By David Walsh
HUNTINGTON — Championship night didn’t go as University wrestling coach Ken Maisel had hoped.
Freshman Luca Felix reached the finals in the 132-pound weight class, where he battled Ethan Hardy, of Washington, on even terms before Hardy got one escape to post a 1-0 win Tuesday night in the 74th annual West Virginia State Tournament at Mountain Health Arena.
Hardy did a couple of backflips on the mat after the win.
“It’s odd to see,” Maisel said of a 1-0 score. “The thing was not going down. It’s not rocket science. You have to get a takedown no matter what it takes.”
Maisel stayed out and waited for Dom Parker, who met Brayden Johnson, of Parkersburg South. Johnson got the upper hand early and ended with a 6-2 victory to claim his third straight state title.
The Patriots won Class AAA, as well.
“We knew it would be tough,” Maisel said. “He’s been there. He got the lead and kept it. We got on the legs twice. We acted like we were shocked to be out there.”
Maisel said it’s hats off to Dakota Hagedorn, at 170, where he placed third. He met unbeaten A.J. Dempsey, of Huntington High, in one semifinal Tuesday morning and held an early 5-0 lead.
Dempsey, defending state champ at this weight class, then staged quite the comeback and prevailed 9-5.
Hagedorn suffered a similar fate a year ago, losing in the semifinals and then slipping to sixth in the consolation rounds.
“Great for him,” Maisel said of his sophomore. “Last year he made it to the semis, lost and then did the semi-fly and got sixth. This year he lost in the semis and really came back. He’s a real strong kid.”
The Hawks also had three other wrestlers place. Elijah Wellings-Osha placed fourth at 160, Mason Pauley took fifth at 145 and Corbin Turney placed fifth at 285.
“I feel we underachieved from a team standpoint,” Maisel said. “But all the kids are back (who placed).”
University had two seniors on the roster.
Morgantown’s Garret Spohn placed sixth at 106.
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