Knights’ Wellman one match away from living up to advanced billing

By DAVID WALSH - The Herald-Dispatch

HUNTINGTON -- Cabell Midland’s Byron Wellman entered the 54th annual West Virginia State High School Wrestling Tournament as the No. 1-ranked heavyweight. The senior is one match away from living up to that billing.

"It’s been one match at a time and focus on what I have to do," Wellman said Friday night after wins by pin in the quarterfinals and semifinals put him tonight’s title match against Chris Satterfield of East Fairmont.

The past two years, Wellman came to the Huntington Civic Arena with high expectations, only to suffer first-round losses each time. So far, he’s3-0 with all wins by fall.

"Coach (Sparks) and I talk about what I have to do," Wellman said. "So far it’s worked out the way we wanted. Each match, I don’t force anything and take advantage of opportunities when they come."

Sophomore Chris Gibbs is the other Cabell Midland wrestler in the finals. He won his quarterfinal match by pinfall, then had to go overtime to defeat Justin Hawes of Jefferson, 6-4, in the semifinals to get a shot at a title.

Huntington High also has two wrestlers going for titles. They are junior Jason Mays at 145 and senior Joey Thomas at 189. Mays beat Joel Gramlich of Wheeling Park, 4-0, in the semifinal round. Thomas scored all his points in the second period en route to an 8-3 victory over Matt Miller of Preston.

In the team standings, favorites Parkersburg South in Class AAA and Oak Glen in Class AA-A have clinched championships with two rounds still to go. For South, it’s the third straight.

Consolation finals are today at 11 a.m. The championship round begins at 6 p.m.

The Patriots, who have four wrestlers in the finals and seven going in the consolation round, have 160 points. Fairmont Senior and Wheeling Park are tied for second with 86.5.

"We didn’t have a very good round," Patriots coach Tim McCartney said of the semifinal session. "The intensity level dropped off and you see what happens. Kids have to put a complete match together.

"We’ll find out now if this team has character. You want the team to win, but you want each individual to do the best he can. When a kid loses, we all hurt."

Oak Glen had 7-of-9 wrestlers win semifinal matches to spark the pullaway. The Golden Bears, with a record fifth title in hand, have 186 points to 133 ¹/₂ for runner-up Cameron. Williamstown is third with 124.

Oak Glen coach Larry Shaw was in much better spirits Friday night than Thursday.

"There are expectations and frustrations," he said. "We had the exact opposite day today. We continued to move ahead and I can’t complain. We got together and talked before the morning matches. I told the kids to go out and win, not to keep from losing.

"We want to finish strong. We’re confident and we want to come back and close out on a positive note."

As for Wellman (37-3), Sparks said time in the weight room has paid off.

"He keeps the pressure on and wears them out," he said. "It’s tough to carry around 275 pounds."

Gibbs (33-4) has had an amazing run to the state finals. In the first match of the season, the Knights met Parkersburg South and he suffered a shoulder injury. He was out for about a month. His first action was in the Wheeling Park Duals where he lost to Park’s Derek Kennedy in the finals in overtime. He gets a rematch tonight.

"I couldn’t do it without the Lord Jesus Christ," Gibbs said. "This is awesome. I can’t explain what it means to make the finals in my sophomore year. I didn’t know what to expect tonight. Anybody who makes the finals can wrestle. I kept my composure and hit the move when the chance came."

Thomas (39-1) started the season at 171 before moving up to 189 about three weeks ago.

"He doesn’t wrestle like a big guy," Highlanders coach Bill Archer said. "They try to muscle him and he’s handled it so far."

Thomas, state runner-up last year, scored an escape to start the second period and trigger his burst.

"He had a good shot, but he kind of laid back, so it was time for me to start doing something," Thomas said. "It’s great to be back in the finals again."

Archer said Mays (33-4) wrestled his typical match.

"He’s real controlled," he said. "He likes to do it that way."

Wirt County’s Erica Dye made history Friday as she became the first girl ever to place in the state tournament.

Dye secured at least sixth place at 103 pounds in Class AA-A with a 3-1 victory in her third-round consolation match Independence’s Bryan Snuffer. She can finish as high as third with two wins today.

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