That Fred Persinger guy is quite the cat.

I was listening to the WVMetroNews radio broadcast Wednesday evening with Fred on the call and Dave Wilson supplying the color.

Everything has been a complete whirlwind the last couple weeks with the state wrestling tournament and now getting ready for our spring tab special section, let alone the fact it’s March Madness time.

Anyway, toward the end of one of the games Wilson mentioned it was the 50th girls state hoops tournament and that he knew of someone who had been to them all.

Persinger responded by reminding listeners, or perhaps informing them for the first time, that back in the days of yesteryear girls basketball was played in the fall rather than the winter.

The best part was when Fred added “and I used to do them all by myself” and how he was glad to have some help. Wilson quipped something like “I don’t know how much help I am,” and Persinger was like “any help is better than no help.”

The Parkersburg Big Red wrestling program just needed a little bit more help last weekend and the trophy case would’ve added another championship instead of the Division I runner-up hardware.

Big Red junior Dominic Way cashed in on his second state crown, but like the rest of his teammates they wanted the big prize.

It’s not like there will be a lack of motivation going into the 2026-27 campaign for head coach Matt Littleton’s troops, but Way was disheartened with the final overall result.

“It felt great. You know that was my goal coming through this,” Way said. “Pin the first three kids. Same goal for the fourth no matter what the stage is. No matter how many people are watching. Same thing. I trust my training. I know I’m better. I know I’m the best so I just go out there and execute. Like I said before. You look at it I pinned my way through the bracket, but I feel like I could’ve done more for my team.

“I feel a little disappointed. Our 113-pounder Austin Carrodus, I feel like, you know, I could’ve been there for him a little more. I feel like we could’ve gotten through that. Same thing with Colston Skeen. You know I love that man. I love both of them. I love my whole team. It really breaks me to see them go out like that and know that I could’ve done more.”

On the other side of the spectrum, no one was more elated to see Parkersburg South senior Justice Anthony capture her fourth career state crown than father and coach Dustin.

The elder Anthony didn’t mince words when asked about the challenges of the father-daughter-coach relationship

“It’s very, very hard,” admitted the coach. “Anybody that’s ever coached one of their kids has found that it’s really, really hard to be the person that needs to push them past their breaking point, but also be the person that consoles them on the other side. It’s been very difficult. Been very fortunate with Justice in that aspect.

“I have other kids that play sports that have not been as successful in that aspect, but with her I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve been able to take that hat off and be the supportive dad, and also be the motivator and the pusher and the coach that really gets her to see her goals and gets her to her goals.”

Coach Anthony added “the future is very bright for South wrestling. Girls and boys. We got a great incoming freshmen class for the boys as well next year. Can’t count us out ever. We’ll always be in the mix.”

As for Way, he’s trying to take things in stride the best he can.

“I just want to savor it,” stressed the Big Red. “Some days you want it to go a little faster, but in the long run, yeah, definitely slow it down a little bit. Have fun.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsansentinel.com