Brosky and Henthorn qualify for state meet
All eyes of wrestling fans are looking toward the big prize as the regular season ended last week and thoughts of the state tournament coming up next weekend are on all minds. The Tyler Consolidated Silver Knights, and every other high school wrestling team in West Virginia, took part in Regional tournaments over the weekend, all vying for the top four positions in every weight class that would guarantee them a bout in the sports’ state showcase.
The Knights entered eight wrestlers at the Regional tournament and came away with four podium placers, two of which will go on to the next level.
In his second year as head coach, Chad Snider was pleased with his wrestlers at the Regional. “This weekend went well,” he said. “I wish I could say it went excellent, but I think thatwould be the case if everyone on the team that wanted tocompete downat the state finals was going. I have learned from last year that it is difficult to make predictions about who will move on to Huntington.”
“There are so many factors that play a role in how a person will wrestle. If you plan on going tothe state finals and placing, generally its not something that can be achieved byfive practices a week for two hours a night. If you want to be the best, then you have to put in the time,just like everything else in life.”
“There is also the mental aspect to think about. What kidis really going to kick it in gear when it comes time, and who buckles under the pressure? It’s interesting to see. Some people can simply not handle the anxiety that tough competition brings. Also it’s hard to predict the situations of the other wrestlers in previous matches. Was that other wrestler injured or sick the week before? You generally don’t know that and that also plays a huge role in how that athlete performs.”
“A few people asked me, ‘So who will go down to states?’. I always tell them who I think “should” go, but I also tell them that you never knowwith wrestlingbecause of all of the factors involved.”
Thirteen teams participated in the Region I, class A/AA tournament with the Oak Glen Golden Bears continuing their dominance of Region I, taking the overall team trophy with an overall score of 268.50. The Bears also placed every single wrestler they brought in a top four spot at the Regional to guarantee a state match.
The team from Cameron placed second at the Regional with 189.50, followed by Williamstown, 175.50; Weir, 127.50; St. Marys, 93.50; Ritchie County, 75; Clay Battelle, 66; Bishop Donahue, 47; Tyler Consolidated, 41; Weirton Madonna, 40; Magnolia, 25; Parkersburg Catholic, 11; and Wheeling Central, 0.
Junior John Brosky, wrestling at 119 and sophomore Joe Henthorn, 125, both finished in the fourth spot on the podium at Williamstown, and both will represent the Silver Knights at state.
“I was very happy to have two qualify for the state finals,” coach Snider said. “John Brosky and Joe Henthorn both wrestled very well this past Friday. Isn’t it odd that John and Joe are practice partners and are both going to states?”
“Also John and Joe came to the majority of my conditioning in the off season last year. So I am glad that their hard work is paying off.”
“I think they have the tools needed to make it to Saturday in Huntington. I know that they will represent us well at the state finals.”
“I can’t wait to see them dominate on the mats as seniors!”
Brosky started out the tournament comfortably with a bye in the first two rounds and then met up Williamstown’s Bret Maclver who defeated the Consolidated matman by a fall.
In the next match, Brosky major decisioned Ritchie County’s David Hufford to get on to the podium. Williamstown’s Bret MacIver pinned Brosky to land him in fourth place at the Regional tournament.
He finished the regular season with an overall season record of 19-15.
At the state tournament, he will face Region three champion, Colton Ward of Independence in his first match.
Henthorn byed out in the first round of the tournament but stepped up in the next round getting the fall over Clay’s Nathan Tolley. Hunter McLaughlin of Weir (the eventual Regional champion) handed Henthorn the loss, 9-3. In the lower bracket, Henthorn defeated Williamstown’s John Marshall by a fall. He pinned John Marshall of Williamstown in order to wrestle for podium placement.
Wrestling for Regional placement, Henthorn was defeated by Weir’s Hunter McLaughlin, 9-3, winding up in the fourth slot on the podium when all was said and done.
The Knight sophomore took fourth place at the Regional to earn his trip to the state tournament, ending the regular season with an overall record of 10-23. At states he will face off with Region two champion, Grafton’s Tyler Moore in the first round.
Competing at 152, Knight senior, Calvin McCune met up with St. Marys’ Cody Everett and met defeat by a technical fall, 15-0.
In his next match, McCune fell to Bishop Donahue’s Jordan Bonar, 7-6, but still finished fifth overall at the Regional, placing him in a precarious position as an alternate at state.
Should another 152 pounder scratch at state, McCune has a chance to compete as alternates in weight classes are often moved into a position at the state tournament with injuries and scratches common in the sport.
Also standing at the podium for the Silver Knights, senior Adam Cross, took sixth place. The Knight senior, took the fall in his first bout of the tournament to Quintin Hukill of Madonna with a fall. Cross took the win over Bishop’s Chris Vani. Cross was put in the position to wrestle for fifith/sixth place and was pinned by Magnolia’s Jared Wright to place sixth overall in the tournament.
“Unfortunately, our seniors had a tough draw in Williamstown,” said the coach. “I know that they put in their best efforts and worked hard to be able to prove themselves at the finals. I wish that they were going along because they have been a very dedicated and hard working group.”
Consolidated senior, Nate Bolin at 140 met defeat by a fall in the first round of the tournament at the hands of Weir’s Tim Barnes. Bolin’s state hopes were dashed when he took the fall in the next round to Oak Glen’s Mason Bittinger.
In the 145 weight class, Knight Einar Mellem took the fall to Oak Glen’s John McGill and then to Clay’s Robert Nicholson.
Frederik Krause, 160, took the fall to Bishop Donahue’s Bobby Richmond in his first match and then to Clay’s, Jeffrey Turner to end his tournament hopes.
Knight sophomore Dustin Tawney, wrestling at 171, had a difficult and long map to follow to try to make it to the podium as the weight class was tough.
He took the win in his first match of the day on Friday over Monroe Central’s Andrew Keane, by a fall. Ritchie’s Brad Riddle bested him in the next round with a fall; and Clay’s Aaron Barnette got the win with a fall in the next round to end Tawney’s tournament.
“Calvin McCune and Adam Cross didplace fifth and sixth place respectively, but that only makes them alternates for the finals inHuntington. Calvin McCune, AdamCross, Nathan Bolin,Einar Mellem, andFrederick Krause, will all be missed. It’s hard to find a group of hard working athletes like these guys anymore.”
“Not only are they hard workers, but they also are great guys. I never had to worry about them not making the grades or getting into trouble.”
“I want to thank them and their parents for all of their hard work, time, and dedication that they have had to the Tyler Consolidated Knights Wrestling Program.”
The West Virginia High School Wrestling State Tournament will begin on Thursday in Huntington, with wrestling action to continue into Saturday night.