rest of this season with a torn knee ligament.
Latimore was hurt during North East’s appearance in last week’s Southmoreland Holiday Classic at Alverton. He was 9-4 by the conclusion of that meet.
Wednesday’s win left LeBoeuf 3-0 in District 10’s Region 4 standings and 8-2 overall. North East dropped to 1-2, 3-5.
The Bison never trailed the ‘Pickers after a five-match run of falls and forfeits. Jojo Przybycien (160), Ryan Welka (172) and heavyweight John Duran were responsible for the falls.
District 10 scoreboard: Erie-area wrestling, swimming and other results for Jan. 2-6
Hurd punishing opponents instead of self
North East opened the dual with a 9-0 advantage thanks to Cyrus Hurd’s fall in the 133 match and Kyler See’s 8-5 decision against LeBoeuf’s Blake Glass at 139.
Hurd’s pin left him 13-0 overall. The junior is easily on pace to exceed his 23-6 sophomore season that concluded with a sixth-place medal effort in the PIAA’s 127 2A weight class.
Hurd, who wrestled for Cathedral Prep as a freshman, has an overall varsity record of 51-10. He likely would have had more on-mat experience had he not punched a wall in frustration before his sophomore season officially began.
Hurd sat out the first month of North East’s 2022-23 season while his hand healed.
Anger management is now part of his wrestling routine.
“That was one of the major things I focused on over the summer, honestly,” he said. “Keeping my emotions in check the best I can. How I act, on and of the mat, reflects who I am.”
More: Erie County's top performing athletes for the first week of 2024: Jan. 2-6
What’s next
North East and LeBoeuf are idle this weekend despite multiple tournaments scheduled throughout the tri-state area.
That includes Friday’s start to Meadville’s Tool City Tournament. Girard, Seneca and Union City are Erie County programs scheduled to appear in the 15-team event.
The ‘Pickers return to action Jan. 10 for a region dual at Northwestern. After that, they’ll travel to the Mid-Winter Mayhem at Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Kovalchick Complex.
LeBoeuf’s next scheduled competition is at that same Jan. 12-13 tournament.
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Fort LeBoeuf's wrestlers begin new year with dual win at North East
