Oak Glen’s Hall becomes school’s first four-time state champion
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HUNTINGTON -- Peyton Hall became Oak Glen's first four-time state champion Saturday night -- and only the 19th in state history -- when he pinned Point Pleasant junior Wyatt Wilson in the Class A-AA 152-pound championship bout as the 73rd annual state wrestling tournament came to a close on Saturday.
Hall, a West Virginia University recruit who improved to a sparkling 49-2, did something five other former Golden Bear standouts couldn't in his 179th career victory. He has only suffered 13 losses.
"It feels great. I'm just happy to end my career on a win," Hall said as he was congratulated by family, friends and teammates.
John Crain (1986-88), Joe Caughey (2000-02), Derrick Stickles (2000-02), Rhett Northcraft (2004-06) and Robert Bozek (2015-17) all had outstanding careers at the New Manchester-based school in Hancock County. However, none could complete the quadruple crown.
"It's been an honor to coach him for the last four years," Oak Glen head coach Patrick McGillian said. "To be 179-13 with 133 falls is remarkable.
"Peyton has done unbelievable things for this program and I hope people will look up to him for what he has accomplished. He's quality on-and-off the mat. I think the world of him."
Hall also was named the AA Most Outstanding Wrestler for the second time in his career. The first came in 2018.
Overall, Oak Glen now has 48 state champions, including current John Marshall head coach Ryan Asbury, who won at 125 in 2008.
Hall also became the fifth Ohio Valley Athletic Conference matman to capture four state titles. The others are Cameron's R.C. Anderson (1989-92), Wheeling Park's Dirk Bauer (2008-11) and the Parkersburg South duo of David Jeffrey (2009-12) and Justin Allman (2014-17).
He won at 120 as a freshman, 132 as a sophomore and 138 as a junior. His victory two years came over Weir's Caleb Rea.
"It's always good going against a really good opponent," Hall said.
Wilson was the Region IV champ and placed fourth at 145 a season ago. He finished 44-12 and has 112 career wins.
Hall put on a clinic with three first-period takedowns. Hew as also awarded a penalty point for stalling, thus giving him a 7-2 lead after two minutes. Another takedown early in the second period made it 9-1 before Hall rolled Wilson over with an arm bar and got the pin in 2:34. It was his fourth pin of the tournament.
Creese, who was third at the same weight last season, came up short in his bid for a state title. He dropped an 8-1 decision to Point Pleasant's Mitchell Freeman, who had lost to Hall in last year's 138-pound finals.
He finished the year at 33-12 and ended his career at 129-56.
Meanwhile, Freeman improved to 50-5 and 139-21 with a year to go in his career.
Cameron sophomore Ian Bush (170) dropped a 7-3 decision to Moorefield's Isaac VanMeter. Bush, now 45-3 and 80-10 for his career, led 1-0 early in the second period before VanMeter pulled off a takedown and near fall for five points and was never headed.
"I'm very proud of Ian. If anyone knows him, he will be back on the mat next week trying to get better for next season," Cameron head coach Tim Brown said. "He's still got a lot of wrestling to do in his career."
The Golden Bears' Kyler O'Connor (182) was third and finished 37-8. Camden Barr (106) and Clayton Lamb (120) both finished sixth. Barr ended up 35-18 and Lamb was 28-16.
Weir's Wyatt Conley (132) finished fourth. He was 26-11 on the season. He was joined on the podium by Jordan Brueck (285) who placed fourth. The junior, who was fifth as a freshman alternate, finished the year at 29-9.
Magnolia's James Stillwagoner (195) was sixth. He finished at 36-7.
Point Pleasant and Greenbrier West had the state titles in Class AA and Class A, respectively, already won before the finals began.