By DAVID WALSH - The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON -- Huntington�s Joey Thomas met the challenge Thursday night in his first match of the 54th West Virginia High School wrestling tournament.
Thomas, a Class AAA Region III champion at 189 pounds, was supposed to meet Andrew Starsick of North Marion in the opener. Starsick, who had placed fourth in Region II, moved up a position when No. 3 qualifier Artie Badger of Jefferson did not make the trip because of an illness. Matt Sternthal of East Fairmont, who lost twice in the regional and did not place in the top four, got to fill in at No. 4. He was No. 1 in his weight class, though, in the Feb. 5 state coaches poll.
"I was up for the match," said Thomas, who pinned Sternthal at 4:32. "I went out and wrestled to the best of my ability. There was some extra spark. This was something I didn�t expect."
Six of Huntington�s 12 state qualifiers won. However, the Highlanders are in eighth place with 18.5 points.
Parkersburg South, the overwhelming favorite to win a third consecutive Class AAA title, leads with 39 points. The Patriots saw 11 of their 14 qualifiers win.
South coach Tim McCartney met with his team before the tournament started and made two points.
"I told them this is our goal and we�re here now," he said. "They have to work hard to achieve it. Second is put the crowd out of their mind. All of them are against us except for that one section (of South fans)."
In Class AA-A, Oak Glen took the lead with 35 points. Independence and Cameron are tied for second with 31.5. Oak Glen is seeking a record fifth straight state title.
"Everyone�s going to cut everyone up, I think," Oak Glen assistant coach Bill Wells said. "I think it�s going to be close. Whoever�s left standing will be the champion."
Last year, Thomas finished runner-up at 171.
"I want to be at the top of the podium this year," the senior said. "It�s such a reward to be on that podium."
Wrestling sessions today are at 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday�s sessions are at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. for the championship round.
Cabell Midland, in 12th with 16 points, received wins by pin from seniors Justin Stanley at 119 and Byron Wellman at heavyweight.
"I wrestled hard. I wanted to get it over with quick," said Stanley, who won the state at 112 last year. "I know I�m getting into it tomorrow. I�ve got to get my head on straight and be in it mentally."
Stanley has a morning match today against Adam Kennedy of Wheeling Park. A win could set up a semifinal meeting with Ryan Metz of Parkersburg South. In the opposite bracket is Parkersburg�s Matt Stevens, who is No. 1 in the state at 119 and favored to make the finals.
Wellman�s victory atoned for first-round losses in the last two state tournaments.
"No 3-peat," he said. "It�s just one step. I know who I wrestle next and that�s all I�m focused on."
Spring Valley�s Jason Hutchinson, who placed fourth in Region III at 145, pinned Region 4 champ Josh Glass of Lewis County in the first round.
"Some people get carried away with that seeding stuff," Timberwolves coach Bruce Niday said. "I don�t tell them anything about who they wrestle. I just tell them to go take it to them."
Hutchinson admitted he had to get over early jitters. A broken hand kept him out of the state last year.
"I kept the pressure on him," Hutchinson said. "I knew I�d have to take it to him. This means a lot to me, especially after missing last year."
Niday and Hutchinson said the win is big in many ways.
"We need this. This is our second year. It�s the success factor," Niday said. "Look at Huntington High and Cabell Midland. I told them don�t be happy just to come here."
"This proves a point, that we have wrestling," Hutchinson said. "They have to take us seriously."
Parkersburg South, ranked No. 1 in Class AAA all year, won the Region I title last week by 120 points over Wheeling Park. McCartney, though, said the Patriots would take nothing for granted.
"As soon as we walked in the building, I heard the chant, �Who hates South?� " he said. "That�s the price we pay for being on top. I like it there."
Oak Glen had 13 qualifiers as did Independence, Calhoun County and Cameron. Independence had 10 wrestlers win titles in the Region IV tournament.
"You have to give a lot of respect to those other three teams," Golden Bears coach Larry Shaw said. "I expect it to be a battle right to the end. I really do."
Female wrestlers had a tough time Thursday.
Wirt County�s Erica Dye, who last year became the first girl to win a first-round match, was dominated in her first-round match at 103 pounds by Dustin Bartrug of St. Mary�s, 10-2.
"I�d say by her performance, she wasn�t ready for the match," said Wirt County assistant coach Scott Moore. "She wrestled a dumb match. She was beating the kid on his feet, but when he started getting a little physical, she just shut up. She�s a better wrestler than that."
Dye, a junior, came in 31-6 and Region 1 champion. Bartrug, a freshman, is 41-6.
Williamstown�s
Casey Biddle pinned Clay-Battelle�s Stephanie Beach, a freshman with a
2-28 record, in 57 seconds at 112.