VAN BUREN – The Bluffton High School wrestling team finished a strong fourth at the 31-team Van Buren Invitational last Friday and Saturday, January 17-18.
Woodmore won the two-day event with 167 points, followed by Defiance Tinora (162.5), Swanton (160.5) and Bluffton (148). Allen East was fifth with 142.
Pirate junior Evan Grothause finished second in the 190 lb. weight class. He was seeded third and after a first round bye, won his first match by pin at 4:57. He then took a 12-1 majority decision in the quarterfinals.
In the semifinals, he won by technical fall 15-0. In the title bout, he lost to top-seeded junior Michael Seeger of Woodmore, 9-3.
St John Bible Church, 15988 Road 4, Pandora, will host Natalie Strong, the founder and owner of Elegant & Armed for a free women’s safety program at 7:00 p.m. on February 27. Strong will provide practical advice on mindset, situational awareness and simple self-defense tools.
Organizers note, "The evening will also include how arming ourselves with God’s word and His peace is our biggest defense against living with fear."
Register by calling St. John Bible Church at 419-384-3680. The deadline to register is February 12.
