Randy Snyder/The
Herald-Dispatch
Joey Thomas
of Huntington, top, closes in on a technical fall against Marty Emerson
of Cabell Midland in the 189-pound match.
HUNTINGTON -- Huntington High School wrestlers started the festivities on Parent�s Night by presenting roses to their parents or guests.
When action got to the mat Friday night, the Highlanders gave their fans plenty to cheer about by defeating Cabell Midland, 44-27, to take a 3-2 lead in the series between the Cabell County rivals.
"This is my third one. I�m glad we beat them. I�m glad I won my match big," said senior Joey Thomas, who wrestled up at 189 pounds for the Highlanders instead of his usual 171. "My adrenalin was going so much."
In the previous four meetings, the outcome wasn�t decided until the last one or two weight classes. When Thomas won by technical fall over Marty Emerson, this outcome was clear, halting a two-year win streak for the Knights.
"Both teams have young guys," Huntington coach Bill Archer said. "When you match up old guys with the young guys, the old guys win."
Of the 14 matches, three went the distance. The Highlanders had a 9-5 edge in victories.
"They�re a solid team," Knights coach Ernie Sparks said of the Highlanders, who won the Nitro Invitational last week by one-half point over East Fairmont. "We�ve still got some holes to work on. They came out ready to wrestle. We were a little sluggish."
"We had a good crowd," Archer said. "You can see the rivalry. It�s a friendly one."
Both teams have little time to rest. They�ll be on the same bus today heading to Clendenin for a tri-match against host Herbert Hoover and John Marshall. Action begins at noon.
One of the most exciting matches Friday came at 215 where Huntington�s Mitch Hastings scored a late takedown on Ryan Frazier to eke out a 3-1 win.
"I waited until I thought the time was right and I happened to catch him," Hastings, a senior, said. "This feels good."
Justin Stanley, one of just two seniors in the Cabell Midland lineup, got the team�s first win when he pinned Baxter Fullen at 4:19. Stanley, who won the state title at 119 last year, said his victory did not make up for the team�s defeat.
"It�s a bummer for the team when we lose," he said. "It brings me down. What we have to do is bring the younger guys along fast."
Steve Riner, one of five freshmen in the Huntington lineup, opened the match with a pin over Matt Childers at 3:01 in the 103-pound class. The past couple of years, Riner was in the stands watching Cabell Midland leave with the victory.
"I was nervous," he said. "When I watched, you could see the action was very intense. It feels good to finally win. It hurt to watch us lose."
"This is a great experience
for the young guys," Thomas said. "It exposes them to all the hype early
and it helps. It helped me."