Top West Virginia Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores, Freshmen: 1999-00

This page reviews the 1999-00 West Virginia State High School Wrestling Tournament and includes those 1999-00 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, 22 seniors placed in the AAA top three:

• Anthony Regalbuto, Hedgesville, champion at 145 (53-0), OW award; champion at 125 (48-1) as a junior; fourth at 103 as a freshman (42-5); fourth at 1998 NHSCA Open (Raleigh, N.C.); Champion 1999 NHSCA Open (Birmingham, Ala); Signed to wrestle at WVU early signing period.
• Matt Wehrle, Herbert Hoover, champion 189 (38-1); champion at 189 (37-2) as a junior; third at 189 as a sophomore (41-4)
• Joe Heath, Greenbrier East, champion 275 (40-0); champion at 275 as a junior (40-2); fifth at 275 as a sophomore (33-4); Sixth at 1999 NHSCA Open (Birmingham, Ala);
• J.P. Stanley, Cabell Midland, champion 125 (41-1); runner-up at 119 (40-2) as a junior; fifth 112 as a sophomore (37-7)
• Joey Mayle, Buckhannon-Upshur, champion 135 (48-5); sixth at 130 as a junior (33-8); fifth at 119 (36-7) as a sophomore; fourth at 112 as a freshman (28-18)
• Brandon Williams, Parkersburg, champion 152 (26-7); third at 152 (37-5) as a junior
• Jason Trusty, Parkersburg, champion at 140 (36-5); third at 140 (32-7) as a junior
• Steve Ochap, Wheeling Park, champion 215 (42-4); third at 215 (31-12) as a junior
• Clint Radcliff, Parkersburg South, champion 130 (32-5); fifth at 125 as a junior (26-15)
• Josh Coffey, Cabell Midland, runner-up 189 (33-5); champion at 215 (42-6) as a junior; fifth at 215 as a sophomore (34-15)
• Jim Shetler, Hedgesville, runner-up at 130 (48-6); fourth at 119 as a junior (46-5); third at 103 (40-1) as a sophomore
• Kenny Griffin, University, runner-up 145 (38-4); fourth at 130 as a junior (40-3); fourth at 119 as a sophomore (34-9)
• Billy Gatian, North Marion, runner-up 140 (39-9); fourth at 135 as a junior (35-13)
• Trent Casto, Buckhannon-Upshur, runner-up 112 (46-6)
• Paul Brooks, Huntington, runner-up at 135 (38-5)
• Brad Davis, Martinsburg, runner-up 160 (43-6)
• Ryan Morris, Woodrow Wilson, runner-up 215 (46-7)
• Mike Bosley, Parkersburg South, third at 135 (32-4); third at 130 (38-6) as a junior
• Ryan Fullen, Huntington, third 130 (38-7); fifth at 103 as a sophomore (33-10)
• Jeremy Layne, Capital, third 145 (46-4)
• Billy Baisden, Buckhannon Upshur, third 160 (43-6)
• Mike Findling, Brooke, third 275 (32-6)

This year, 16 seniors placed in the AA/A top three:

• Ash Wenmoth, Williamstown, champion 125 (40-1), OW award; champion at 112 (33-1) as a junior; champion 103 as a sophomore (39-3); Third at 1999 NHSCA Open (Birmingham, Ala);
• Robert Busick, Weir, champion 215 (29-5); runner-up at 215 (27-3) as a junior; runner-up at 189 as a sophomore (26-10); sixth at 189 as a freshman (29-18)
• Nick Prather, Winfield, champion 140 (38-1); third at 125 (33-7) as a junior; third at 103 as sophomore (36-1); runner up at 103 as a freshman (31-13)
• Zach Zubay, Oak Glen, champion 103 (32-6); runner-up at 103 (28-12) as a junior
• Jason Litten, Frankfort, champion 152 (38-0); fourth at 145 as a junior (39-3); fifth at 145 as a freshman (29-9)
• Josh Cross, Wirt County, champion 135 (37-5); fourth at 119 as a sophomore (37-6) ;
• Jason Hayhurst, Ritchie County, runner-up 130 (29-3); champion at 125 (34-1) as a junior; champion at 119 as a sophomore (40-2); runner up at 112 as a freshman (42-2)
• Bobby Prater, Big Creek, runner-up 112 (28-6); third at 112 (35-10) as a junior
• Joel Zyla, Williamstown, runner-up 140 (35-13)
• Philip Kesner, Frankfort, runner-up 145 (23-2)
• Matt Holdsworth, Oak Glen, runner-up 152 (30-7)
• Logan Glass, Oak Glen, third 140 (28-9); runner-up at 130 (36-5) as a junior; champion at 130 as a sophomore (33-12)
• Jason Snider, Tyler Consolidated, third 160 (20-13); champion at 152 (30-7) as a junior; fifth at 145 as a sophomore (28-13)
• James Harris, Braxton, third 125 (48-3); third at 103 as a freshman (40-9)
• Sam Lilly, Shady Spring, third 145 (20-5); fifth at 140 as a junior (28-12)
• Justin Ritter, Braxton County, third 275 (41-8)

