Top West Virginia Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores, Freshmen: 1998-99

This page reviews the 1998-99 West Virginia State High School Wrestling Tournament and includes those 1998-99 seniors and juniors who placed in the top three, sophomores who placed in the top five, and freshmen who placed in the top six. A few additional stats and comments are added to allow you to draw your own conclusions.

Attention wrestlers and coaches: If you have other "credentials" to add to your listing here (a good finish in other major tournaments, statistics, etc) let us know and we can update your stats!

This year, 23 seniors placed in the AAA top three:

• Nicholas Hedrick, Fairmont Senior, champ 145 (46-0) (OW award); champ 140 as a junior (42-2); third at 130 as a sophomore (43-6); fifth at 119 as a freshman (34-14)
• Jason Ward, Cabell Midland, third at 160 (45-2); champ 152 (43-0); runner-up at 140 as a soph (39-3); champ at 135 as a freshman (30-4); AAU Folkstyle National Champion 1996, Tulsa; AAU National Champ, 1997, 152 Elite, St Louis. Signed to wrestle for WVU
  
• Alex Reed, Point Pleasant, third 103 (32-2); champ at 103 as a junior (39-4); runner-up at 103 as a sophomore (31-1)
• Brian Flanegin, Wheeling Park, champ 135 (27-7)
• Matt Callahan, Woodrow Wilson, champ 140 (47-3)
• Chad Wehrle, Herbert Hoover, champ 152 (34-4)
• Joey Nichols, Brooke, champ 171 (35-5)
• Ty Emrick, Parkersburg South, runner-up 152 (26-16); third at 154 as a junior (23-11); fourth at 152 as a sophomore (26-12)
• Jimmy Moles, Herbert Hoover, runner-up 140 (44-5); sixth at 145 as a sophomore (33-14); runner-up at 135 as a freshman (34-7), ranked #6 in USA as a freshman by USA Wrestling magazine.
• Brian Floyd, North Marion, runner-up 125 (40-4); fourth at 112 as a junior
• Wes Pickens, Parkersburg South, runner-up 189 (31-11); sixth at 189 as a junior (14-12)
• Josh Dearth, Parkersburg South, runner-up 160; sixth at 160 as a junior
• Ian McBride, Jefferson, runner-up 130 (39-7)
• John Ramsey, North Marion, runner-up 145 (39-10)
• Rob Ball, Parkersburg, runner-up 215 (7-2)
• Tim Jones, John Marshall, runner-up 171 (23-10)
• Brian Padovini, Morgantown, runner-up 275 (28-5)
• Dan Stanley, Brooke, third 119 (46-5); runner-up at 119 as a junior (42-6);
• Todd Daggett, Parkersburg South, third 171 (33-11); third at 189 as a sophomore (23-6)
• Matt Kotson, John Marshall, third 125 (25-9); fourth at 125 as a junior (27-11)
• Jimmie DeLong, Huntington, third 135 (8-1)
• Don Alexander, Brooke third 189 (38-6)
• Matt Burgess, Woodrow Wilson, third 145 (39-5)

This year, 24 seniors placed in the AA/A top three:

• Michael Miller, Wirt County, champion 140 (40-1) (OW award); champ 125 as a junior (32-3); champ at 119 champ as a soph (41-4); champ at 103 as a freshman (34-1)
• Stephen Kinley, Liberty Raleigh, champ 171 (34-1); champ 171 as a junior (31-4); sixth at 145 as a soph (27-9)
• Justin Wince, Ritchie County, champion 130 (41-2); third at 125 as a junior (42-2); fourth at 125 as a soph (32-14); fifth at 112 as a freshman (31-14)
• Alex McClung, Oak Glen, champion 275 (38-1); runner-up 275 as a junior (40-3); fourth at 275 as a soph (36-7)
• Adam Lewis, Liberty Raleigh, champion at 189 (31-3); third at 160 as a junior (32-8); fifth at 152 as a sophomore (30-8)
• Jason Jones, Oak Glen, champion 160 (36-3); third 152 (42-8); runner-up at 119 as a sophomore (30-12)
• Rob Lamb, Oak Glen, champion 145 (35-5); third at 135 as a sophomore (30-15)
• Dan Lahman, Petersburg, champion 215 (45-0); third at 189 as a junior (48-4)
• Ed Weible, Oak Glen, champion 135 (38-4); sixth as a junior 119 (31-5)
• Chad Purpura, Bishop Donahue, runner-up 160 (32-7); champ 152 (32-5); third at 145 as a sophomore (38-7)
• Brandon Kupfer, Cameron, runner-up at 189 (39-4); champ at 189 as a junior (42-2); third at 189 as a soph (34-8)
• Luke Salmons, Ravenswood, runner-up 275 (29-1); champ 275 as a junior (42-1); third at 275 as a soph (32-6)
• Eric McCartney, Calhoun County, runner-up 145 (42-1); runner-up at 135 as a junior (39-3); third at 125 as a sophomore (36-6)
• Scott Bush, Ravenswood, runner-up 125 (37-7)
• Zac Johnson, Williamstown, runner-up 152 (22-6)
• Ryan Dingess, Petersburg, runner-up 171 (43-2)
• Andrew Richards, South Harrison, third 160 (34-3); fourth at 140 as a junior (35-5); fifth at 130 as a sophomore (26-6); runner up at 112 as a freshman (31-7)
• Jason Seville, Berkeley Springs, third 145 (41-7); third at 145 as a junior (42-7)
• Andy Wharton, Oak Glen, third at 140 (34-7); runner-up 140 as a junior (10-4)
• Justin Underwood, Richwood, third 171 (6-2); runner-up at 152 for Braxton County as a sophomore (43-6)
• Jason Waugh, Berkeley Springs, third 152 (46-4); 5th at 160 as a junior (38-15);
• Justin Wenmoth, Williamstown, third 135 (33-9); fourth at 130 as a junior (35-14)
• Mark Lowe, Wirt County, third at 130 (43-3); third at 130 as a junior (40-6)
• Justice Smith, Ritchie County, third 215 (40-7); fifth at 215 as a junior (26-9)

