By DAVID WALSH - The Herald-Dispatch

ONA -- Parkersburg produced eight champions on the way to winning the Mountain State Athletic Conference wrestling tournament for the third straight year.
 

Jeff Gentner / The Herald-Dispatch Huntington's Chad Nelson wraps up Parkersburg's Chance Litton during Saturday's 145 pound MSAC finals. Nelson lost the match 7-0.

The Big Reds, defending West Virginia Class AAA state champion, finished with 235 points Saturday to 190 for runner-up Huntington High. Host Cabell Midland came in third with 132.5.

"They are really good," Huntington High coach Bill Archer said of Parkersburg.

Parkersburg�s champs were Jake Hays at 119 pounds, Robert Shyver (125), Brandon Rader (130), Casey Ice (135), Chance Litton (145), Joey Lindamood (189), Lou Thomas (215) and Ryan Dearman (215). The Big Reds defeated Huntington wrestlers for six of their eight titles.

"I was a little nervous coming down," Parkersburg coach Scheny Schenerlein said. "Huntington has a good team. Our kids sucked it up and wrestled hard. We looked better than we have lately."

For Huntington, Zach Fraley prevailed at 103 and Jared Dudley won at 152. Fraley beat Seth Phalen of Ripley, 15-2, for his first win ever over him.

"He�s tough," Archer said of Fraley. "His technique and mindset make him go."

Cabell Midland�s winners were Adam Moye at 160 and Mike Cremeans at 171. He won by pin over Scotter Myers of Parkersburg.

"Not bad," Knights coach Ernie Sparks said. "We beat the No. 9 and No. 10 team."

Parkersburg entered the tournament No. 2 in the latest Class AAA poll. Huntington was No. 4, Ripley ninth and Nitro 10th.

Sparks said Moye is starting to bounce back after early-season injury problems. Cremeans has been the team�s steadiest performer to date as he�s ranked No. 2 in the state in his weight class.

"Adam wrestled well," Sparks said. "He�s finally getting some mat time. Mike�s been steady all season. He�s got one more to go." Parkersburg South�s Kyle Walters is ranked No. 1 at 171.

Parkersburg, which lost its No. 1 ranking when it lost to city rival Parkersburg South, 29-27, in their big dual last month, has one match to go before regionals. The Big Reds are home Wednesday against Nitro, Herbert Hoover and University.

The Class AAA Region I tournament is scheduled at Morgantown on Feb. 21. The State Tournament is set for Feb. 26-28 at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington.

"We knew it would be tight," Schenerlein said of the match against Parkersburg South (which is now No. 1). "They�re well balanced and did a good job. We�re pointing for the state now. We want to peak at the right time."