By DAVID WALSH - The Herald-Dispatch

HUNTINGTON -- Parkersburg South wrestling coach Tim McCartney can finally get a good night’s sleep. Milton Middle School coach Jim LeMaster can exhale now.

McCartney regained that smile Saturday night when his Patriots rolled to the Class AAA title in the 25th annual WSAZ Invitational at Veterans Memorial Field House. They had four champions and 12 placers overall and piled up 278 points. Huntington High was second with 199.5.

"This was a different team," McCartney said, his team obviously over Wednesday night’s 41-14 loss to rival Parkersburg in their annual dual held on South’s home floor. "The real team showed up.

"They were just as embarrassed and ashamed as I was after Wednesday. They accepted responsibility and they all did a better job. They’re in a better frame of mind. Heck, I’ll be able to sleep tonight."

Milton Middle won that division as well as the overall title among middle schools, junior highs and freshman teams. The Panthers, tied with Edison for No. 1 overall in the latest WV Mat rankings, racked up 196.5 points to become the first local team to capture the overall title.

"I’m not going to exhale until it’s over," LeMaster said. "I’m glad for the kids. They worked very hard for this. I thought Point Pleasant might catch us."

Milton had seven wrestlers place. Chappy Chapman got the lone title for the Panthers at 145.

"This feels great," he said.

Sheldon Clark, making its first WSAZ appearance in several years, won the Class AA-A title with 162 points. Williamstown was second with 143.5.

"Tremendous wrestling. That’s why we came," Sheldon Clark coach Jim Matney said. "We were able to win without a champion. It was a good team effort."

Huntington’s lone champion was sophomore Chris Nelson at 135.

"He looks good," Highlanders coach Bill Archer said. "We wrestled a lot better."

The Highlanders finished ahead of East Fairmont, which dethroned them in the Nitro Invitational two weeks ago.