South wrestlers looking to three-peat in Huntington
Shaun Smith’s Patriots sending 12 wrestlers to state championship
PARKERSBURG — The journey for Parkersburg South to win a third straight state title took a solid step in the right direction here Saturday inside the Rod Oldham Athletic Center as head coach Shaun Smith’s Patriots dominated the Class AAA, Region IV championships and qualified a dozen wrestlers to the final weekend of the season.
Parkersburg South, which went 7-3 in the championship finals and won its ninth straight regional, rolled to the crown with 242 points. Huntington, which qualified nine, finished with 177.5 to edge Parkersburg. The Big Reds, who qualified 10, finished with 174 points to outdistance Ripley (151, nine), Spring Valley (134, seven), Cabell Midland (95, four) and Hurricane (80, five).
“I think today went extremely well. Obviously, it would’ve been better to take all 14 to the state tournament,” said coach Smith, who watched 195-pounder Justin Allman become the Patriots’ third four-time regional champ after he blanked Spring Valley’s Cody Stanley, 3-0.
“I’m really looking forward to the next three days in practice and I’m looking forward to next weekend. Like it’s been said, this is by far the toughest region in triple-A and getting out of this region, especially in a high place, puts you in a good position next weekend to do well at the state tournament.”
Two of the title matches pitted rival PHS against South and the Patriot faithful didn’t have to wait long to see the first showdown. No. 2 seed Tucker Windland made his takedown in the first period stand during his 2-0 triumph versus top-seeded Big Red 106-pounder Garrett Donahue.
Another tight match came at 120 where second-seeded freshman Brayden Roberts used an escape nine ticks into the third period to upset PHS ninth-grader John Martin Best, 1-0.
Coach Smith’s squad actually won the first four titles as 113-pounder Ian Irizarry doubled up Ripley’s Josh Sinclair, 6-3, at 113. At 126, Luke Martin rolled to a 17-6 major decision against Viking Tyler Haskins.
Also going into Thursday’s state tournament at Huntington’s Big Sandy Superstore Arena as a regional champ are Patriots Drew Dunbar at 160 and 182-pounder Hunter DeLong. Dunbar used a takedown late in the second period to take the lead for good at 5-3 against Huntington’s Drew Parde, who suffered a 9-4 setback. DeLong allowed the first takedown to Ripley’s Chance Morgan, but controlled the match the rest of the way en route to a 9-2 decision.
Parkersburg’s lone regional champ came thanks to 145-pounder Stephen Carder, who doubled up Ripley’s Jacob Starkey, 14-7. Big Red 138-pounder Jared Donahue, the top seed, got turned in the second period by Huntington No. 2 seed Will Jeffers, who proceeded to go ahead 4-0 after an escape in the third. Jeffers added a late takedown in the third and then allowed a quick reversal, but he got to the top of the podium with his 6-2 decision.
The only other champ from the Mid-Ohio Valley came at 170 where second-seeded Chase Morgan upset top-seeded Patriot T.J. Lambiotte, 6-4, in a physical battle. Lambiotte led 4-3 entering the third, but the Viking tallied the final three points on an escape and his winning takedown with 20 seconds left.
The 152-pound class featured the top three ranked grapplers in the Mountain State. In the end, No. 1 seed Zane Lanham of Huntiington grabbed the momentum against third-seeded Patriot Zane Hinzman by getting a takedown with four ticks left in the opening period for the first points. The Highlander finished with an 8-1 triumph.
Ripley top-seeded 220-pounder B.J. Haynes was unable to hold down No. 2 seed Owen Porter of Spring Valley in the final 30 second overtime. Porter scored his 3-2 victory following an escape with 13 seconds remaining.
The other two regional crowns went to Spring Valley 132-pounder Kaleb Creamer, who won 3-0 versus Ripley’s Hunter Burdette, and Cabell Midland heavyweight Chaston Holley, who pinned South’s Louden Haga in 3:42.
Parkersburg South also had two consolation finals victors thanks to Mikey Shamblin at 132 and 220-pounder Dalton Fullerton. PHS had a trio of third-place finishes thanks to Hunter Ackerman at 113, Jalen King at 170 and heavyweight Donavon McCune. Big Reds Bo Moler (132), Matt Fox (152) and Logan Nay (160) also advanced to Huntington by finishing fourth.
A pair of Vikings also finished fourth — Evan King at 120 and Anthony Jarvis at 195.
Wirt County regional runner-up
* MT. ZION — Point Pleasant ran away with the Class AA/A, Region IV title here Saturday at Calhoun County as the Big Blacks topped Wirt County, 236 to 188.5.
The Tigers crowned four regional champs and will send eight grapplers to Huntington.
Wyatt Powell won the Tigers’ first title with a 13-5 victory against Point’s Caleb Lane in the 120 finals. At 145, Hunter Moore pinned Wahama’s Ethan Herdman. Joe Powell won his 170-pound finals thanks to an 8-3 decision against Mingo Central’s Corey Smith. The other orange and black regional champ came at 220 where Mike Burns won via forfeit against Williamstown’s Bryce Mefford.
Wirt County’s Cole Cheuvront was nipped 2-1 and finished runner-up at 113 to George Smith of Point Pleasant. The Tigers also had consolation finals wins thanks to Colton Whipkey (126), Noah Garrett (152) and Aaron Life (160).
Williamstown, which finished fourth with 102 points and was well behind third-place Winfield’s 174, qualified five grapplers. Aside from Mefford, 138-pounder Casch Somerville took runner-up honors after falling 10-2 to Point’s Jacob Bryant. Brantley Gucket was third at 113 while teammates Josh Frye (126) and Luke Myers (182) finished fourth.
Ravenswood’s four qualifiers were 126-pound runner-up Clay Tanner, 132-pound consolation finals victor Colton Clark along with Cody Smith (106) and Jacob Tanner (138), who finished fourth.
The host Red Devils had a regional champ from 160-pounder Seth Moore, who decisioned Nitro’s Vincent Devaney, 7-5. Calhoun 132-pounder Allen Metheney was pinned by Winfield’s Jamie Ward in the finals while 170-pounder Conner Ritchie finished third thanks to a pin of Winfield’s Chance Dixon.
* BRIDGEPORT — Little Kanawha Conference champion Braxton County, which qualified nine wrestlers, dominated the Class AA/A, Region I field by piling up 230.5 points. Grafton’s 157 was good enough to edge out Roane County’s 139 total for runner-up team honors.
Roane County’s Garrett Burnside improved to 29-5 after winning one of the Raiders’ two titles at 220. Jacob Spencer, now 44-4, topped the field at 126. Four other Rai
Doddridge County’s lone representative will be 195-pounder Hunter Ackerman, who placed third.
Tough day for locals at Fairmont
* FAIRMONT — Only five grapplers from the Mid-Ohio Valley punched their ticket to the state tournament in Huntington from the Class AA/A, Region I tournament, which was won by East Fairmont with 178 points. Keyser was runner-up with 171.5.
The area received regional championships from Ritchie County 106-pounder Connor Spaulding and Magnolia 195-pounder Caleb Nice. Jeremy Smith of St. Marys finished runner-up at 182 while Magnolia’s Riley Nice (126) and Tyler Consolidated’s Cory Chipps (285) each won their respective consolation finals match.