MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Weight classes are set for a new season of wrestling in West Virginia, and University is ready to start the season off on the right foot: With a challenge.
“[We have] a lot of challenges this year,” longtime UHS coach Ken Maisel said. “We’re going to a tournament in [Amityville, N.Y.], with some good individuals.”
The Long Island tournament will get his wrestlers warmed up for what’s expected to be a ringer of a regular season, including dual matches with No. 1 Parkersburg South as well as top teams Wheeling Park and Huntington. After a 40-team tournament hosted by Wheeling Park at the end of December, UHS will take part in the mammoth Winner’s Choice and OVAC tournaments interlaced with their dual schedule.
“I know it’s a crazy statement to have, but we set it up so our guys aren’t going into states undefeated,” Maisel said. “We want them to have competition and to know what it feels like to work to get those wins or to lose.”
The Hawks, who finished 4th in the state tournament, are returning a senior class that should prove to be one of the most powerful in the state albeit none claimed titles or runner-up status last year.
Jake Staud, a Division I signee with West Point, already has one state title under his belt from 2017. After tearing his labrum and wrestling through the injury last year, he ended his junior campaign at the lowest placement in his high school career. Now, back at 100%, Staud is ready to finish his high school career with a second title. He’ll be wrestling in the 132 weight class, six pounds heavier than last year.
“He’s gotten better every year,” Maisel said after Staud signed with Army. “Last year isn’t an indication (of much) because of the injury, but you’ve got to give him credit – instead of sitting out he said, ‘I want to know what I can do.’ He basically wrestled with one arm and had just a handful of losses, so that says a lot about how good he is.”
Jace Stockett, who placed 4th two years ago and was injured during last year’s state tournament, and Josh Sanders, who took 6th last year, and Joey Gidley, are three other seniors to keep an eye on this year. Maisel and the rest of the coaching staff expect big things out of Stockett, whose goal is to win a state title in the 126 weight class. Sanders has the same goal, and is currently wrestling in the 220 weight class but may drop down to the 195 by the end of the season. Gidley will be wrestling 145.
“We’ll see how it plays out for [Sanders],” Maisel said.
In 23 years at the helm, Maisel has seen plenty of kids come and go, some great and some not, but that time certainly has trained his eye on who’s got “it.” Aside from his seniors, there are two freshmen in the starting lineup – Dakota Hagedorn and Dom Parker – who have impressed Maisel.
“Those two will make some noise this year. They’re not well known now, but they will be,” he said. “Hagedorn was a middle school state champ and NHCSA middle school nationals runner-up. Parker was also a middle school state champ.”
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