Trending
HUNTINGTON -- For the first time in more than a decade-and-a-half, Wheeling Park is the Class AAA state wrestling champion.
The Patriots capped their wire-to-wire drive to their first title since 2006 with an eye-popping five individual titlists and nine placewinners for 207.5 points, which was way better than University's 176.
Spring Mills was next with 155 followed by Huntington with 126. Parkersburg South, which had two wrestlers ejected from the tournament for flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct, had 116. John Marshall was ninth with 85.
"This is what we've been building for. These kids have invested, not only in themselves but as a team, and it paid off," Wheeling Park head coach Brian Leggett said. "It's a total team effort. We've got 16 kids back home that push these guys every day. We get great support from our parents, our school, our administration and our community."
Wheeling Park also claimed titles in 1977, 778, 81, 86, 87 and 2006. Wheeling High won crowns in 1953 and 1969. The Patriots officially clinched the team crown with Nate Shelek's pin of Carl Cochran in an allOVAC 132-pound finals match.
The Park senior led 5-0 after one period and 7-1 before the pin, which came just before the buzzer sounded.
"I feel like I'm on top of the world," Shelek said. "I'm so proud of this team for winning a state title. It feels great."
Shelek won a state title as a freshman before finishing third the last two years.
He capped his career with a bookend victory. He is also an OVAC titlist.
"It's great to win an individual title and a state title in the same year," he noted. "I'm so proud of my teammates and coaches."
"I'm so proud of Nate," Leggett said. "He has had a great career. He works hard and deserves everything he earns."
Junior Bradyn Lucas (138) followed Shelek's win with another fall - this one in 1:45 of the first period against Buckhannon-Upshur's Tucker Hurst, whom he lost to in the Region I finals two weeks ago.
In a scoreless battle, Lucas got the takedown on a throw that put Hurst immediately on his back.
"This feels great," allowed Lucas, who had a broken ankle late in last season and was not able to compete. He was also an OVAC champion this year.
"This one definitely feels better," Lucas said. "I'm a state champ." "I told you we love Bradyn," Leggett said. "To come out and throw a kid that he lost to two weeks ago and then get the pin, that's outstanding."
Senior Gabe Carman (160) was next up. His match lasted the first period with him ahead 3- 2 on a late takedown. However, his opponent, Robert Shockey from Parkersburg South, was called for one of the aforementioned flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct calls.
The match was ruled a forfeit as Carman's hand was raised. "A win is a win, no matter what happens," Carman said. "It feels good. It also feels good that we're winning as a team. I love these guys."
"You hate to see something like that happen in a championship match, but we'll take it," Leggett said. "Gabe couldn't wrestle last year so for him to win a state title is a great feeling."
Erick Brothers Jr. (220) capped the outstanding weekend with a pin of University's Colin McBee in 1:45.
"It feels great to win my third title, but it also feels great to be the state champs," Brothers Jr. allowed. "These guys have invested so much. We've got a brand new facility to practice in and the guys work hard every day."
"Erick is Erick," Leggett praised. "He just goes out there and takes care of business."
Leggett was still a little in shock at what had transpired.
"I don't think it (the state title) has hit me yet, but it will," he said. "This team is a special group that has invested in each other and themselves.
"When (assistant coach) Todd (Shelek) started the Wheeling Wrestling Club 10 years ago, this is what he envisioned. Now we have a brand new facility and the guys are buying into what we are teaching them.
"This is a great feeling."
Freshman Noah White (106) fell 6-1 to Spring Mills' Matthew Dolan, who also won a title last season.
Other placers included sophomore Anthony Carman (113, fourth); junior Quinton Velas (152, fourth); and senior Hunter Nixon (182, fifth).
The Monarchs had placewinners in freshman Kaden Harding (113, sixth); senior Ben McCardle (170, fifth); and freshman Klypsan Wallace (182, sixth).
Brooke sophomore Tyler Wise (195) finished fourth in what head coach Doug Sizemore called a "tough" weight class.
Wise qualified as a freshman but didn't win a match, which Sizemore said helped him out this year.
"He took a couple of lumps last year, but he used that to his advantage this year. It was a learning experience. "Overall, Sizemore was pleased with the effort of his team. "We had three qualifiers this year and that's a testament to the kids working hard. We were a young team."