The West Virginia Army National Guard Wrestling Tournament will be held Friday and Saturday at the Summersville Arena and Conference Center. Twenty-four high school teams and 12 middle school teams will participate in the two-day event. Seven ranked West Virginia schools and one ranked Kentucky school should make this tournament exciting.
Clay County (2), Greenbrier West (4), Independence (5), Calhoun County (8), Braxton County (11), Keyser (12) and Shady Spring (14) will be among the top teams from West Virginia. Johnson Central of Kentucky is currently ranked in the AA class there and is a mainstay among top ten teams. Lakeside, Ohio, a competitor in the tough Division I of that state, is also entered.
Wrestling begins at noon on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday.
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Looking back on the year of 2012, I can certainly think of a few notable occurrences that took place.
Independence finishing second among AA-A teams in the state tournament was a pleasant surprise. That finish was enough to merit Cliff Warden the Dix Manning Award for AA-A Coach of the Year.
On a negative note, our area was once again denied an individual state championship. It was 2008 when Liberty’s Nick Hylton and Mike Carpenter captured titles. Hopefully, things will change this season.
Right after Warden received his coach of the year award, a very deserving Gary Fauber, from the Beckley Register-Herald, was named Wrestling Sportswriter of the Year.
Another bit of good news for wrestling fans is that two more state colleges will start wrestling programs next season. Alderson-Broaddus College will be coached by Mitch Smith and Wheeling Jesuit University will be coached by Sean Doyle.
The reclassification of West Virginia high schools will definitely have an impact in wrestling. Point Pleasant, Shady Spring and Oak Hill are among the schools moving up to the AAA class, while Fairmont Senior and East Fairmont dropped to the AA class. Don’t be surprised if a Fairmont team wins the state tournament this season.
Lastly, the new bleachers in Woodrow Wilson’s gymnasium now make it a good facility for wrestling. Hopefully, the Flying Eagles can host a regional tournament in the future!
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This week a squeeze of the water bottle goes to Brett Sutphin, a new wrestling fan and an avid reader of this column. Happy New Year!
High School Sports
National Guard Duals set for this weekend
- High School Sports
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Class AAA All-State baseball list
As selected by a panel of the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
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GBC’s Mullins ready for last performance in the hoops spotlight
Ask anyone who has been around the Greater Beckley Christian program the last two years and they’ll all agree, Keith Mullins is a special young man.
To his teammates, he’s a shooter. To his coaches, he’s a leader. To his parents, he’s a son. And to his brother Chase, he’s a hero. -
AAA first-team all-state list includes Woodrow’s Greco
Hunter Greco wanted his senior season to end with him and his Woodrow Wilson teammates raising a state championship trophy.
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Replacing stars a big challenge for Culicerto
Vince Culicerto has enjoyed his last three seasons as head coach for Shady Spring.
The Tigers were a playoff team in both 2010 and 2011 in Class AA, before making the jump to Class AAA in 2012. -
Back to the gridiron
It’s in the air. Can you smell it?
Football. -
AA All-State team filled with local talent
When Drew D’Angelo and Wyatt Adkins transfered to Independence from Oak Hill, the Patriots didn’t just get more firepower for their offense.
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McGinnis named all-stater
The season had an all-too-familiar end for Valley — a loss in the Class A state semifinals.
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All-star events set for Charleston next weekend
If summer is bringing you the prep sports blues, perhaps a trip to the Capital City next weekend is just what the doctor ordered.
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Bostick calls it a day at Woodrow Wilson
Bernie Bostick said he saw more of his Woodrow Wilson girls basketball team during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays the past 10 years than he did his own family.
That will change. -
Beckley Motorsports Park hoping to stay dry
To race or not to race?
- More High School Sports Headlines
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Class AAA All-State baseball list
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