Gallery by Tina Laney
The shirt worn by defending 215-pound Class AA-A state champion Cole Vandall from Greenbrier West simply said, “Drive for Five”.
Five as in, a fifth state championship title for the Cavaliers.
The reigning Class A state champion have won three titles since 2017 when the single-A champion was recognized separate from the Class AA-A division.
The Cavaliers also won the AA-A title in 2013.
Although the single-A champion is recognized separately, the small schools still compete under the Class AA-A umbrella to determine which wrestlers qualify for the state tournament in Huntington.
Thanks to a strong performance at the Region 3 meet Saturday at Independence High School, the quest for a fifth state wrestling title is very much alive.
The Cavaliers earned four individual regional titles and qualified a total off 11 wrestlers for the big show in Cabell County, Thursday, Feb. 29 through Saturday, March 2.
Regional champions for West included Austin McKenzie (113), Tucker Lilly (120), Moses Gray (157) and Vandall (215).
Matthew Kesterson (106) and Zach Manismontri (144) wrestled second Saturday, while Malachi Moore (126), Jon Painter (138), Joevun Robinson (150) were third. Evan Vandall (165) and Trey Franklin (285) finished fourth to earn their state tournament spots.
Independence was fourth overall Saturday with four wrestlers earning regional titles.
Brayden Hart (132), Hunter Whitaker (138), Caelyb Nichols (144) and Jesse Adams (175) all took their spot at the top of the podium for the Patriots.
The championship title was especially sweet for Nichols who just a few months back was critically injured in a motorcycle mishap.
“It feels great to be here. I am just glad I can be out here with everybody and bring another one home,” Nichols said.
Known for some wild matches during his career, Saturday was no different. After a wild series of reversals with Manismontri from West, the Indy standout secured a pin-fall for the win.
“I am just a funky wrestler. That is how I have always been,” Nichols said, laughing.
J.J. Scarafino (106), Tyson McGinnis (165) and Brayden Cox (215) finished third, while Luke Mullins (120) was fourth to also make the trip to Huntington for the Patriots.
Shady Spring will send five wrestlers to the state tournament including regional champion Gabe Knoblet (190).
After being denied a chance to wrestle in the regionals as a freshman due to a concussion and a frustrating tournament last year, Knoblet almost could not believe he was holding the championship plaque.
“I didn’t make to states last year. I was an alternate. I felt like I could get there last year, but I just didn’t get over the hump,” Knoblet said. “Just qualifying for states would have been awesome. Now, I didn’t think this would happen, but I guess it worked out for me. This feels great. I couldn’t ask for more.”
Fellow Tigers Matthew Meadows (144), Damien Simmons (157), Kaden Helmer (165) and Braelen Holstein (175) will join Knoblet in Huntington.
Nicholas County had a pair of regional champions in Sailor McKinney (126) and Preston Thomas (150). Luke Kelly (120) and Conner Tallamy (113) also advanced to states.
Other area qualifiers for the state tournament include seven wrestlers from Liberty, Gavin Brown (113), Colton Tolliver (138), Jeremiah Griffith (144), Isaac Williams (150), Matthew Hill (175), Josiah Pilkington (190) and Connor Acord (285).
Tyler Goins (106), Jaden Taylor (126) and Chase Cantrell (132) from PikeView along with Cole Branstetter (132) from Midland Trail and Coheen McGeeney (190) from Richwood will also be among the wrestlers in Huntington.
The regional team trophy went to Herbert Hoover with 232 points followed by West with 202. Independence was third with 179 points.
The Huskies earned three individual titles and had five runner-up finishers.
“We knew it was going to be a two-man race between Greenbrier West and us,” Herbert Hoover head coach Richard Harper said. “The kids wrestled well. We ended up putting eight in the final and qualified 13 for the tournament. We are tickled to death. It has been a tough season. We had a couple in the final we thought could have won that came up a little short, but we punched our ticker to the state tournament. Now we start over again.”
In a special moment for Independence wrestling fans, former greats Noah Adams and Jacob Hart officially received their plaques Saturday for being inducted to the Raleigh County Wrestling Hall of Fame.
