PHS, South hope to dethrone University in Class AAA

PARKERSBURG -- When the 78th annual West Virginia state wrestling tournaments gets underway Thursday in Huntington the Class AAA field will be out to dethrone defending champion University.

Both Parkersburg and Woodrow Wilson are expected to challenge for the top spot and the Patriots of Parkersburg South head coach Shaun Smith advanced a baker's dozen to the final weekend of the season, which is the same as the Hawks. The Flying Eagles qualified their entire team while the Big Reds are sending 11.

"Knock on wood. The sickness kind of hit us earlier so we've been pretty healthy for the most part," admitted PHS head coach Matt Littleton, whose program has the only area big school returning champion in sophomore 132-pounder Stephen Myers (42-6). "I think the room is real excited and still kind of grinding out. We tried to make it a point winning state duals wasn't the peak of the season, so we've still got other goals in front of us here.

"We're still kind of grinding for those. Obviously, University won it last year so they are the top dogs until you knock them off at a tournament. We're going in a little short-handed missing (second-ranked) CJ Carrodus at 120, but it's the state tournament and anything can happen. I think there are three teams really in the fight. We'll see how things play out."

Although the Patriots aren't expected to be in the mix to bring some team hardware back to Wood County, PSHS had a trio of Region IV champions thanks to 157-pound freshman Asa Yost (39-11) as well as seniors Brycen Arthur (215, 28-4) and Logan Middleton (285, 32-11).

"For Brycen, you know, just keep trying to put it in his head that he's the best wrestler in that weight class and as long as he wrestles to his ability there is no one in there that can beat him," coach Smith said of his second-ranked 215-pounder. "It's going to be solely up to him. With his draw he's going to have to be ready to wrestle every time. It's not like it's kids he's not better than. Again, he has to wrestle at his ability and if he does that he'll be fine.

"Logan is going to have to wrestle his second match most likely will be a kid he's lost to a couple times, but it's been like overtime or a last second takedown in the third period. Very capable of beating the kid and making the finals. Asa has had a heck of a season, especially as a freshman wrestling 157. There are a lot of upperclassmen in those middle weights and he's held his own all season. He's had some ups and down, but overall he's been pretty consistent and that's kind of what you want to ask for, especially for a freshman."

Aside from Myers, the red and white boast expected champs in sophomores Seth Drennen (106, 34-11) and Dominic Way (138, 40-6).

"I think Seth has really dominated 106 all year," admitted his coach. "I think he's got the confidence going into the state tournament to continue to do what he's done all year."

Joining Drennen, Myers and Way as Region IV victors were Colston Skeen (126, 30-8, FR), Kayden McDonald (144, 37-11, SO), Lars Cooper (150, 18-10, SO) and Jesse Showalter (175, 29-13, SR).

"We haven't seen Dallas yet this year. He should take care of business and get Dallas in the semis," coach Littleton said of Skeen's potential path to the finals in Spring Mills' Dallas Owens, a junior who was a two-time state runner-up at 106.

"Colston is wrestling really, really well right now. We look to kind of continue that momentum coming out of regionals into the state tournament and finish this thing."

Showalter, who was at 165 for most of the season, flip-flopped with fellow senior and now 175-pounder Cyler Marks (23-19) prior to regionals.

"Those two on paper they say aren't supposed to place, but I think as a coaching staff we have a lot of confidence in those two and I think they are going to surprise some people at the state tournament and come through and find that podium," admitted coach Littleton of Marks and 157-pound freshman Parker Woods (31-15).

Parkersburg South also had regional runner-up showings from Jordan Dearth (120, 31-18, JR), Aaydin King (132, 35-16, JR) and Reese Kelley (138, 32-15, SR).

"I honestly think all three of those individuals have a great shot at placing. Not only placing, but placing just high," coach Smith added. "If they can do that and they can wrestle how they have been I have no doubt they are going to place. Jordan, for example, he's kind of been on a tear. Like he'll be down losing and all of a sudden he'll start wrestling harder and then he'll pin someone.

"Aaydin is another one trying to put it into this head he's a lot better than sometimes he gives himself credit for and he's been pretty consistent as the year has gone. I look for him to be right there at the end of it this weekend. Also, with Reese, he's gotten so much better year after year and I expect him to place in a pretty good spot for us. He's another one who can pin just about anyone. I think right now he's leading the team in pins for us. He's going to have some matches early on that he's lost to a couple of kids, but his ability to wrestle past that and wrestle better the next time he goes out, I have a lot of faith in him."

The Big Reds' lone regional runner-up was 215-pound senior Brandon Davies.

"It's your senior year and you want to continue to put yourself in a position to score points for your team and hopefully find the podium," added coach Littleton.

"He got himself in the regional finals and that's the first step, so he put himself in a position now at the state tournament to hopefully continue to win."

Also competing this week for the Patriots are Gabe Reesman (106, 10-27, FR), Coleton Hill (126, 28-16, SO), Corbin Phillips (144, 25-11, JR), Zane Reeder (150, 11-15, JR), Cohen Staats (165, 15-13, SO), Cole Middleton (175, 33-15, SR) and 190-pound senior Eli Wheeler (26-14).

Coach Smith said Middleton, who is ranked fifth in the state but finished fourth at regional, has been battling an injury but is getting healthier.

"He didn't have his best tournament by any means at the regional, but I expect him to wrestle better this weekend and go out on a much higher note," added his coach. "He's got the ability to win this weekend if he wrestles his best.

"I have a lot of faith in him. He wasn't happy with himself and obviously has a right to feel that way. I think he'll have a much better weekend. Last year he had a really great state tournament and hopefully he's able to do that."

Smith also said it's just been a tough season overall.

Last year the Patriots finished state runner-up after winning it all in 2023.

"The main thing is just trying to get the individuals to wrestle as well as they possibly can and it's kind of a different outlook this year with just all the injuries and everything we've been dealing with," admitted the coach. "It's literally just been one thing after another. A kid gets hurt, then gets back and then gets hurt again and then another kid gets hurt, and a lot of sickness this year, too.

"The last couple matches we had prior to regionals we had several kids out due to sickness and it's just tough to get a rhythm going. As soon as we started wrestling really well it kind of hit us. It's just been one of those years, for sure, you don't want to have."

Patriot junior Nathan Murphy was ranked fifth at 165 after being state runner-up last year and third as a freshman at 144.

"He had a pretty significant injury there to his shoulder. He tried to tough it out, but it was just too much," said coach Smith.

"To try and obviously recover for next season, you get too late into it then you are behind for next year, too."

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com