Hawks lead local contingent that includes MHS, PHS grapplers
MORGANTOWN — The 2023 WVSSAC state wrestling meet will begin Thursday evening and run through Saturday, March 4 at the Huntington Civic Center.
Morgantown, Preston, and University High Schools will all be represented in the AAA bracket at multiple weight classes. Each weight class is made up of 16 wrestlers, with the top eight being ranked by seed in the tournament.
The University Hawks are looking to claim their first state championship team title since 1965 and are in prime position to do so, having qualified 13 wrestlers for the state tournament. Head coach Ken Maisel will have someone in every single weight class, except for 126 pounds.
Representing the Hawks will be seniors Will Angelozzi (138), Dom Parker (157) and Dakota Hagedorn (165); juniors Brodie Emery (113), Jay McKenzie (144) and Luca Felix (175); sophomores Pepper Martin (106), Carter Pauley (132), Ryder Ludrosky (150), Jackson Pate (190) and Brock Kehler (215); and freshmen Colton Gillespie (120) and Ryder Hastings (285).
Not only does UHS have one of its best-ever rosters this year, but only three of its 13 state qualifiers are seniors. Maisel knows that despite the familiarity of states for his team, handling the moment is important every single second of the way.
“We try to tell them it’s just another tournament, you go out and wrestle the same way you have all year,” Maisel said. “You step out on the mat and it’s just a mat. Everything needs to be positive and the predator mindset must be had.
“But you have to remember to be grateful out there,” he continued. “You don’t have to go wrestle — you get to go wrestle. There are a lot of good teams here that can compete for the title, and I think it’s going to take every single one of us. We may only have someone who wins one consolation match all weekend, but that win could mean the difference for a state title for the team. Bonus points will also be big, so we need pins in our matches.”
The big three for UHS, Dom Parker, Luca Felix, and Brock Kehler, have combined this season for a record of 137 wins and just two losses (one each for Parker and Felix). Kehler, just a sophomore, won the state championship in the 190-pound weight class last year. He comes into the state meet this year undefeated in the 215 class at 49-0, looking to cap off a dream season without a loss.
Felix’s only loss came to Gage Wright of Parkersburg South, who is seeded 7th in the bracket, mid-season in a duel by points.
Parker aims to go out on top in his final go at the state tournament. The WVU commit is seeded first overall with a record of 45-1 this season.
For MHS and head coach Joe Abu-Ghannam, two grapplers will enter Thursday’s meet in unseeded spots in the bracket. Senior Garrett Sphon (144) and sophomore Kaden Linn (157) will battle for the right to be called an individual state champion.
Sphon isn’t a stranger to the spotlight of the state tournament stage and will aim to channel that experience into a strong performance. Conversely, Linn is making his first appearance at states and aims to keep his composure to help him be successful.
“With Garrett’s knowledge of the sport and level of competition at states, it’s important for him to be ready to go out and wrestle complete matches,” Abu-Ghannam said. “In addition to having the overall skills, he has conditioning, speed, and strength to his advantage. This isn’t his first time at states so he should be fine. Kaden has shown tremendous growth and must maintain composure during tough stretches.”
For the PHS Knights, six wrestlers qualified in the top four in the regional meet, securing their qualification into states. Gavin Garlits (132), Cole Turner (157), and Dylan Haskiell (215) all enter the tournament seeded second overall in their bracket. Robbie Lowe (106), Noah Shafer (113) and Owen Kilmas (175) will all enter their respective bracket unseeded and ready to make an upset happen early.
Weigh-ins will begin Thursday at 4:30 p.m. for the first round of matches. Friday, weigh-in will be at 9:30 a.m., with the weigh-in for Championship Saturday beginning at 8:30 a.m.
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