This year, 12 juniors placed in the top three at the AAA state tournament:

• Matt George, Parkersburg, champ 119 (29-4); champ 119 as a sophomore (37-4)
• Jared Walters, Cabell Midland, champ 130 (40-5); runner-up 125 as a sophomore (38-7); third at 112 as a freshman (41-5)
• Matt Wehrle, Herbert Hoover, champ 189 (37-2); third at 189 as a sophomore (41-4)
• Anthony Regalbuto, Hedgesville, champ 125 (48-1); fourth at 103 as a freshman (42-5); fourth at 1998 NHSCA Open (Raleigh, N.C.); Champion 1999 NHSCA Open (Birmingham, Ala);
• Josh Coffey, Cabell Midland, champ 215 (42-6); fifth at 215 as a sophomore (34-15)
• Joe Heath, Greenbrier East, champ 275 (40-2); fifth at 275 as a sophomore (33-4); Sixth at 1999 NHSCA Open (Birmingham, Ala);
• J.P. Stanley, Cabell Midland, runner-up 119 (40-2); fifth 112 as a sophomore (37-7)
• Jeremy Layner, Parkersburg South, runner-up 103 (23-14)
• Jason Trusty, Parkersburg, third 140 (32-7)
• Steve Ochap, Wheeling Park, third 215 (31-12)
• Mike Bosley, Parkersburg South, third 130 (38-6)
• Brandon Williams, Parkersburg, third 152 (37-5)

This year, 11 juniors placed in the top three at the AA/A state tournament:

• Jason Hayhurst, Ritchie County, champ 125 (34-1); champ at 119 as a sophomore (40-2); runner up at 112 as a freshman (42-2)
• Ash Wenmoth, Williamstown, champ at 112 (33-1); champ 103 as a sophomore (39-3); Third at 1999 NHSCA Open (Birmingham, Ala);
• Willie Westbrook, Williamstown, champ 119 (34-5); fourth at 112 as a sophomore (41-11)
• Jason Snider, Tyler Consolidated, champ 152 (30-7); fifth at 145 as a sophomore (28-13)
• Jimmy Johnson, Calhoun County, third at 119 (32-3); champ 112 as a sophomore (30-3); champ at 103 as a freshman (43-1)
• Logan Glass, Oak Glen, runner-up 130 (36-5); champ at 130 as a sophomore (33-12)
• Robert Busick, Weir, runner-up 215 (27-3); runner-up at 189 as a junior (26-10); sixth at 189 as a freshman (29-18)
• Jeff Hughes, Cameron, runner-up 140 (36-8); third 130 as a sophomore (38-7); sixth at 135 as a freshman (19-12)
• Zach Zubay, Oak Glen, runner-up 103 (28-12)
• Nick Prather, Winfield, third 125 (33-7); third at 103 as sophomore (36-1); runner up at 103 as a freshman (31-13)
• Bobby Prater, Big Creek, third at 112 (35-10)

This year 12 sophomores placed in the top five at the AAA state tournament:

• Chris Johnson, Nitro, champion 112 (50-2); runner-up at 103 as a freshman (37-1)
• Matt Miller, East Fairmont, champion 160 (44-1); fourth at 152 as a freshman (31-15)
• Matt Stevens, Parkersburg, champion 103 (40-1); 2X Tulsa National Champion, 3X Eastern National Champion; Third at 1998 NHSCA Open (Raleigh, N.C.); 3rd (112 lb) at the 1999 World Folkstyle Nationals in Des Moines, Iowa.
• Bryan Moats, Hedgesville, runner-up 135 (35-2); fourth at 130 as a freshman (37-7), Champion 1999 NHSCA Open (Birmingham, Ala);
• Clayton Samples, Parkersburg, runner-up 112 (25-6)
• Nathan Kinsley, University, third 112 (39-5); Sixth at 1998 NHSCA Open (Raleigh, N.C.)
• Byron Wellman, Cabell Midland, third 275 (32-11)
• Justin Stanley, Cabell Midland, fourth 103 (38-10)
• John Duncan, Parkersburg South, fourth 112 (31-13)
• Jonathan Delligatti, Fairmont Senior, fifth 103 (38-11); fourth at 103 as a freshman (34-13)
• Josh Moore, Wheeling Park, fifth 130 25-18
  
