When it comes to the boys Class A state wrestling title, Greenbrier West head coach Jeremy Tincher really doesn’t mince words.
“Our approach is the state title in single-A goes through Charmco. That is just how we feel,” Tincher said. “That is how I feel and that is how the kids feel. That is the expectation and the standard. Anything less than that is not meeting the standard. That is our focus without putting undo pressure on the kids and we welcome that challenge.”
The Cavaliers won the Class A title last year in dramatic fashion when Cole Vandall pinned Noah Casto from Clay County in the championship match at 215 pounds to edge defending champion Cameron by one point.
It was the third state title for West since 2017 when the single-A champion was recognized separate from the Class AA-A division.
The Cavaliers won the AA-A title in 2013.
“Our kids believe in the process. Since they are older now and have been there, they understand what the process is,” Tincher said. “They know they have to go through the process. If they go through the process with a great attitude, good things will happen.”
With a veteran group returning, the expectations of another title have been high on the western side of Greenbrier County.
However, following a run to the state football championship game, wrestling season started slowly for some key members of the team.
“They played four really physical games in the playoffs. They went to Wheeling banged up and came back banged up,” Tincher explained. “We had to give them some time to get over those bumps and bruises. It was a little frustrating going to tournaments and not having all of your dogs with you.”
Vandall, Tucker Lilly and Moses Gray are the seniors leaders and each one of them carried a significant football injury into wrestling season.
A nasty thigh bruise slowed Vandall, while a shoulder injury kept Lilly on the sideline in the early going.
“Moses got hurt in the state championship game. I was more worried about him than the other two,” Tincher admitted. “The injury required complete rest. It was tough for him to ride the bike or do any type of work. We really had to modify his practices.”
Patience and perseverance have been the key for the veteran trio who are now back wreaking havoc on the mat.
Vandall sits atop the West Virginia AA-A High School Individual Wrestling Rankings at 215 pounds and has been a straight up beast since he returned to the mat.
“Cole is not the fastest kid in the world. He is not the most athletic kid in the world, but he has such a wonderful support system,” Tincher said. “The difference in Cole and everybody else is Cole just thinks he can beat you. With that being said, he has been willing to go places both mentally and physically that other kids are not willing to go to win a match.”
This past weekend at the Braxton Invitational, the defending state champion remained undefeated with three pins and a 5-0 decision in the championship match Each win came over a Class AA opponent.
“He is not going to give up when things get tough. If you beat Cole Vandall, you are going to have to beat him,” Vandall said. “He will fight you to the bitter end. He believes in himself. He has no fear and he works his guts out.”
Lilly is ranked No. 2 at 120 pounds only behind Logan Davis from Oak Glen. Davis was the state champion at 113 pounds last year.
Since returning to action, Lilly has compiled a 17-1 record and was also the champion at the Braxton Invitational. The trip to the title included a major decision win, a technical fall and two decisions all against Class AA foes.
Gray is ranked as the third best wrestler at 157 pounds which is loaded with top-notch grapplers.
Blayne Jarvis is No. 1 and was the state runner-up last year at 144 pounds. Evan Zombro is the defending state champion and he sits at No. 2.
After dropping his second match at the Braxton Invitational, Gray battled back to take third place and is 13-3 on the year.
“I am so proud of those three guys. They have bought in and worked. They are hungry and there is a sense of urgency about them,” Tincher said. “They have all done everything that I have asked them and more. The good thing is they have done this forever. Moses knows as much, if not more wrestling than I know. It is a great luxury to have him around.”
The senior trio also has a strong group to compliment them this year.
Freshman Matthew Kesterson is off to a strong start with a 23-2 record and is ranked sixth at 106 pounds. Kesterson was runner-up at Braxton with two wins by fall and one by decision before falling to Jackson Swiggle from Class AA Keyser. Swiggle is ranked No. 1 in the state.
Austin McKenzie was a state tournament place winner last year as a sophomore and is 21-3 so far this year. McKenzie, along with Evan Vandall who is 17-5, finished third at the Braxton Invitational.
While the pieces are there for a strong run to the title, Tincher knows the road will be a tough one to traverse for title five.
“We have a pretty good system of wrestling that we teach. It is a lot of hard work and it is a lot of grinding, but I feel like they welcome that,” Tincher said. “We will have to earn that thing for sure. Nobody is going to just hand us the trophy. I know they are coming for us.”
Greenbrier West finished fourth overall at the Braxton Invitational and was the top Class A school, 33 points ahead of Class A Ravenswood.
