By DAVID WALSH -- The Herald-Dispatch
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Randy Snyder/The Herald-Dispatch Huntington High wrestler Robert Chaney nearly has his face rearranged by Herbert Hoover's Seth Moales on Saturday.

HUNTINGTON -- Huntington High and Williamstown took different routes on a snowy Saturday to repeat as champions in the high school division in the 23rd annual WSAZ Invitational wrestling tournament at Veterans Memorial Field House.

The Highlanders had three of four wrestlers win in the championship round while runner-up Nitro went 4-for-5. Huntington had seven others place to four for the Wildcats. That final breakdown gave Huntington 213 points to 209 for Nitro.

"It could�ve gone either way," said Nitro coach Steve White, whose team finished runner-up to Huntington in the Nitro Invitational two weeks ago.

Williamstown, top-ranked in Class AA-A in the first West Virginia Coaches Association poll, went 1-for-4 in the finals. However, the Yellowjackets already had the division wrapped up. They finished with 190.5 points to 141 for runner-up Wirt County.

Nitro�s champions were Anthony Easter at 103 pounds, Matt Easter at 119, Jacob Frerichs at 125 and Robbie Ripley at 140. At 152, Mitch Casto lost in overtime.

Huntington�s champions were Steve Riner at 112, Robbie Williams at 130 and Jason Mays at 160. Jeremy Ray was runner-up at 112.

At 140, Ripley won a 6-4 decision over Cabell Midland�s Chris Gibbs. At 135, Point Pleasant�s Nick Duncan won in overtime.
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In the junior high division, Shady Spring denied Blennerhassett a three-peat. Shady Spring partisans celebrated as their team rolled up 246 points to 241.5 for the runner-up Bobcats.

Shady Spring had a champion and two runners-up. The Bobcats picked up three wins and two seconds.

Point Pleasant finished with 172.5 points to win the middle school division. Milton was second with 146.

In the freshman division, Cabell Midland racked up 102 points to claim the title. Riverside was second with 65.

After tonight�s wrapup, Nitro and Huntington will prepare for a quad next Friday at Buckhannon against Buckhannon-Upshur and Fairmont Senior.

Cabell Midland heads to Hurricane on Thursday for a quad with Spring Valley, St. Albans and Hurricane.

Point Pleasant, in the middle leg on a demanding three-tournament run, closes out the swing next weekend in the Jimmy Wood Tournament at New Lexington, Ohio.

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