HUNTINGTON — Twenty Northern Panhandle wrestlers will be chasing Gold when the W.Va. State Boys Division I Wrestling Tournament kicks off Thursday night inside Mountain Health Arena.

The two-division event begins at 6:30 and resumes at 11:30 a.m. on Friday. Semifinals in the championship bracket are set for 7:30 Friday night, with the championship finals scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start on Saturday.

The three local schools will be represented by 20 individuals, with John Marshall leading the way with 11. Brooke has five and Wheeling Park four.

A look at each of the state qualifiers follows:

BROOKE

The Bruins are taking the most wrestlers to the state tournament in six years, according to head coach Doug Sizemore.

Anthony Maple (113, Jr., 25-7)

“Anthony is a first-year qualifier who is currently ranked 6th in the state. He was an OVAC semifinalist and is hoping to replicate the same success at the state tournament and finish on the podium in Huntington,” Sizemore said.

Maple placed second in the North Region I Tournament.

Gannon Swickard (120, Soph., 18-13)

“Gannon punched his ticket to the state tournament in his first year in our starting lineup,” Sizemore noted. “He is a hard worker and is ready for the opportunity to earn a top-6 finish in the state.”

Swickard took fourth in the regional.

Landon Burdine (132, Jr., 34-5)

“Coming off his most complete performance at the regional championship, where he avenged his loss in the OVAC finals, Landon has his sights set on a spot high up on the podium this weekend in Huntington,” Sizemore said.

Burdine was No. 7 in the final state rankings.

Dominic White (190, Soph., 27-12)

“As an underclassman in an upper weight, Dominic has proven he belongs on this level each time he steps on the mat,” Sizemore allowed. “He is a hard worker and is excited for the opportunity to compete and chase a spot on the podium this weekend.”

White was No. 7 in the final W.Va. rankings.

Hemed Allen (285, Sr., 16-14)

“In his first year ever wrestling, Hemed earned a trip to compete in the state tournament,” Sizemore added. “Hemed has gone toe-to-toe with some of the best in the Ohio Valley and in the state of West Virginia and he is looking to cap his senior season with a state medal this weekend in Huntington.”

JOHN MARSHALL

Like the Bruins, the Monarchs are taking the most wrestlers to Huntington in head coach Ryan Asbury’s six-year tenure.

“Overall, our team is very young, but as we’ve been telling them all season – that does not matter, the kids are capable of having a great weekend at the state tournament,” Asbury said. “At the OVAC, all of our placewinners finished above their rank, and we’re looking to have the same success in Huntington. We greatly over-performed our rankings at the regional tournament, looked great in practice the last week, and are excited to step up in Huntington to end the season.”

Milo Ward (106, Fr., 39-9)

“Milo has been wrestling better and better each week this season. At the regional, he was able to avenge a loss from earlier in the season in route to both an regional champion finish, and broke the school record for ‘Most Wins by a Freshman’ with his win in the finals,” Asbury pointed out. “He has his goal set very high for this weekend, and has the ability to have a very successful trip to Huntington.”

Ward won the Region I title and was No. 6 in the final state rankings.

Ely Durrah (113, Fr., 3-5)

“Ely has done a fantastic job this season, and has had varsity starts at both 106 and 113 throughout the year,” Asbury noted. “He stepped up huge at the regional tournament, earning his qualifying spot with a pin and a major decision. He brings a lot of wrestling experience to the mat, and I’m excited to see what he makes of his first of many trips to Huntington.”

Durrah placed fourth at the Region I Tournament.

Nathan Hughes (120, Soph., 33-16)

“Nate is one of our team captains this season, and is always the hardest worker in the room. That hard work is paying off so far this post season, as he was able to secure a regional title without giving up a single point in the tournament,” Asbury praised. “He’s looked the best he has all season, and is ready to ride the momentum from the regional win into the state tournament.”

Hughes was ranked No. 5 in the final W.Va. rankings.

Clayton Dugas-Pyles (126, Soph., 33-12)

“Clayton is another team captain. He was just shy of the podium last season, and has had a great week-and-a-half of practice since the regional,” Asbury said. “I think he’s in a great place in the bracket to find himself on the podium.”

Dugas-Pyles was ranked No. 8 in the final W.Va. rankings and was third in the regional.

Mikey Logsdon (132, Soph., 27-20)

“Mikey is another one of our teams’ captains this season, and has been a great leader for us,” Asbury added. “He was able to earn a 5-0 decision at the regional over someone he lost to last season to earn his way to the state tournament, and is always ready to battle. ”

Logsdon finished fourth in the regional.

Weston Owen (144, Soph., 7-14)

“Weston was able to pull off a huge upset with a pin in the blood round to qualify,” Asbury recalled.

Owen was a fourth-place finisher in the regional.

Jakob Minor (157, Sr., 14-9)

“Jakob is the lone senior on the team, and will be making his first trip to Huntington,” Asbury said. “Jake stepped up at the regional and earned his qualification spot with two pins.

Minor was a fourth-place finisher at the Region I tournament.

Kai Johnson (165, Soph., 37-11)

“Kai is the final team captain this season, and has proven he has the ability to step up when it matters with his string of close and overtime wins at the OVAC to find his way to the podium,” Asbury recalled. “I think he has the potential to leave Huntington with some hardware.”

Johnson also took fourth in the regional.

Spencer South (175, Soph., 19-11)

“Spencer was not in the starting lineup for the OVAC tournament, but has been busting his tail to improve all season, and earned the starting spot the last weekend of the regular season,” Asbury noted. “Spencer was able to pin the No. 7-ranked individual in the state for his third-place finish at the region, and has continued to improve since then.”

JT Morris (190, Jr., 36-12)

“JT has been a very dependable wrestler for us this season, and has placed in every tournament we’ve entered this year,” Asbury continued. “He’s looking to continue that streak this weekend.”

Morris was a Region I runnerup.

Gavin Myers (215, Soph., 31-17)

“Gavin was another of our individuals who was able to secure a win over a wrestler ranked above him at the regional with his OT win over the No. 7 wrestler for third place.”

WHEELING PARK

Hunter Flanegin (106, Fr., 33-11)

“Hunter is more than prepared for his first state tournament. He had a let down at regionals, but he is a wrestler that is able to bounce back from losses,” Wheeling Park head coach Danny Doyle said. “I believe he is going to be making a solid run at a state title.”

Flanegin was ranked fifth in the final W.Va. rankings

Senior Isaac Sands (165, Sr., 39-3)

“Isaac is ready to go,” Doyle said. “This weekend is something that he has been preparing for for a very long time. Expect Isaac to go out there and win a lot of matches this weekend.”

Sands also finished second in the regional when he had to default due to an ankle injury. He was third at 165 last year.

Other qualifiers include juniors Jake Carman (150, 32-13) and Nate Hodge (157, 35-12). Carman was ranked No. 9 and finished second in the regional. Hodge was ranked third in the final rankings and was also a regional runnerup.

Freshman Maxx Taylor (126) also qualified but has been withdrawn. He was a regional runnerup.

The top six placers in each weight class earn all-state honors.