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It is because of this exact point in the season that teams wrestle the type of schedules they face in December and January.
The Class AAA Region 3 tournament will be held Friday and Saturday at Ripley. Five local teams will be included — Woodrow Wilson, Shady Spring, Oak Hill, Greenbrier East and Princeton.
The rest of the field is made of teams that these local squads would otherwise not see if not for statewide tournaments that attract West Virginia’s best. From the Winner’s Choice Tournament in Fairmont and the rapidly growing West Virginia Army National Guard Duals in Summersville, to the WSAZ Invitational in Huntington and even the MSAC Tournament in Parkersburg, scouting opportunities abound.
Woodrow even opened its season with a dual at Huntington. Even though the Flying Eagles were soundly defeated by the state’s top-ranked team, the experience gained was the more important thing.
“That’s the level we want our program to be,” Woodrow coach Street Sarrett said earlier this season about the likes of the Highlanders and four-time reigning Class AAA state champion Parkersburg South.
Count Shady Spring coach Larry Ransom among those who understands what it takes to build a program.
“We have tried to create a tougher schedule,” Ransom said. “We feel like that is what has been making out team better. … By the time regionals and states get here, that reality will set in and won’t be like culture shock when we get there. We will be able to handle them, or at least hang with them.”
Of the state-ranked wrestlers who will wrestle this weekend at Ripley, 14 of them are from the local schools. Shady has the most with seven: Logan Robertson (fifth, 106 pounds), Johnny Forren (third, 120), Tyler Kosut (sixth, 126), John Duncan (seventh, 132), Nick Farley (sixth, 138), Brandon Stump (seventh, 145) and Cody Richmond (ninth, 152).
Woodrow has three: Leland Swafford (eighth, 113), Cole Williams (eighth, 152) and Daniel Pettry (fourth, 285).
Greenbrier East also has three: Jasiel Kinder (sixth, 106), Josiah Solak (seventh, 160) and Davis Solak (seventh, 170).
Oak Hill’s Marc Williams is ranked fifth at 132.
Princeton, which has no ranked wrestler, is led by senior Tabitha Smith. Last season, Smith became the first Princeton girl ever to qualify for the state tournament.
The top four finishers from each weight class will qualify for the state tournament, Feb. 21-23 in Huntington.
Cavs back in tie atop Class AA/A rankings
Greenbrier West is again tied for first with East Fairmont in the Class AA/A rankings as voted by state coaches and released at wvmat.com.
Both teams received two first-place votes and finished with 38 points.
Independence remained fourth with 27 points.
In Class AAA, Shady Spring held on to the No. 9 spot.
All state teams will compete in regional tournaments Friday and Saturday. The state tournament will be held Feb. 21-23 at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington.
Today's Sports Front
Tough schedules prepare teams for regionals
Class AAA Region 3 wrestling tourney begins on Friday
- Today's Sports Front
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One step away from Charleston
A trip to Charleston — with a lot more on the agenda than a tour of the capitol building and a shopping spree at Charleston Town Center — will be up for grabs tonight for three area teams that are one win away from punching their ticket to the WVSSAC State Baseball Tournament at Appalachian Power Park.
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Tanner is Summers County coach
After weeks of controversy, it appears Summers County High School officially has a new football coach.
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WVU baseball changes up pitching lineup for Big 12 Championship
Randy Mazey’s attention has been on everything but baseball in recent days, as the West Virginia University coach has been out in front of his team’s effort to help the tornado victims in Oklahoma, where his team has been this week preparing for the Big 12 Baseball Championships, which begin today at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Okla.
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Woodrow downs defending AAA champs
It’s a play that Woodrow Wilson has practiced everyday this season and has rarely had to utilize.
It’s a good thing the Flying Eagles did practice it; it saved their season and led to a 2-1 victory over defending state champion Princeton. -
No repeat for Warriors
Independence has been on a tear offensively the entire month of May. It didn’t stop Tuesday, even against Wyoming East ace Derek Thornton.
The Patriots led 5-0 after two innings, and Brian Sexton — backed by that very offense and some sparkling defense — gutted out a complete game in a 7-5 win in the Class AA Region 3 semifinals Tuesday night. -
’Hounds hold off upset bid from Man Hillbillies
Valley’s potent offense never came to life, but the Greyhounds are still alive.
Valley (22-7) — with several players hitting .400 or better this season — could muster just three singles against underdog Man (6-20-1) in one of two Class A Region 3 baseball semifinals Tuesday, but the ’Hounds manufactured two runs in the crucial fifth inning to finally go ahead of the stubborn Hillbillies and escape with a 3-2 victory. -
WVU baseball team helps tornado victims
West Virginia University head baseball coach Randy Mazey was having lunch at an Oklahoma City restaurant Monday afternoon, keeping a close watch on the television set.
With every passing minute, the tornado that devastated the Oklahoma town of Moore, was moving closer and closer to his location and its path was being documented by a local television station. At one point, the coach even looked out the window to see if he could see the approaching funnel. -
Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship Format Changed
In the wake of this week’s devastating storm in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, the Big 12 Conference is postponing the start of the 2013 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship. No. 3 seeded WVU scheduled to take on Kansas at 4 p.m. (Central) on Thursday.
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Patriots, Warriors meet in anticipated matchup
The matchup many people expected will take place today.
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Fayette teams, Cavaliers vying for Class A spots
Two Fayette County baseball teams have advanced deeper into postseason play and will begin Region 3 tournament action today.
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