By RICK THORP
Staff Writer
HUNTINGTON - Kyle Bauer couldn't have scripted it any better.
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Wheeling Park’s Kyle Bauer tangles with Cabell-Midland’s Louden Goodpaster in Saturday’s 130-pound Class AAA final. Bauer won by pin in 1:12 to cap his senior year at 25-0 and his career at 150-9. It was his second straight state title and his fourth finish of third or higher.
In a season full of ups and downs, the Wheeling Park senior capped a stellar prep run with a second straight state championship Saturday night as the 64th annual West Virginia Prep Wrestling Championships concluded.
Bauer pinned Cabell Midland's Louden Goodpaster in 1:12 to claim the Class AAA 130-pound crown and the 150th, and final, victory of his prep career.
Bauer's third pin of the tournament locked up his fourth trip to the state award's stand and gave the Ohio Valley its only victory in the Big School class.
''I just got a take down and I locked up the cradle and I finished it,'' Bauer said in the bowels of Big Sandy Superstore Arena. ''I just got it over with. It felt good.''
Bauer's coach, Sean Doyle, said the Kent State University recruit's no-nonsense approach to every match was vital in his success.
''It doesn't matter what round of the tournament it is, it doesn't matter, that's probably one of his best characteristics,'' Doyle said.
''Every match, he just goes in and does what he's supposed to do. His emotions are never too high and they're never too low.''
''There's not many that can do that and that demeanor will help him down the road.''
Bauer, voted the Most Outstanding Wrestler in Class AAA by coaches, missed a portion of this season with mono, and when he returned it was like he never left. He finished the season 25-0 and ended his prep career with only nine defeats.
He spent his freshman and sophomore seasons at Wheeling Central, where he took second at 103 pounds in 2008 and third at 112 in 2009.
Bauer said coaches at both school played a role in his development.
''It's been a good four years,'' he said. ''I started out with Coach (Chick) LaMotte and he got me ready and Coach Doyle finished things out.
''Overall, it was a good tournament. The victory in the semifinals was a big one against a defending state champ (Huntington's Justin Arthur). Once I got that out of the way I had my confidence go up.''
Wheeling Park's other finalist, Cody Amos, was unsuccessful in his bid to win his first state crown.
He dropped a 5-2 decision to Ripley's Adam Bicak, the same person who beat him in last year's 152-pound title tilt. It was the third straight crown for the junior.
John Marshall's Justin Goode and Marshall Mason both fell in their finals matches.
Goode, at 125 pounds, was blanked by University's Jesse Schiffbauer, 10-0. Goode finished the season 46-4.
Mason (46-4), in his first state final, was shutout 15-0 by Lewis County's Elijah Hull. It was Hull's second state championship.
Brooke's Nathan Dawson gave Huntington's Chris Miles everything he could in the 189-pound final, but Miles was too much, edging Dawson 7-5.
Earlier in the day, the Patriots' Hans Rogerson finished fifth at 140 pounds by blanking Cabell Midland's Zac Lusher 6-0.
There was a local battle for third place at 215 pounds. Brooke's Nicholas Pederson and John Marshall's Cullen Ebbert went into overtime, with Pederson coming out victorious 3-2.
Brooke's other Pederson, Anthony, finished fourth at 285 pounds after dropping a hard-fought 1-0 decision to Hedgesville's Travis Wheat.
Also at heavyweight, the Monarchs' Michael Berardi took sixth after dropping a 3-2 verdict to North Marion's Tyler Phillips.
Bruins sophomore Matt Beaman ended up sixth at 103 pounds following a pin in 4:07 by Parkersburg South's Lance Hill.
Parkersburg South withstood a strong challenge from host school Huntington to win the team title.
