Parkersburg South wins sixth straight title; Point Pleasant, Greenbrier West also champs

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Parkersburg South’s wrestling program continued its unprecedented dominance, while Point Pleasant and Greenbrier West joined the Patriots as repeat team champions Saturday on the final day of the state wrestling tournament at Mountain Health Arena.

The Patriots have now won six consecutive Class AAA titles and nine of the last 11 after finishing with 271.5 points to easily come out on top. Wheeling Park was AAA runner-up with 195.5 points.

“Throughout the entire year, our team works really, really hard and it’s tough to keep kids motivated to continue to win and try to do better the next season,” PSHS head coach Shaun Smith said. “People don’t understand how tough that is, but for our team and kids to do that is a testament to how awesome they are.”

Point Pleasant had by far the widest margin of victory, as the Big Blacks used six individual champions to finish with 266.5 points and come out on top in Class AA. Braxton County, at 111.5, was AA runner-up.

“We had a great state tournament. Having six state champs is something to be proud of,” Point Pleasant head coach John Bonecutter said. “The most in school history was three going into this and to double that up and get our highest point total ever, it shows we had a good weekend.”

Greenbrier West, meanwhile, recorded 81 points to beat out runner-up Ritchie County (53) for the Class A crown.

The Patriots’ Braxton Amos, a Wisconsin wrestling signee, wrapped up perhaps the most dominant career for a West Virginia high school wrestler with his third consecutive title at 220 pounds. He beat Wheeling Park’s Charlie Tamburin 23-8 in the final to finish the season 48-0 overall and his PSHS career 142-0.

“Coming into this tournament, we knew I was favored to win, but there were a lot of people saying we could get upset by Wheeling Park in the team race,” Amos said. “After that first night, it was way too close for comfort for any of us. 

“I’m super proud our guys stepped it up Friday and Saturday. I couldn’t be more proud of them. I’m happy that’s how I went out and the senior’s are leaving their legacy that we’re the first team to get six in a row in Triple A.”

Amos was one of five Parkersburg South wrestlers to win an individual title. Other Patriots claiming championships included: Brady Roberts (106), Brayden Johnson (132), Gavin Quiocho (145) and Brayden Roberts (152).

Other individual champions in AAA were: Spring Mills’ Michael Dolan (113); Parkersburg’s Garrett Donahue (120); Buckhannon-Upshur’s Julius Hobbs (126); Musselman’s Joey Miller (138); Parkersburg’s John Martin-Best (160); Huntington’s A.J. Dempsey (170); Wheeling Park’s Erick Brothers (182); Washington’s Jace Bradbury (195); and Riverside’s Austin Chapman at heavyweight.

Point Pleasant’s dominance was on display early and often in the championship round.

The six Big Blacks to win individual titles included: Parker Henderson (106); Isaac Short (120); Derek Raike (132); Justin Bartee (138); Mitchell Freeman (145); and Juan Marquez (195).

“It’s a special group of guys,” Bonecutter said.

Other individual champions in AA/A competition were: Ritchie County’s Brady Layman (113); East Fairmont’s Blake Boyers (126); Oak Glen’s Peyton Hall (152); Herbert Hoover’s Ben Kee (160); Moorefield’s Isaac VanMeter (170); Braxton County’s Jordan Williams (182); Greenbrier West’s Noah Brown (220) and Fairmont Senior’s Zach Frazier at heavyweight.

It was the fourth consecutive state title for both Hall and Frazier. Hall finished his senior camapign 49-2 and his prep career 179-13. Frazier, meanwhile, wrapped up a 38-0 season that factors into his 159-2 career mark.

While each of Hall’s titles came at a different weight class over the four years, Frazier won all four of his crowns as a heavyweight before going off to West Virginia to play football.

“It means everything,” Frazier said. “I have so much school pride and it’s really nice to be the first four-time winner in my school’s history.”

Brown, meanwhile, earned a 6-1 win over Sissonville’s Gavin Shamblin in the title match, which allowed for the Cavaliers to create separation en route to their Class A title.

“Winning a team and individual state championship just blows my mind,” Brown said. “I’ve worked so hard for this and can’t believe it just happened.”





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