Top Sports

Wheeling Central, John Marshall Win WVSSAC Regional Golf Titles

WHEELING -- Oglebay Resort will once again be the site of next week's WVSSAC state golf tournament, and after the conclusion of regional golf tournaments across the Mountain State on Monday, the greens of the Jones Course will have many a local team competing on them heading into the tournament, set for Oct. 12-15.

The Wheeling Central Maroon Knights and John Marshall Monarchs each took home the team title for their respective regionals, while Wheeling Park and Tyler Consolidated also qualified as teams, along with multiple individual qualifiers from other schools.

CLASS AAAA

Wheeling Park placed fourth in Monday's Class AAAA North Regional from Morgantown's Lakeview Resort, taking the last team qualifier spot with a 254 total, coming behind Morgantown, University, and regional champion Washington.

"The goal was to qualify and we did that and we got fourth place, which got us in. We’re happy about that," Wheeling Park head coach Shane Glass said. "I felt like we didn’t play our best, but we played well enough to survive and advance, and that was the goal. I feel like we’ll play better in the state tournament. We’ll come back home and play our home course and our kids will play a little bit better, maybe a little more consistent. We’re excited for the opportunity."

Freshman Ellie West led the Patriots, tying for sixth overall in the North Regional with an 83.

"Ellie’s a talented young lady," Glass said. "She was very consistent today. She ended the day having some issues on the last hole. She probably should have finished in the top five, I’m sure she’s kicking herself a little bit. But for her first tournament with the boys in a regional situation, I thought she handled herself extremely well, and was very poised throughout the entire day."

Sophomore Seth Weidner carded an 85, tying for 10th, while senior Brody Groome finished at an 86 and senior Quinn Marsh carded a 99.

CLASS AAA

The John Marshall Monarchs produced the top three individual finishers in Monday's Class AAA Region 1 Tournament, played at Moundsville Country Club, running away with the regional title with a team total of 229, nearly 20 strokes ahead of second-place Fairmont Senior (247).

"Overall it was a good day," John Marshall head coach Eli Lambie said. "Our guys are looking really solid right now. Their head game has improved a lot. Their short game has improved a lot. We played well today. We didn’t necessarily play our very best golf, but I think we’re in a good spot moving into the state tournament next week. We definitely have some stuff to work on this week."

Sophomore Drew Marling finished at a 72 to claim medalist honors at the regional, followed by teammates junior Brayden Kempkens (77) and sophomore Hayden Harvey (80). Harvey was in a four-way tie for third.

Sophomore Kamden Knapp shot an 83 to place eighth.

"It’s three of the same guys counting from last year to this year," Lambie said. "The good news is none of them are seniors, so we still have a young team. Our top four that we took today are three sophomores and one junior."

John Marshall won regionals last year and finished as state runners-up in Class AAA. With much of the same unit coming back for another go at state competition, Lambie is excited to see what his team can do.

"Last year, the first day of states, we really struggled around the greens," Lambie said. "I think that we’re prepared to hit the chipping and putting really hard over this next week to really prepare. Overall, I think from a coach’s mindset, we’re trying to get them to feel comfortable and just relax and play golf. It’s just a game. It’s just another round of golf. We just want them to relax and go put good swings on it."

Brooke junior Max Malinky carded an 80 to capture one of two individual qualifier spots.

CLASS AA

Wheeling Central is heading back to the state tournament for the fifth year in a row after capturing the WVSSAC Class AA Region 1 tournament title Monday at The Links at Woodridge in Mineral Wells, edging out second-place Tyler Consolidated with a team total of 229. Tyler took the second team qualifier spot with a 233 total.

"I was a little bit concerned going into today," Wheeling Central head coach Jim Mortakis said. "The teams that we were playing against, Tyler and Williamstown, they’re both pretty good teams, and we had not played at that golf course. I was a little worried because not knowing the golf course can sometimes be a huge disadvantage. But yes, I’m extremely happy with the kids.

"We’ve had a couple of injury issues during the year. And we were fortunate enough to be able to get through. My number four, Luke Freeland, ended up being our lowest score."

Freeland, a sophomore, carded a 75 to finish second in the field, behind Tyler's John Mace, who shot a 72.

Wheeling Central junior Rowen Parker shot a 77 to tie for fourth with sophomore teammate Isaac Tiu, and sophomore Zack Zende carded an 81.

A young team last year when they won regionals in 2025 at Moundsville Country Club, the Knights are now heading back to Oglebay with the same squad as last year.

"We were younger last year than we are this year, but yes, it’s a very young team," Mortakis said. "Rowen's a junior, and Luke and Zack and Isaac are all sophomores. They’ve been the core of the team. It’s nice having a group of kids that on any given day, any one of them can win, any one of them can lead our team. It makes me very proud how, when one of them starts to falter, the rest of them step up and take care of the business at hand. Specifically today, you know, I was very proud of Luke for being able to come through for us and be the, basically the second finisher out of all the players there at the golf course.

"But I’m proud of all my kids. Rowen was seven over after the front-9 and ended up one-under on the back-9, which kept us in the match. And it was a very close match."

Weir's Guy Meneely finished third in the field to qualify as an individual with a 76.

CLASS A

Madonna senior Evan Kaczmarek finished as co-medalist in Monday's Class AA Region 1 tournament from Mingo Bottom Golf Club, carding a 76 to tie with Gilmer County's Tyler Ratliff. Gilmer County and St. Marys finished as the top two teams to qualify.