26th WSAZ Invitational begins today at Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse

By DAVID WALSH - The Herald-Dispatch

HUNTINGTON -- Coach Ernie Sparks said his Cabell Midland wrestlers learned what it was like to compete in a tough environment on Dec. 16 when Parkersburg South rolled to a 76-6 victory.
 

Randy Snyder / The Herald-Dispatch Huntington's Kenny Hutchinson, left, works for position against Spring Valley's Matt Lucas during last year's regional tournament. Hutchinson is seeded No. 1 in the 215-pound weight class in this year's WSAZ Invitational, which starts today.

This weekend, Sparks said the Knights find out what it�s like to be in a grinding tournament atmosphere when they compete in the 26th annual WSAZ Invitational at Veterans Memorial Field House.

"South�s the toughest place in the state to wrestle," Sparks said Wednesday night at the WSAZ seeding meeting. "At the WSAZ, you learn to be patient and what it�s like to go through a tournament. If you place at the WSAZ, you can place at the state."

Individually, Cabell Midland�s Mike Cremeans (23-0) is seeded No. 2 at 171. He got the team�s only win against Parkersburg South. In the two-day Domino�s Duals in Wheeling, Cremeans went 9-0.

"He went up against some pretty decent teams," Sparks said.

As for the tournament, more than 30 schools each are entered in the high school and middle school/junior high divisions. This tournament is one of the biggest in the country.

Parkersburg South, ranked No. 2 in Class AAA in West Virginia, is back to defend its title. The Patriots come in on a high following their 29-27 win over rival Parkersburg, ranked 17th nationally, in their dual Wednesday night at the Parkersburg Fieldhouse. The Big Reds entered that dual ranked No. 1 in the Mountain State.

"That�s going to make it a whole lot tougher," Sparks said.

Despite that victory, Parkersburg South has just two No. 1 seeds for the WSAZ. They are Sean Smith at 152 and Kyle Walters at 171.

Huntington High comes in unbeaten in duals and with two tournament titles, the latest two weeks ago at the Nitro Pat Vance Invitational. Highlanders seeded No. 1 are Steve Riner at 119, Chad Nelson at 145 and Kenny Hutchinson at 215.

"This is a quality tournament," Highlanders coach Bill Archer said. In this event, wrestlers from Class AAA cross over and compete against those from Class AA-A.

Huntington�s starting lineup features eight sophomores. "Our young guys have come on," Archer said.

Huntington finished second here last year followed by East Fairmont and Sheldon Clark.

The one major outsider in the high school field this year is Dobyns Bennett, which is located in Kingsport, Tenn.

For the middle and junior high schools, this event is comparable to a state tournament.

Milton Middle won the overall title in 2003 and East Fairmont took second.

In the wvmat.com ratings on Jan. 6, Point Pleasant Middle was No. 1 overall.

Two area wrestlers had not lost through Jan. 20. Point Pleasant Middle�s Jared Searls was 38-0 at 78 pounds and Shawn Beckett of Milton was 31-0 at 165. Both are No. 1 seeds in their weight class.

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