Big Reds Wrestling

Parkersburg High eyes MSAC four-peat

By JAY W. BENNETT

Sports Reporter

PARKERSBURG -- The past three seasons it's been Huntington High finishing runner-up to the Big Reds from Parkersburg during the annual Mountain State Athletic Conference wrestling championships.

When action gets underway at 10 a.m. today inside Memorial Fieldhouse, head coach Matt Littleton is hoping his Big Reds can secure a conference four-peat.

"I definitely think coming in we are the favorite," said Littleton, who noted 170-pounder Ty Boyd is out this weekend and was replaced by Mason Merrifield. "We've beaten Cabell Midland and Huntington, but we haven't seen St. Albans much this year and George Washington and a few of the other teams like Riverside.

"We'll get a good look at them. Some people can avenge losses they took earlier in the year and get a good look at regional opponents and we're focused on that."

Top-seeded 160-pound Big Red John Martin Best is seeking his fourth career MSAC title.

He was a champ at 120 as a freshman, won it at 138 in 2018 and secured his three-peat with a 152-pound crown last winter.

Parkersburg's Garret Donahue, who is top-seeded at 120, along with No. 1 seed Bo Moler at 138 are both trying to reach the finals for a fourth straight season. Donahue and Moler each lost by two points as freshmen back in 2017, but followed with championships the past two seasons.

Chace Mathess, last year's 160-pound MSAC champ, has the top seed at 182 for the Big Reds, whose other No. 1 seed is 152-pounder Noah Inboden.

"I think we're optimistic he'll be back for the postseason," coach Littleton said of Boyd.

"He's just a little banged up. We want to give him this weekend to rest and get ready for the regional tournament next weekend (in Huntington).

"We're still battling the sickness a little bit. We've had a few guys out of our lineup this week. We're battling hard to get healthy and fire on all cylinders for next Saturday and the regional."

PHS, which is unable to fill 106 and 220, has only one other seeded grappler and that's 145-pound No. 3 seed Aydan Edwards.

"He's still in a walking boot," Littleton admitted of 220-pounder Jacob McCune.

"I don't know if we'll get him back for the regional tournament."

Also hoping to help secure a PHS four-peat this afternoon are 113-pounder George Cantwell, 126-pounder Chase Figley, 132-pounder Buddy Roberts, 195-pounder Zach Howard and heavyweight Jeffery Jones.

∫ Braxton County will look to continue its domination when the 57th annual Little Kanawha Conference championships get underway at 10 a.m. today at Doddridge County High School. The Eagles have won the past three LKC titles.

Seeding for the LKC will be finalized this morning before wrestling begins.

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com