Gallery by Tina Laney
The keys to postseason success are really no different in any sport.
For a team to make noise in the postseason, it needs to be peaking come tournament time.
While Woodrow Wilson head wrestling coach Matt Osborne has emphasized that fact himself, he has also admitted that the process can be a little tricky with wrestlers.
If Saturday afternoon is any indication, the Flying Eagles are hitting their stride just in time for the state wrestling tournament in less than two weeks.
Sending ten wrestlers to the regional championship round, Woodrow Wilson captured its third straight Region 3 crown in dominate fashion, besting second place George Washington by 56 points.
“I think we had some dominate matches, but we still have some work to do. We had some mistakes out there,” Osborne said. “This is the point in the season that when you have a dominant match, you can’t go into the last nine or ten practices arrogant. That can be a problem too. We have to be humble and pay attention. Regionals are over now, we are going to the state tournament where everybody is going to be ready. We better be too.”
On their way to the regional title, the Flying Eagles won eight individual regional titles with two runner-ups and a third place finish.
The list of champions included Jackson Woods (106), Garrett Johnson (113), Tyler Roark (132), Jimmie Bailes (138), Troy Harris (144), Vance Neal (157), Jacob Reeves (165) and Landon Jones (215).
Roark’s title came over highly-touted St. Albans standout Matthew Mcafee who was a state champion each of the last two season. The Red Dragon grappler was also a three-time regional champion.
“Tyler has been super tough in regionals,” Osborne said. “That is three regional championships for him. Matthew has always been a very dominant wrestler. He has been put up on the podium and everybody really appreciates how he wrestles.”
“Tyler has really put in a lot of detail work,” Osborne continued. “There was an injury timeout during that match and Tyler wanted to know what he did wrong to give up a take-down. Tyler is detail oriented and it showed even in the middle of his match. Hopefully he is going to be ready to keep his nose to the grindstone these last few weeks.”
For his part, Roark took the win in stride and reiterated his coached words.
“This is the first time I have wrestled (Mcafee) because stuff has happened like missing weight and being sick and all,” Roark said. “I just have to keep working to be the best wrestler I can. It’s just regionals. I still have a lot to work on. You have to peak at states.”
Nick Dvorak (175) and Jacob Meadows (150) both made the finals and finished in second place. Dvorak was seeded No. 2 coming into the regional tournament, but Meadows was seeded No. 7 in his weight class.
“Jacob had lost to both kids leading up to the finals match that he ended up upsetting and beating,” Osborne said. “We told him he could win those matches. He is strong on take-downs and has good pressure on top. That is what he did. He should be getting better through this week and will now have some momentum and confidence.”
Freshman Landon Osborne finished third in his first high school regional event to give Woodrow Wilson 11 wrestlers making the trip to the state tournament.
Greenbrier East had two regional champions in Keshawn Bland (190) and Calvin Roberts (285). Kaden Stone (138) and Carter Hamilton (165) finished runner-up Saturday, while Parker Hale (132) and Carlos Rodrigo (175) wrestled third.
Kai Asano (106), Robert Fugate (120), Aiden Fleshmen (126), Elijah Lee (144) and Harrison Smith (215) finished fourth to give the Spartans 11 state tournament qualifiers as well.
Oak Hill had five wrestlers earn state tournament berths including Isaac Davis (113), Colton Willard (132), Aaron Higginbotham (157), Dayvon Bravo (175) and Colton Naylor (285).
Chandler Morris (120) and Christopher McGlothlin (190) from Princeton will also make the trip to Huntington for the state event which runs from Thursday, Feb. 29 through Saturday, March 2.
