Wojcik and Bowman Place at State Match

SALEM, VA—Cougar wrestlers Tommy Wojcik and Matt Bowman finished what was a success campaign for the wrestling team this past season. Both wrestlers placed at the state match, which was the first time that had happened since 2006.

Senior Matt Bowman capped off his PCHS wrestling career on Saturday, capturing seventh place at the 171-pound weight limit. For him, it was redemption from an opportunity he couldn’t capitalize on last season.

“I qualified last year, so this was something I was definitely looking forward to this year,” Bowman said. “I did a lot better than last year. Last year at states, I got knocked out because I got sick the day before. So I had to make up for it this year, especially being one of the two seniors on the team and a leader. That was important to me.”

Bowman defeated Tommy Neal of Jefferson Forest, 1-0, in the final match of his high school wrestling career. He now hopes to have college wrestling in his future and pursue athletic training while in school.

“Right now, I have been talking to some coaches and trying to get some scholarships,” Bowman said. “If I don’t get any, I will try to be a walk on in college for hopefully Virginia Tech or a few different North Carolina schools.”

Junior Tommy Wojcik also had an impressive outing, finishing eighth at the 189 pound limit. For him, the experience was something that he had hoped for since he first joined the wrestling team as a freshman.

“The past two years, my freshman and sophomore year, I didn’t get too far,” Wojcik said. “All I was able to do was go to regionals. I knew it was a big thing for me my junior year to get to states. Just going was one of the best parts of my season. Placing was even better. It just made my whole season better. That is what I have been wishing for since my freshman year. Hopefully, next year I can win it.”

Wojcik finishes the year with 99 career victories and will look to next season for his 100th. He already has his sites set on that mark for next year and even more goals past that.

“I’m going to try and get at least get 150 wins total before the year is over,” Wojcik said. “I’m trying to go undefeated next year and work my best at it. If I play football this year, I am still going to practice wrestling three days a week. I’m going to do anything to work towards my goals.”