THE WHEELING Wrestling Club had three individuals reach the finals in the state-based nationals in Gatlinburg, Tn. From left, Erick Brothers Jr., Charlie Tamburin and Stevie Mitchell. Brothers Jr. and Mitchell each won titles while Tamburin was second.

Although the high school wrestling season won’t start in West Virginia until sometime in late February, some individuals have kept in shape by competing on club teams.

Members of the Wheeling Wrestling Club recently traveled to Gatlinburg, Tn., for the state-based nationals. They didn’t come home empty handed as two won championships, while a third was runnerup.

Erick Brothers Jr. (220) was voted the Most Outstanding Wrestler in the high school open division. The sophomore at Wheeling Park High School was a West Virginia state champion last winter at 182.

Senior Stevie Mitchell (155) also captured his weight class. Mitchell was a state runnerup last season at 145.

Classmate Charlie Tamburin (285) finished second. He was also a state runnerup at 220 last year.

The WWC competed in the High School Duals and went 2-2, finishing 5th in the silver bracket.

Also competing were Adam Carman, Cody Taggart, Bradyn Lucas, Nate Shelek, Quinton Velas, Gabe Carman, Zac Lydick and Hunter Nixon.

State Tournament Sites Sought

The state tournament will not be held at Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center, which is not able to host the event this year. The OHSAA is seeking three high schools, preferably in Central Ohio due to travel considerations, to each host a division. The district and state tournaments will include split sessions, with seven weight classes competing at a time, followed by a break and then the other seven weight classes. Spectator limitations are to be determined.

WVU Update

Redshirt freshman Anthony Carman, a John Marshall product, went 2-0 as the Mountaineers defeated Bucknell (29-3) before falling to No. 19 Oklahoma (21-9).

The former Monarch state champion topped Sam Barnes of Bucknell and No. 31 Darrien Roberts of Oklahoma. With the wins, Carman topped a ranked opponent for the first time in his collegiate career.

Trailing 4-2 after one, Carman scored a reversal and a takedown for the 6-5 lead heading into the third period in the match with the Sooners. Roberts started on bottom and earned an escape to even the match at 6-6, but the riding time point was awarded to Carman at the end of regulation, handing the Glen Dale native a slim, 7-6, decision.

No. 24 Peyton Hall, an Oak Glen graduate, took down his second ranked opponent of the year, defeating No. 26 Jake Stiles of Oklahoma by a 2-1 decision. The Chester product started the third period on bottom and quickly earned an escape to tie the bout at 1. Hall kept the pressure through the period and forced two stalling calls on Stiles to capture the 2-1 win.

Former Weir state champion Caleb Rea (141) saw action in a pair of exhibition matches as he recovers from an illness.

College Action

Tariq Wilson (141), N.C. State’s redshirt senior, is off to a 4-0 start after scoring a reversal with 10 seconds left to defeat Virginia’s Brian Courtney, 8-6. The former Steubenville all-stater now has 93 career wins.

The Wolfpack host No. 12 Pitt Friday night at 6 at James T. Valvano Arena inside William Neal Reynolds Coliseum. The match will be televised on the ACC Network.

Anthony Rice (174) is listed as a redshirt freshman at Cleveland State. The Steubenville product is 1-1 so far this season after going 15-6 last year while competing as unattached.

Rivalry Renewed

On Saturday, Jan. 30, West Liberty University will welcome Wheeling University to the ASRC for MEC dual meet action. When the Cardinals recently competed in a triangular with Glenville State and the Hilltoppers, it marked 672 days since they had been on the mat.

A time for the match will be announced at a later date.