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 My Site News: Nine wrestlers advance to State Tourn. |
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Tuesday, May 26
Nine wrestlers advance to State Tourn.
Five regional champions crowned Nine grapplers advance to state tournament - by Horace Blankenship - 2/25/2009
Berkeley Springs finished third in a tightly contested team race at the West Virginia Class AA Region II Wrestling Tournament on Saturday, February 21, in Keyser.
Grafton won the team title with 204 points, closely followed by Braxton County 199 and Berkeley Springs 194. Keyser finished fourth with 144 points.
"I thought we wrestled very well," said Berkeley Springs Coach Darrell Bennett. “Those three empty weight classes made the difference. When you have empty weight classes it is a handicap and it really bit us today. However, I am really proud of the kids. They stepped up to the plate and delivered. We qualified nine wrestlers and are looking forward to the state tournament."
Of the nine Indians qualifying for the state tournament, five were regional champions.
Loguen McKee, a freshman 112 pounder, captured Berkeley Springs first title with a 12-1 major decision over Ty VanMeter from Petersburg. McKee was not threatened in the tournament, reaching the 112 pound final with a pair of first-period pins.
Brad Reed won the second title of the day for the Indians, scoring a 13-0 major decision over Liberty Harrison's Ricky Payne in the 130 pound final. Reed also had an easy road to the championship match with a first period pin and tech-fall.
Damen Cappper gave the Tribe their third regional champion, when he pinned Grafton's Tristan Reneau early in the second period of the 140 gold medal match. Capper scored pins in his quarter and semifinal matches.
Tory Bennett, the top ranked 160 pound wrestler in Class AA, faced the number two ranked wrestler in his weight class, Beau Barrett, from Grafton in the title match and it turned out to be a war, with Bennett prevailing in overtime, 9-7. Bennett had much less trouble in the earlier rounds, recording two pins and a tech-fall to reach the championship bout.
Berkeley Springs' final championship of the day came in the 285 pound weight class, where Hobert Delph edged Adam Nelson from Keyser 1-0. Delph had a tough semifinal bout as well, winning in overtime 4-3. His other win came by fall.
"We lost a couple of close matches in the finals and we won a couple of "nail bitters," said Bennett. “To place seven guys in the finals and win five championships is a pretty good accomplishment. I thought we did a good job in the finals."
The only two losses Berkeley Springs suffered in the finals was 4-2 in overtime at 103 and a 5-3 decision at 125.
Cohen Hovermale lost the tough 4-2 overtime battle to top-seeded Tommy Dodd at 103. Hovermale, seeded third, reached the 103 pound title match with a hard fought 3-2 decision over Keyser's Kolby Kiggins.
Alex Peer defeated Derek Hovermale, 5-3, in the 125 pound championship match. Hovermale beat Peer in the final of the Max Horz, Jr. Invitational, but has lost to the former Class AA state champion the last three times they met. All three matches have been close, including the regional final. Hovermale made it to the 125 title match with a first-period fall and an 8-3 decision in the semifinal.
Richard Marshall and Zac Risinger also qualified for the state tournament.
Marshall finished third at 135 pounds and Risnger fourth at 145.
Marshall defeated Brett Floyd 6-2 in the consolation final, while Risinger was beaten by Braxton County's Cody Grounds in his third place match.
"I think we are peaking at the right time of the year," said Bennett. “I guess we will find out this week."
The State Tournament will begin on Thursday, February 26, in Huntington. Oak Glen will be seeking their 14th straight Class AA team title, but will get a strong challenge from Point Pleasant and Calhoun County.
Region II Team Scores
1. Grafton 204.00
2. Braxton County 199.00
3. Berkeley Springs 194.00
4. Keyser 144.00
5. Liberty (Harrison) 128.50
6. Petersburg 126.00
7. Frankfort 109.00
8. Lincoln 88.00
9. Philip Barbour 41.50
10. South Harrison 36.00
11. Moorefield 23.00
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