• John Bonecutter, Point Pleasant, fifth 135 (33-13)
• Devin Abshire, Jefferson, fifth 119 (32-10)

This year 10 sophomores placed in the top five at the AA/A state tournament:

• Ashley Gandee, Ravenswood, champ at 103 (40-2); sixth at 103 as a freshman (36-7); Runner-up 1999 NHSCA Open (Birmingham, Ala);
• Eric Noel, Weir, runner-up 119 (32-7)
• Phillip Bellville, Oak Glen, third 189 (28-11)
• Thomas Naylor, Ritchie County, third 275 (41-4)
• Richard Stotler, Berkeley Springs, fourth 189 (41-8)
• Lewis Hunley, Big Creek, fourth at 103 (35-11)
• Gaelen Lowers, Oak Glen, fourth 119 (24-10)
• Wyatt O'Neil, Cameron, fourth 152 (36-8)
• Greg Six, Oak Glen, fourth 215 (27-15)
• Tommy Stiles, Clay-Battelle, fifth at 112 (34-11)

This year three freshmen placed in the top six at the AAA state tournament:

• Wesley Lane, Herbert Hoover, sixth 125 (35-8)
• Jason Mays, Huntington, fifth 145 (30-15)
• Jeff Courtney, Fairmont Senior, fourth at 160 (32-14)

This year six freshmen placed in the top six at the AA/A state tournament:

• Roger Kupfer, Cameron, runner up at 112 (37-4)
• Terry Childers, St Marys, runner-up 135 (33-7)
• Tucker Brown, Cameron, third at 103 (35-5)
• Chris Morris, Calhoun, fifth at 103 (37-7)
• Bobby Ledbetter, Calhoun, fifth 130 (36-12)
• Joel O'Neil, Cameron, sixth 119 (27-10)

• Michael Miller, Wirt County, AA/A 140 (four time state champion)
• Jason Ward, Cabell Midland, AAA 152 (champ, runner-up, champ, third)
• Nicholas Hedrick, Fairmont Senior, AAA 140 (fifth, third, champ, champ)
• Justin Wince, Ritchie County, AA/A 125 (fifth, fourth, third, champ)
• Andrew Richards, South Harrison, AA/A 160 (runner-up, fifth, fourth, third)

Looking to defend or reclaim state championships in 2000

• Matt George, Parkersburg, AAA 119
• Ash Wenmoth, Williamstown, AA/A 113
• Jimmy Johnson, Calhoun County, AA/A 119
• Willie Westbrook, Williamstown, AA/A 119
• Anthony Regalbuto, Hedgesville, AAA 125
• Jason Hayhurst, Ritchie County, AA/A 125
• Logan Glass, Oak Glen, AA/A 130
• Nat Smith, Ritchie County, AA/A 145
• Jared Walters, Cabell Midland, AAA 130
• Jason Snider, Tyler Consolidated, AA/A 152
• Matt Wehrle, Herbert Hoover, AAA 189
• Josh Coffey, Cabell Midland, AAA 215
• Joe Heath, Greenbrier East, AAA 275

• Ashley Gandee, Ravenswood, AA/A 103
• Matt Stevens, Parkersburg, AAA 103
• Chris Johnson, Nitro, AAA 112
• Matt Miller, East Fairmont,AAA 160

Looking to become four-time state placewinners

• Jimmy Johnson, Calhoun County, AA/A 119
• Mark Evans, Wheeling Park, AAA 125
• Jared Walters, Cabell Midland, AAA 130
• Joey Mayle, Buckhannon Upshur, AAA 130
• Nick Prather, Winfield, AA/A 125
• Jason Haythurst, Ritchie County, AA/A 125
• Jeff Hughes, Cameron, AA/A 140
• Robert Busick, Weir, AA/A 215

• Ashley Gandee, Ravenswood, 103
• Jonathan Delligatti, Fairmont Senior, 103
• Chris Johnson, Nitro, 112
• Bryan Moats, Hedgesville, 135
• Matt Miller, East Fairmont, 160

• Tucker Brown, Cameron, AA/A 103
• Chris Morris, Calhoun, AA/A 103
• Roger Kupfer, Cameron, AA/A 112
• Joel O'Neil, Cameron, AA/A 119
• Wesley Lane, Herbert Hoover, AAA 125
• Bobby Ledbetter, Calhoun, AA/A 130
• Terry Childers, St Marys, AA/A 135
• Jason Mays, Huntington, AAA 145
• Jeff Courtney, Fairmont Senior, AAA 160

Junior High/Middle School, No losses to WV wrestlers
Jonathan E. McFarland, Wellsburg Middle School, 83, 21-2 as of February 6, season completed
Patrick Huber, Harpers Ferry, 95, 18-1 as of January 24
Paul Creamer, McKinley Jr. Gigh, 95, 34-1, season completed, 1/29/99

Updated February 28, 1999