Photo by Kim North Oak Glen’s Jonathan Creese celebrates after a hard-fought win during Friday’s state wrestling tournament.

HUNTINGTON — Peyton Hall is just one victory away from making history.

With wins over Nitro’s Luke Bailey (quarterfinals) and Bridgeport’s Kemo Summers (semifinals) Friday during the 73rd annual W.Va. Class A-AA state wrestling tournament, the 152-pound Oak Glen senior will look to do something no other Golden Bear has accomplished in the strong tradition of the Hancock County school.

Including Hall, a West Virginia University recruit who improved to 48-2 this season and has 172 career wins, six Oak Glen grapplers have stood atop the podium three times. However, none could join an elite group of 18 four-timers. The other five are John Crain (1986-88), Joe Caughey (2000-02), Derrick Stickles (2000-02), Rhett Northcraft (2004-06) and Robert Bozek (2015-17).

Should Hall defeat Point Pleasant’s Wyatt Wilson in tonight’s championship bout, he would become the first to have his hand raised four years in a row. He has won at 120 (freshman), 132 (sophomore) and 138 (last year) pounds.

“It feels great. It’s my last year representing Oak Glen, so I want to do the best I can,” Hall said. “I’m just as happy with Jonathan in the finals as I am being there.”

Overall, Oak Glen has had 47 state champions, including current John Marshall coach Ryan Asbury who won at 125 in 2008.

Hall would also become the fifth Ohio Valley Athletic Conference matman to capture four state titles. That group consists of Cameron’s R.C. Anderson (1989-92), Wheeling Park’s Dirk Bauer (2008-11) and the Parkersburg South duo of David Jeffrey (2009-12) and Justin Allman (2014-17).

Joining Hall in the championship finals are his teammate and practice partner Jonathan Creese (145) and Cameron’s Ian Bush (170).

“It’s the best feeling I’ve had in a long time,” Creese said of making the finals. “I’ve dreamed about this since I was a kid and now I get a shot at it.”

Creese earned his trip with an 8-2 decision over Sean Dawson of Independence. Creese was third a year ago at 145.

Being Hall’s training partner has its advantages.

“He works with me every day. He helps with a lot of stuff,” Creese said. “I probably wouldn’t be here without his help.”

Oak Glen head coach Patrick McGillian couldn’t be any prouder of his two finalists.

“Jonathan has battled all season. His weight class has been one of the toughest around, but he seems to come out near the top every time,” the coach said. “He has an advantage that nobody else has and that is training with Peyton. That has to rub off on him.

“Peyton is Peyton. That kid was ranked No. 2 in the state. He wanted to go out and show who he was and what he’s about.”

Hall pinned Summers in 1:05.

Oak Glen is currently in fourth place with 72 points, which is just 10 from second-place Braxton County. Point Pleasant has piled up 230 points. Fairmont Senior is third with 77.5.

Bush, just a sophomore improved to 45-2 with another first-period pin. He took down Braxton County’s Colton Moore in a mere 1:10. Bush, an OVAC Tournament champion, won his first match in just 35 seconds before earning a 1:03 pin in the quarters.

“Ian hasn’t spent a lot of time on the mat, but he’s getting in some good workouts,” Cameron coach Tim Jones said. “Short, quick and easy.”

Cameron’s last state champion was current assistant coach David Schlieper in 2011.

Dropping semifinal matches were Weir’s Wyatt Conley (132) and Jordan Brueck (285), as well as Oak Glen’s Clayton Lamb (120) and Kyler O’Connor (182). They will compete today in an attempt at third place.

The Golden Bears’ Cameron Barr (106) is alive for third place, as is Magnolia’s James Stillwagoner (195).

The top six earn all-state honors.

Action resumes today at 10:30 a.m. with semifinal consolation bouts. The consolation finals will follow, with the championship finals set for 6 p.m.