This past Friday, Feb. 28, and Saturday, March 1, the Waynesburg men’s wrestling team traveled to Averett University for the Region IV Championships. 

The team overall finished 15 out of 20 teams. However, the main takeaway from this past weekend was sophomore Jessie Orbin, who was the 174-pound PAC champion this season, placed fifth in the 174-pound weight class in the region.

Despite the success Orbin had this season, and earning 75 wins in just two seasons at Waynesburg, he still knows he can finish better than fifth place. 

“I mean, it’s not where we wanted to end up but in the end, it’s still an improvement from last year,” Orbin said. “I didn’t place and lost in the blood round last year. So honestly, some improvement is better than none.”

Orbin made it to the Region III championships last year as freshman, however, as he mentioned, did not place. 

“This year, I saw more opportunities to score and I used them to make it to the second day and place,” Orbin said. 

Overall, Orbin said he is just excited to continue to try and progress to be a better wrestler. 

“I’m extremely excited to take yet another big step in the direction I am heading,” Orbin said. 

Senior Ayden Bishoff, who missed most of his senior season due to a torn meniscus and eventual removal in December, found himself competing at the Region IV championships as well. 

“I would say I felt accomplished and satisfied with my career after being told my career was over. I didn’t hold any regret like so many athletes do and felt I gave it my all,” Bishoff said regarding his last time on the mat as a competitor. “I felt that Waynesburg University allowed me to grow so much in all aspects in my life, not only in athletics.”

When Bishoff heard the news that he was able to return to wrestling after his injury, he was excited, not just for himself, but to continue to wrestle with his teammates. 

“However, when they told me I was able to come back… I would like to say I felt extremely grateful. I didn’t automatically commit to coming back after being told after surgery that it was possible,” Bishoff said. “Guys like Seth Evans and Jessie Orbin went into my decision. Being able to compete alongside them a few more times was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.”

Despite the season now being officially over, Bishoff was happy of his choice to come back and every second he cherished. 

“It was extremely fun. I gave it everything I had down to the final second,” Bishoff said. “I smiled coming off the mat with zero regret. I also got a taste of the stress coaching brings, sitting matside for Jessie’s matches.”

The other senior on the team, [Seth] Evans, like Bishoff, has been extra grateful for his wrestling experience, but more importantly this year with this team. 

“It has been an experience I have cherished more than my three prior years. Just having three or four guys who bought in and made it the entire way made it an experience that I can appreciate regardless of anything else at play,” Evans said. 

Evans also said that some people potentially don’t fully understand the toll that is taken on wrestlers during a season, however that helps when applying these lessons to life and future plans. 

“People don’t realize how difficult wrestling is on people mentally. Not just because of the constant practices, weight cutting, and sacrifices but working hard for so long and still possibly not achieving the goals we set out for,” Evans said. “If I can handle some of the moments where all my hard work didn’t reward me with the results I wanted, I can handle a lot of other tough things in life.”