Bad Break Not Hindering Shaw

Eagles perched in third place after first day

By Pierce W. Huff, Staff Writer for The Times-Picayune: February 18, 2006

It was an honest mistake that could have happened at anytime, but Shaw wrestler Vincent Bergeron still feels bad about it.

Bergeron broke the collarbone of teammate Jeremy Walker in the final minutes of the Eagles' last practice before the Louisiana High School Athletic Association state wrestling tournament at the Pontchartrain Center.

Walker, a senior who wrestles at 152 pounds, had been looking forward to competing in the tournament for the first time and helping Shaw make a run for its first state championship.  But the injury eliminated that chance.

Bergeron has dedicated the tournament to Walker, and he advanced to the semifinals at 140 pounds to lead Shaw to third place on the first day of the two-day Division II tournament.

Northside leads Division II with 128 points, followed by Parkway (117).  Shaw has 107 points.  St. Thomas More is fourth with 55 points.  Belle Chasse is fifth with 45 points.

Brusly leads Division III with 106 points, followed by Teurlings Catholic (82) and Rayne (81).  The top local team is Pearl River, which is fifth with 69.5 points.

Eight Shaw wrestlers advanced to the semifinals Friday.  Bergeron, seeded third, began the tournament with a victory over Northwood's Gerald Evans on a fall at 2 minutes and 37 seconds.  Bergeron won his second match with a victory against East Jefferson's Ronald Duvison on a fall at 2:25.

"I'm very determined to make up for what I did," Bergeron said.

Walker's injury occurred when he and Bergeron were practicing single-leg takedowns.

"I just did a move," Bergeron said.  "I didn't feel or hear anything when he got hurt, but he was in pain."

Walker said he doesn't blame Bergeron for what happened.  "I'm rooting for him," Walker said.

But that hasn't made Bergeron feel any better.  Bergeron said he and Walker are friends and work out together almost every day.

"This just hit me pretty hard," Bergeron said.

Shaw's Brandon Surrency, in his first tournament, also advanced to the semifinals at 103.  Surrency had a first round bye and defeated Northwood's Brandon Venable on a fal at 3:20 in the second round.

"I was extremely nervous," Surrency said.  "It's exciting to be in the semi-finals."

Other Shaw wrestlers who advanced to the semifinals were Alan Seaton (125), Ben Collins at 130, Dustin Newberry at 135, Philip Robichaux at 145, Zachary Schaubhut at 171 and Paul Hatty at 215.

Shaw has never had a wrestler in a state championship match.  The Eagles' best individual finish was a sixth-place finisher in 2004 and a sixth-place finisher last year.

But Shaw coach John Cassreino said he thinks this could be the year the Eagles break through with their first state champion.

Hatty, a senior who is the top seed at 215, began the tournament with a first round bye and defeated Zachary's Michael Johnson on a fall at 5:04 in the second round [?].  Hatty finished sixth at 215 last year.

Robichaux, a senior who is seeded second at 145, had a first round bye and defeated Zachary's John Moore on a fall at 1:20 in the second round [?].

And Bergeron hopes he can win a state championship for his fallen friend as well.

"I still feel bad about this," he said.