Parkersburg South, Parkersburg High set to compete in regional wrestling meet
PARKERSBURG — When it comes to regional Saturday and Parkersburg South wrestling the Patriots have a long history of finishing atop the team standings.
The defending Class AAA state champions of head coach Shaun Smith will look to continue their domination during the Region IV tournament set to begin at 11 a.m. today inside Rod Oldham Athletic Center.
Although the Big Reds of Parkersburg High head man Matt Littleton have five No. 1 seeds, the Patriots have four and are joined by Ripley with an expected 11 state qualifiers.
Parkersburg South top-seeded 175-pounder Gage Wright, who is currently 43-1, is the only wrestler seeking a fourth straight Region IV title. The Patriots are vying for an eighth consecutive Region IV crown after reigning supreme in Region I from 2009-2016.
Cabell Midland 190-pound top seed Robert Shockey, who is an ex-Patriot and sports a 38-1 record, is the lone grappler seeking a third Region IV top of the podium finish.
Joining Wright as a top seed for the Patriots are 150-pounder Makiya Powell, 165-pounder Cole Middleton and 215-pounder Ayden Morris. Powell is the defending champ at 150 and Morris will be out to top the field again at 215.
PHS had No. 1 seeds in each of the first five weight classes thanks to its core of freshmen with Seth Drennen at 106, Dominic Way at 113, Kayden McDonald at 120, Stephen Myers (34-1) at 126 and 132-pounder Lars Cooper.
Unfortunately for the Big Reds, both Way and 175-pound No. 2 seed Jason Williams’ season came to an early end due to illness and injury.
“This (freshman) class came in and really kind of sparked and the upperclassmen have really been responding well,” said coach Littleton. “We got hit with some bad news this week and lost two of our starters. It takes a hit for the team there.
“You know, the good ole saying, you got to go on with the soldiers that you have and next man up mentality, and you got to get ready to get prepared and do what we can do with what we have. Porter Cole is going to fill in for Dominic and he will probably be the fifth seed. Andrew Edmands will fill in for Jason.”
Ripley’s lone expected victor is 157-pounder Ethan Kay, who was top-seeded last year at 144 and finished runner-up. The No. 2 seed in Region IV is Hurricane’s Saige Walls, who will be out for his second career individual championship after capturing the 132-pound crown last winter.
Viking 190-pounder Cooper Durst has the No. 2 seed behind Shockey. The current 36-2 junior had to settle for runner-up to Wright a year ago in the regional at 175.
Huntington has a pair of No. 1 seeds in 138-pounder Garrin Arthur and 144-pounder Joe Riggs, who is 37-2. Arthur’s top competition is expected to be second-seeded Big Red Simon Inboden, who won the regional at 106 two years ago as a freshman. Arthur was runner-up at 126 and Inboden finished third during the 2023 regional.
Expected to top the field at heavyweight is Hurricane’s Owen Duffy, who enters with a 44-3 record and has No. 2 seed Logan Middleton of Parkersburg South on the other side of the bracket.
Although not a No. 1 seed, Highlander Ben Barrett – last year’s regional champ at 120 – is the No. 2 seed behind the Big Red Myers.
Parkersburg’s other No. 2 seed is 150-pounder Jesse Showalter.
Joining Middleton as second seeds for coach Smith and the Patriots are Cole Smith at 113, Cade Staats at 120 and 144-pounder Nathan Murphy.
Hurricane’s other No. 2 seed is 132-pounder Sebastian Lemon and the Highlanders’ other second-seeded wrestler is Trevor Morgan at 106.
Aside from Durst, Ripley head coach Matt Smith’s program also has No. 2 seeds with 165-pounder Jeremiah Casto and 215-pounder Carter Neal.
The top four wrestlers in each weight class will advance to the state tournament in Huntington at Mountain Health Arena.
Parkersburg South’s last time not besting the field occurred back in 2008 inside Memorial Fieldhouse when Wheeling Park captured the Region I crown.
Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com