By David Walsh
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — For the first time in the “Big House,” University High’s Dom Parker and Dakota Hagedorn did well.
Parker, a freshman, scored a first-period pin against Hampshire’s Ben McArthur at 132 pounds Thursday in the opening round of the 73rd West Virginia State High School Wrestling Tournament at Mountain Health Arena.
Dakota Hagedorn, the other freshman qualifier for University, won by pin over Martinsburg’s Isaiah Salinas. Hagedorn had a 4-3 lead in the second period when he turned Salinas and got the pin at 2:47.
“Pretty cool,” Parker said of the tournament surroundings. “Trying to treat this as another tournament. It’s not easy.”
“It’s just a mat,” Hagedorn said of his first state experience. “Me and Dom put in the extra work.”
Parker has also played football for the Hawks, but decided to forego that sport this past fall to concentrate on wrestling.
“This is what I wanted to do,” Parker said.
Parker said he’s received great support from University coach Ken Maisel.
“[He] told me to just go out and wrestle,” Parker said.
As for the 132 bracket, Parker said he’s met a few of the wrestlers during the season.
“Just focus on tomorrow and the next match,” Parker said.
Hagedorn has a style he likes to employ and it worked in his match.
“Step through, on top and pin,” Hagedorn said.
Maisel has been an influence on Hagedorn since elementary school.
“He’s given me good guidance,” Hagedorn said.
Come this morning, Hagedorn said it will be business as usual in his quarterfinal match.
“Do the same thing,” Hagedorn said. “I look at it as another opportunity to wrestle.”
Maisel more than knew he had two quality performers before practice started. Parker and Hagedorn had been to the Mountain Health Arena before in middle school at the WSAZ Invitational.
“They know,” Maisel said. “I talked to them about this before we left. Both of them are different. They go to clubs, [have] good training. They’ve tough in their own way. I’m excited to have them.”
Parker and Hagedorn showed quickly their skills when they won their weight classes in a tournament in Amityville, N.Y., early in the season.
“They showed they’re both pretty good,” Maisel said.
Overall, Maisel expressed some happiness with the opening night. Corbin Turney (285), Josh Sanders (220), Jace Stockett (126), Elijah Wellings-Osha (160) and Joey Gidley (145) got wins.
Turney ended the night with a 6-4 win over Oden Smith of Jefferson. It was Region I winner vs. No. 4 from Region II.
“Region 2 has some tough kids,” Maisel said. “We knew what we wanted to do.”
Day 1 was tough for Morgantown and Preston.
Trenton Thompson won by pin over Gavin Jones of Spring Mills at 1:01. That was the lone win for the Mohigans.
Preston had an 0 for 5 night.
In team standings, defending Class AAA champion Parkersburg South led with 41 points and Wheeling Park trailed with 40.5.
Defending Class AA champion Point Pleasant had a big lead.
Doddridge and Wirt County were tied in Class A late.
