Defending champs pin down titles in state wrestling tournament

By DAVID WALSH -- The Herald-Dispatch
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HUNTINGTON -- Once again, Parkersburg South and Oak Glen left with the championship hardware.

When the 55th annual West Virginia High School Wrestling Tournament ended Saturday night, the Patriots had in their possession a record fourth straight Class AAA championship. They finished with 206.50 points to 174 for runner-up Parkersburg, the team which beat the Patriots in the Region I Tournament last week.

"This is the sweetest because nobody�s ever done this," Patriots coach and Class AAA coach of the year Tim McCartney said. "We have a mark. Teams come after us, but we did what we had to do to hold them off."

Oak Glen, seeking a record sixth straight Class AA/A crown, trailed Calhoun County after day one. The Golden Bears came on strong from that point to get the record. They had five of their six finalists win Saturday night to bring the final point total to 216.50. Calhoun County placed second with 197.50 points. This the closest margin for Oak Glen in its run. The other titles were by 50 or more points.

"It doesn�t get any easier," Oak Glen coach Larry Shaw said. "Calhoun County, Wirt County and Williamstown gave us all we could handle. This is one of the most difficult years we�ve had. From South (a win over Parkersburg South in a dual) on, it was tough. The kids stepped it up and I�m proud of them."
 

Final standings Class AAA 1. Parkersburg South 206.50 2. Parkersburg 174.00 3. John Marshall 124.50 Class AA/A 1. Oak Glen 216.50 2. Calhoun County 197.50 3. Williamstown 168.50

Oak Glen didn�t clinch the championship until Steve Flowers scored a 3-1 victory over Jeff Morris of Calhoun County at 140.

Parkersburg South saw nine of its 12 qualifiers place with four taking individual titles in the championship round. As a team, the Patriots have finished on top seven of the past eight years.

Ryan Metz, champion at 125 for the Patriots, said a team meeting called by him and fellow senior captains Nathan Pickens, Matt Bosley and Chris Morrison prior to the state paid off.

"We told the guys we had to get it together," he said. "The regional was a jolt, but we let it go. The guys picked it up here. The guys really came together. It�s an unbelievable feeling."

Three of Parkersburg�s four finalists won. None are seniors and that bodes well for the Big Reds.

"The kids came in and worked hard," said Scheny Schenerlein, second-year coach of the Big Reds. "We took that small step toward the big goal. We felt coming in we could win it. This proves we�re capable."
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McCartney saluted the effort of his rival.

"Give Parkersburg High a lot of credit," he said. "They wrestled to win."

Huntington High�s Robbie Williams and Jason Mays saw their dreams of an unbeaten season end. At 130, Ripley�s Matt Smith beat Williams, 3-1, scoring the decisive takedown with one second left. At 160, Pickens pinned Mays at 4:32.

"It could�ve gone either way," said Williams, who finished the season 43-1 as did Mays. "He got the foot in and I couldn�t stop him."

"I messed up one move," Mays said.

At the outset, all eyes were on Wirt County�s Erica Dye, who was seeking to become the first female champion in tournament history. Weirton Madonna�s Anthony Valles, who beat Dye in the third-place match a year ago, repeated the success with a 9-1 victory.

"I�m a little disappointed right now, but as soon as everything calms down, I think I�m going to be happy," said Dye, who received loud ovations from the fans before and after her match. "It�s going to take a little bit of time. Right now it�s real overwhelming."

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