Hastings uses Archer’s words to win WSAZ title in overtime period

By DAVID WALSH -- The Herald-Dispatch

 

Randy Snyder/The Herald-Dispatch Huntington High School wrestling coaches Bill Archer, left, and his son Robbie watch as one of their wrestlers takes on a Cabell Midland opponent in the WSAZ Invitational.

HUNTINGTON -- Herbert Hoover’s Jonathon Moales won the toss. Huntington High’s Mitch Hastings won the match.

Moales and Hastings were tied, 1-1, after regulation and one overtime period in their 215-pound title match Saturday night at the WSAZ Invitational wrestling tournament at Veterans Memorial Field House. That meant the outcome would be decided in a 30-second overtime session.

Moales won the toss and took up, meaning an escape would spell victory. Hastings was down, meaning if he could keep his opponent tied up, he would win.

Then there was coach Bill Archer’s pep talk.

"He pointed at me, made his face and said, ‘ride him, don’t let him go,’" Hastings said. "He said I still had 30 seconds to go, stop looking like I had lost. I was scared."

Hastings heeded his coach’s advice and kept Moales in his grasp for 30 seconds to get the win. He was one of four Highlanders to win titles as the team piled up 230 points to take home the Class AAA title.

"I told Mitch don’t walk around discouraged," Archer said.

Riverside, Ohio, a first-year entry, finished second with 197.5 points. The Beavers went 2-for-3 in the finals.

Williamstown, which did not have an individual champion, won the Class AA-A crown with 186 points. Independence was second with 159.5.

Other division winners were: Cabell Midland, freshman, 163 points; Blennerhassett, junior high, 283; and Point Pleasant, Middle School, 189.

For Hastings, a senior, the victory was huge.

"It’s my first (title) here," he said. "It means the world to me."

Other Highlanders who won were Billy Barrett at 125, Jason Mays at 145 and Joey Thomas at 171. Of the 13 Huntington High entries, 11 wrestlers placed.

"This is awesome," Thomas said after his 8-3 win over Chris Brown of Independence. "It took me a while to get warmed up. I decided I’d better start wrestling, do my stuff.

"I can’t say enough about our young guys. They stepped in there and placed. I’m so proud. They’re really coming on."

Cabell Midland had three finalists, but only heavyweight Byron Wellman prevailed. He beat Eric McGhee of Jackson, 5-0, in the final match on the cold, snowing evening.

"He’s controlling his weight now," Knights coach Ernie Sparks said of Wellman, who missed the first couple of tournaments because he had not reached the 275-pound limit. "The more he wrestles, the better he will be. We controlled the tempo in that match. We had hoped to do that in all three, but the other two dominated us."

"It was my kind of match," Wellman said. "If I do what I’m taught, I’m confident I can come out on top. There was some tough competition here.’

The Lakia brothers got the Riverside titles. Sophomore Eric beat Cabell Midland’s Justin Stanley, 12-5, at 119. Senior Neal held off Huntington High’s Robbie Williams, 6-5, at 130.

"Both have similar styles, but they are totally different personalities when they hit the mat," Riverside coach Scott Blank said. "Eric’s amazing. When he makes the finals, he’s a different kid. Neal wrestled a great match."

Blank said the Beavers probably would return next year. In addition, the junior high squad also would come to take part in that division.

"We enjoyed it," Blank said. "There was a lot of good wrestling going on. We paid attention."

Point Pleasant’s title came at 160 where John Bonecutter beat Jarrod Diamond of Cabell Midland, 12-8.

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