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wrestlers look for strong showing at Nitro
By DAVID WALSH - The Herald-Dispatch HUNTINGTON -- Huntington, Cabell Midland and Spring Valley head to Nitro this weekend to compete in the Nitro Invitational high school wrestling tournament. Huntington has been idle since Dec. 21 when the Highlanders went 4-0 to win the Floyd Central Super Duals in Floyd Knob, Ind. Cabell Midland traveled to Wheeling last weekend to compete in the Wheeling Park/Domino’s Duals. They finished 3-4-1. Spring Valley ventured to Elizabethton, Tenn., last weekend for a tournament and placed third. Despite having just three seniors in the lineup, Huntington has yet to lose this season. The Highlanders beat Nicholas County and Roane County in a season-opening tri, went 10-0 to win the St. Albans Duals and captured the title in the North Myrtle Beach Pizza Hut Invitational for the fourth consecutive year. "The younger guys have wrestled good," Huntington coach Bill Archer said. "At Nitro, placing is the key." Huntington, East Fairmont and the host Wildc䁡ts enter the event as favorites. Some of the other entries are Buckhannon-Upshur, Lewis County, Nicholas County, North Marion, Riverside, Shady Spring and Beckley. Cabell Midland fields a young team, too, as there are just two senior starters -- Roman Hodges at 125 pounds and Jared Diamond at 160. "We’re hanging
in there," Knights coach Ernie Sparks said.
Chris Gibbs went 8-0 at 140. Diamond and heavyweight Mark Childers each finished 7-1. Hodges went 6-2. "We’re not consistent yet," Sparks said. Sparks said some lineup adjustments are likely before Thursday when Huntington visits Cabell Midland for their annual dual match. Spring Valley defeated Winfield in its home opener on Dec. 11 on school time. The Timberwolves finished fifth in the Point Pleasant Olympic Tournament before going to Tennessee. "We plan to start traveling a little," Spring Valley coach Bruce Niday said. "It’s a chance to get experience and have some fun." At Point Pleasant, senior Nate Howard went 9-1 to finish on top in the heayvweight division. Other Timberwolves to watch are Jason Hutchinson at 135, Ron Damron at 140 and Matt Lucas at 215. Niday said he knows the Nitro Tournament features many top teams. "It’s always a tough tournament," he said. "Our goal is to get better each week. With the competition there, this will be a good gauge for us." Another big
tournament this weekend is the Jackson County Invitational at Ripley. Point
Pleasant is competing along with St. Albans, St. Marys, Independence and
Wirt County.
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