Of the two dozen, John Marshall and Wheeling Park have eight qualifiers each, with Brooke sending four to account for the northern panhandle’s 20 entrants. The Patriots and Monarchs each have two females that have qualified, as well.

WHEELING PARK

The Patriots are led by seniors Jack Lowe (150), Noah White (175), Jameson Maynard (190) and Hunter Means (285). They are all 4-year state tournament participants.

Lowe is a three-time state placer, having finished runner up as a freshman and third last winter. He was the Region I champion and has a 33-8 record.

Pictured are the Wheeling Park wrestlers who qualified for this week’s state tournament inside Marshall Health Arena in Huntington. Front row, from left, are Noah White, Kymber Heldreth, Isaac Sands, Terionna Gibbons and Bodie Cox. Back row, from left, are Jack Lowe, Hunter Means, Jameson Maynard, Nate Hodge and Malaki Washington.

“We are excited to see Jack compete in his final state tournament,” Wheeling Park head coach Danny Doyle said. “He has been an ultimate competitor for four years, and I expect him to make a run for the title.”

White is a two-time state placer. He stands at 21-5. He was fourth in the Region I event and sixth in the state at 150 last season.

Maynard has also appeared on the awards podium three times, including second last year at 175.

He is a sparkling 25-1, with the lone loss coming a week ago to Bridgeport’s Eli Knight in the Region I finals. Maynard is also a two-time OVAC Ron Mauck Tournament titlist.

Means missed most of the season with a broken leg suffered in the football playoffs. He went 2-2 at the Region I tournament, placing fourth.

“For four years, Jameson has been the perfect representative for Wheeling Park High School. He had a bit of a heartbreak at regionals,” Doyle recalled. “Jameson is the type of kid that was able to use that loss to motivate him all week in practice. He is going to be on a mission to win that state title.

“We are excited to have Hunter back. After his injury in November we knew it was going to be a long shot for him to return,” Doyle said. “He worked hard all winter to get medically cleared. Now that he’s back, we are hoping for him to shake some things up in the 285-pound bracket.”

Also headed south are freshman Bodie Cox (106) who was a Region I runner up and is 9-12; sophomore Nate Hodge (157) who is 27-16 and was third at the Region I event; and juniors Isaac Sands (165) and Malaki Washington (215). Both were regional runner ups. Sands will take a 34-8 mark into action, with Washington, who missed the early portion of the season with a knee injury, is 10-5. He was fifth at 190 last winter.

“This is Isaac’s first trip to the state tournament,” Doyle said. “He’s a wrestler who can compete with the best. His work ethic in the room is going to put him in the conversation for state champion.

“It’s always fun to watch Malaki wrestle. We know that he is capable of beating anyone he wrestles,” Doyle allowed. “He was able to win OVACs as the No. 5 seed a year ago, so he’s not someone who anyone should count out.”

Lowe, Maynard, Means, and White have combined for more than 550 wins, 200 pins, three OVAC final appearances, two OVAC titles and a trio of state final appearances.

JOHN MARSHALL

The Monarchs are a senior-dominated team that is led by returning state placer Carter Adkins (132). He finished sixth at 132 last year and is currently 37-13. He finished fourth in the regional.

“He has been a solid four-year starter for our team. He currently leads the team in takedowns, and his fast pace in matches has allowed him to earn bonus points in 34 of his 37 wins,” John Marshall head coach Ryan Asbury said. “I’m excited to see how Carter handles his final tournament in Huntington.”

Other Monarch seniors headed south include Zander Ward (138); Kaden Harding (144); Waylon Wyckoff (150); Brooks Harrison (165) and Maverick Lemasters (175).

Ward is currently 34-13 and won the Region I Tournament as part of his 150 career victories, which is third all-time at John Marshall.

“He is in a great place to find himself on the podium again in Huntington and is capable of battling with anyone in the bracket,” Asbury said.

Harding is in the top 5 on the team in pins this season and is ranked fifth in the state. He stands at 29-9.

“He’s a strong, hard-nosed kid who has improved a ton since our midterm test at the OVAC tournament,” Asbury noted. “He was a state placer as a freshman, and is determined to repeat that accomplishment this year.”

Wyckoff, now 40-11 after a fourth-place finish in the regional, has the most pins this season and the second-most wins.

“He’s wrestled a few of the individuals ranked above him in the state in very close matches and is looking to avenge those losses when it counts,” Asbury pointed out.

Harrison is 36-13 and was a blood-round loser at the state last season.

“That has pushed him to work hard all season to make sure he’s hitting the goal of placing in the state this year,” Asbury said.

Lemasters, now 44-7, needs two more wins to break the single-season win record at John Marshall.

“175 is a very unique weight for this tournament, as I believe anyone ranked in the top 10 of this weight class is capable of winning it,” Asbury stressed. “Maverick proved himself last weekend by losing a one-point match to the No. 3 ranked kid and beating the No. 4. I’m excited to see how he steps up to end his career.”

Rounding out the Monarchs qualifiers are freshmen Nathan Hughes (113) and Clayton Dugas-Pyles (120).

Hughes has racked up 36 wins in 49 matches this season.

“Nathan has been a very solid freshman for us this season and sits in the top 5 on the team for team wins and pins this season,” Asbury remarked. “He is coming off of a third-place finish at the regional tournament, where he was able to secure a revenge win in the medal round. He is poised to continue this success at the state tournament in an upper-classman-heavy weight class.”

Dugas has fashioned a 27-19 in his first varsity season.

“Clayton has been improving as the season has continued and also boasted a revenge win at the regional tournament over a ranked individual to earn his place at the state,” Asbury said.

“Overall, I think the team has done very well this season. This group has worked hard every day, and have been improving as the year has progressed. Five of our senior wrestlers achieved more than 100 varsity wins in their high school careers, and both qualifying freshmen have set themselves up nicely towards doing the same,” Asbury added.

“Last weekend, all eight qualifiers placed at or above their seeds for the regional tournament, with several earning revenge wins. I feel that the atmosphere in the room is confident and exciting, the kids are peaking at the right time, and we’re headed to Huntington expecting several individuals to come home with some hardware.”

BROOKE

The Bruins are led by senior Garrett Moore (190) who is making his fourth trip to Huntington.

“After finishing fifth in the OVAC tournament, he’s looking to finish his career with a top 6 finish in the state,” Brooke head coach Doug Sizemore said.

Moore is ranked sixth in the state and carries a 28-10 record into the state meet.

Joey Rea (113) is another senior that has state tournament experience. He is 24-8.

“Joey was eliminated in the blood-round last year and is looking to earn his spot on the podium in his senior season,” Sizemore noted.

Sophomore Landon Burdine (132) placed sixth last year at 126 and is looking for a higher position this year.

“Landon is ranked fourth in the state and is aiming to finish above where he finished last year in the state tournament,” Sizemore added.

The final Bruin qualifier is sophomore Michael Gibson (126) who has compiled a 16-11 record.

“Michael punched his ticket to the state tournament in his first year with the team and is looking for a top 6 finish in his young, but bright career.”

GIRLS

WHEELING PARK

Kymber Heldreth (165) and Terionna Gibbons (235) will make history this weekend as the first two females to compete in the state tournament.

Gibbons is a sophomore, while Heldreth is a freshman.

JOHN MARSHALL

The Monarchs also have two first-time state qualifiers in freshman Harlee Young (110) and junior Paige McDonald (120).