The area’s rich wrestling tradition was on display again Saturday in Huntington.
Jesse Adams (Independence), Tyler Roark (Beckley), J.J. Bailes (Beckley) and Matthew Kesterson (Greenbrier West) were the four local boys wrestlers to claim state championships Saturday at the Marshall Health Network Arena.
Adam, Roark and Bailes all claimed their third career titles with Adams and Roark making it three straight. Bailes, who won his first title his freshman year, finished as the runner-up his sophomore year before closing with consecutive titles.
Adams, a junior for the Patriots, remained perfect through title bouts coming away with a win over Cooper Durst of Ripley.
Kesterson, a sophomore, bounced Gilmer County freshman Dallas Goodrich in the 106 pound Class A-AA title match.
Amongst the wrestlers who made it to title bouts but fell just short were Brayden Jones (Beckley, 106 pounds), Garret Johnson (Beckley, 126 pounds) and Solomon Truman (Oak Hill, 157 pounds).
Johnson, a two-time state champion fell just short of his third consecutive title.
On the girls side Kirclyn Coleman of Oak Hill won the title at 120, defeating Anniya Powell of Parkersburg South.
Princeton’s Claire Holt won the 235 title with a victory over Abby Radabaugh of Buckhannon-Upshur.
Overall Team Champions
Boys
Class AAA: University; Runner-up: Parkersburg
Class AA: Point Pleasant; Runner-up: Herbert Hoover
Class A: Braxton County; Runner-up: Cameron
‘
Girls
Champion: Buckhannon-Upshur
Runner-up: Parkersburg South
Local Finishers
Class A-AA
106 Pounds
Matthew Kesterson, Greenbrier West d. Dallas Goodrich, Gilmer County
190 Pounds
Jesse Adams, Independence d. Cooper Durst, Ripley
Class AAA
106 Pounds
Seth Drennen, Parkersburg d. Brayden Jones, Beckley
126 Pounds
Colston Skeen, Parkersburg, d. Garrett Johnson, Beckley
144 Pounds
Tyler Roark, Beckley d. Carter Pauley, University
150 Pounds
Jimmie Bailes, Beckley d. Jack Lowe, Wheeling Park
157 Pounds
Maximus Fortier, Fairmont Senior d. Solomon Truman, Oak Hill
Girls
107 Pounds
Annabelle Ward, Cabell Midland d. Clara Ealy, Shady Spring
120 Pounds
Kirclyn Coleman, Oak Hill d. Anniya Powell, Parkersburg South
138 Pounds
Maya Garcia, Buckhanon-Upsher d. Makenzie Hanshaw, Nicholas County
185 Pounds
Ainsley Phillips, Jeferson d. Allie Bowles, Liberty (Raleigh)
235 Pounds
Claire Holt, Princeton d. Abby Radabaugh, Buckhannon-Upshur
