HUNTINGTON – The Huntington-Charleston area placed two wrestlers into Saturday’s finals of the 48th WSAZ Wrestling Invitational.

Rowan Dunham of the host Highlanders and James Payne of George Washington earned spots in the final of their respective weight classes at Marshall Health Network Arena, with each of their matches featuring possible state tournament finalists.

Scores of other wrestlers, however, from various schools throughout the Tri-State and the Kanawha Valley had chances to earn spots on the medal stand as one of the top eight wrestlers of the more than 1,500 entries in the tournament.

Dunham faced Parkersburg South’s Jesse Adams in the final of the 175-pound weight class, while Payne faced Ripley’s Carter Neal in the final of 285.

Adams, a state champion in 2025 for Independence, was strong from the start and pinned Dunham.

“We were outmatched,” Huntington coach John Dempsey said. “[Adams] was better.”

Payne also tasted defeat, although narrowly to Neal with a 6-3 sudden victory decision over the Patriots senior.

“We always come down here to see what our best guys have got,” GW coach Alex Neal said.

The most dramatic match of the final round was the first-place bout between Parkersburg’s Dominic Way and Skyline (Virginia)’s Josiah Sykes. The two went to three overtime periods before Sykes, a senior, pulled out a 12-6 decision over Way, a junior.

Way is the defending state champion in the 138-pound class.

The weekend belonged to University though after the Hawks scored 307 points to dominate the team standings. University only had one wrestler – Jason Walker in the 150 class – finish as a champion; however, the Hawks placed two in second place, four in third, two in fourth and one in fifth, sixth and eighth.

Parkersburg placed second in the team standings with 239 points. Skyline took third with 227.

Huntington was fourth with 181.5 and Cabell Midland took eighth with 169.

Ripley was the top team in Division 2 with 146.5, followed by Independence with 143.5 and Herbert Hoover in third with 121.

Parkersburg’s Austin Carrodus reached the finals at 113, but fell via a 20-6 major decision against Skyline’s Paden Alyea. Teammate Seth Drennen also advanced to the 120-pound final, but lost an 8-1 decision to Skyline’s Jacob Buffum.

The Big Reds did crown a champion thanks to 138-pounder Stephen Myers, who edged Parker Withers of Skyline, 1-0.

The only other top of the podium finisher from the Mid-Ohio Valley was Williamstown 144-pounder Jake Junkins, who doubled up Northern York’s Jackson Lininger, 8-4.