Parkersburg assistant wrestling coach Chris Way, left, watches a match as son Dominic Way, right, and daughter Cali Way look on during last week’s state tournament in Huntington. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

PARKERSBURG — Where there’s a will there’s a way.

Last weekend at the 78th annual West Virginia state wrestling tournament in Huntington a piece of Parkersburg High School history was etched into the record books when sophomore Big Red Dominic Way secured his first state title after pinning George Washington’s Ben McComas in the second period of the 144-pound Class AAA finals.

Although senior sister Cali Way wrestled soon thereafter and finished state runner-up at 145, it marked the first time in red and white history a father and son had ever won individual state mat titles at PHS.

“I remember not winning a championship in my sophomore and junior year and I just really remember dumping a lot of effort into that senior year. Just working so hard knowing that nobody was going to be able to beat me that year,” said father Chris, who closed out a three-year team championship run as a senior back in 1994 with the 145-pound state title. “I wasn’t even really aware that was a thing until Jenny Hannan told me about it a couple years ago and kind of threw it on the radar for us. At that point, I mean, it became pretty intriguing and kind of a unique thing, but all throughout his wrestling career I’ve never tried to make his goals my goals.

“My goal’s always really been just to try and make him the best wrestler that I could possibly help him be. Hopefully in that process he would become a state champ sooner than later. Last year he was really on track for that and kind of got derailed with some injuries and stuff at the end of the season, but like I said it really wasn’t the main goal to be a state champion or even a four-time state champion. It was really just to be the best wrestler that he could be and he still had that opportunity to still be a really great wrestler in high school and prove that to everybody else.”

Way, who is the PHS athletics director and also an assistant coach for head man Matt Littleton, added “I think the closest (father-son) was coach (Joe) Handlan (1962 all divisions 133-pound champ) and his son (Jody). His son got third (1994).”

The youngest Way wrestler said he “was sitting there right next to him (dad) when he found out about it actually. It never really crossed my brain either.

“It was kind of just a something that came along with it. It’s really just a stepping stone to the lengths I’m going in my career.”

Dominic added of the unique situation “it’s pretty cool. Bigger things to come here soon.”

Following the state title victory by Dominic, coach Way watched Cali come up just short, 5-4, after getting the first takedown.

“Traditionally I try to keep my emotions in check when I’m in the corner just because I can always think a little more clearly when I’m more level-headed instead of letting my emotions fly up and down,” admitted the father.

“At the moment I didn’t try to get too high, but I knew that she was coming up and I wanted to stay level-headed for that one and stay focused for her match. After her match it was really tough and really close. I certainly wasn’t down after her match. I was really actually just proud of the way that she wrestled and being able to compete, how she was able to be right there in the match and close to winning it there in the end.

“Instead of being down or any negative emotions I was just happy to be able to enjoy the moment as she came off the mat. It was really the first time, because wrestling is more unique to guys and she’s always had gymnastics which is more unique to girls, so we’ve never really had any overlap in any sport since they were like 6 or 7 years old. They played like youth soccer together so we’ve never had that overlap in the past. This was really the first year we’ve had any overlap and it was really cool to get to coach both of them and have them both together at the same time.”

Dominic added of watching the final match for his sister “obviously I was pretty excited about my win just a few minutes earlier. I was on the podium and as soon as I got off the podium I ran over there to her corner.

“Even though she didn’t get it done I was proud of the way she wrestled. She wrestled hard. Made just a few mistakes that came with the inexperience, but she wrestled really hard and I was proud of her.”

Cali admitted that her younger brother “told me not to watch him, but I couldn’t help myself and I ran to the front of the crowd and just screamed my head off. It was awesome. I wish I did it sooner looking back, but I’m not done yet.”

Cali, who will be joining her brother later this month for the NHSCA Virginia Beach nationals, was the first PHS girl to reach a state final.

“It’s awesome,” Cali added of just the whole experience. “With like my immediate family it’s really awesome to have them there and actually understand the sport. With gymnastics they don’t know much, but when I like hear them and see them up in the stands for wrestling it really puts a smile on my face, and then just like my gym family I couldn’t do it without them. I show up to practice late every single day because my practices overlap, but they are very understanding and they support me no matter what with my wrestling, and gymnastics obviously.”

The least experienced Way on the mat also stressed “I definitely couldn’t do it without these two.

“Random practices in the garage. Extra practices over breaks, I couldn’t do it without them.”

Dominic added “definitely brought us closer together” as Cali chimed “yeah” before Dominic continued “and our relationships are a lot tighter now that we’ve been the last few months wrestling together.”

Of course, the biggest question was what Dominic had for his championship and history making post match dinner.

“Sheetz. Went to Sheetz,” Dominic said with a grin. “I got a milk shake at Sheetz and that was pretty rewarding.

“We just missed Chipotle by about five minutes so I got a burger with mozzarella sticks on it and a milkshake.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com