This year, 11 juniors placed in the top three at the AAA state tournament:

• Matt Miller, East Fairmont, champion 171 (33-1); champion at160 (44-1) as a sophomore; fourth at 152 as a freshman (31-15)
• Matt Stevens, Parkersburg, champion 119 (35-2); champion at 103 (40-1) as a sophomore; 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; Runner-up at 2000 NHSCA Open, Birmingham, 119 lb.
• Justin Stanley, Cabell Midland, champion 112 (35-1); fourth at 103 (38-10) as a sophomore
• Jonathan Delligatti, Fairmont Senior, runner-up 103 (33-4); fifth at 103 (38-11) as a sophomore; fourth at 103 as a freshman (34-13)
• Nathan Kinsley, University, runner-up 119 (36-5); third at 112 (39-5) as a sophomore; sixth at 1998 NHSCA Open (Raleigh, N.C.)
• Joey Thomas, Huntington, runner-up 171 (41-4)
• Matt Clay, Herbert Hoover, runner-up 275 (26-10)
• Chris Johnson, Nitro, third 119 (51-2); champion at 112 (50-2) as a sophomore; runner-up at 103 as a freshman (37-1)
• Casey Daggett, Parkersburg South, third 140 (28-6)
• Matt Sternthal, East Fairmont, third 189 (32-7)
• Aaron McCartney, Parkersburg South, third 215 (18-8)

This year, 16 juniors placed in the top three at the AA/A state tournament:

• Ashley Gandee, Ravenswood, champion 112 (44-1); champion at 103 (40-2) as a sophomore; sixth at 103 as a freshman (36-7); Runner-up 1999 NHSCA Open (Birmingham, Ala); Runner-up 2000 NHSCA Open (Birmingham, Ala)
• Eric Noel, Oak Glen, champion 130 (32-3) , runner-up at 119 (32-7) as a sophomore at Weir
• Adam Schindler, Ravenswood, champion 145 (43-1); third at 112 as a freshman (40-3)
• Phillip Bellville, Oak Glen, champion 189 (38-3); third at 189 (28-11) as a sophomore
• Tim Haddox, Williamstown, champion 119 (36-13)
• Tyler Hughes, Cameron, runner-up 125 (41-6); runner up at 112 as a freshman (21-8)
• Thomas Naylor, Ritchie County, runner-up 275 (38-3); third at 275 (41-4) as a sophomore
• Wyatt O'Neil, Cameron, runner-up 160 (41-7); fourth at 152 (36-8) as a sophomore
• Richard Stotler, Berkeley Springs, runner-up 171 (44-7); fourth at 189 (41-8) as a sophomore
• Greg Six, Oak Glen, runner-up 215 (27-11); fourth at 215 (27-15) as a sophomore
• Joshua Moyer, Independence, runner-up 189 (35-6); sixth at 189 as a sophomore (32-11)
• Chris Leach, Grafton, runner-up 135 (44-3)
• Corey Auvil, Grafton, third 112 (42-5); sixth at 103 sophomore (39-9)
• Andrew Hosey, Ritchie County, third at 103 (34-9)
• Drew Toth, South Harrison, third 152 (38-4)
• Jarrod Pugh, Liberty Raleigh, third 215 (27-3)

This year 15 sophomores placed in the top five at the AAA state tournament:

• Chris Daggett, Parkersburg South, champion 160 (36-4); Seventh 1999 NHSCA Open (Birmingham, Ala)
• Robbie Williams, Huntington, runner-up 125 (27-10)
• Nathan Pickens, Parkersburg South, runner-up 152 (19-4); Third place 1999 NHSCA Open (Birmingham, Ala)
• Jeff Courtney, Fairmont Senior, third 171 (41-5); fourth at 160 as a freshman (32-14); Gold Medalist in the Pan-American Games for the Deaf, Havana Cuba, August 1999, freestyle and Greco-Roman
• Jason Mays, Huntington, third 152 (34-4); fifth at 145 as a freshman (30-15)
• Matt Smith, Ripley, third 103 (35-4)
• Matt Bosley, Parkersburg South, third 112 (23-8)
• Robbie Ripley, Nitro, third 125 (39-9)
• Kevin Ballam, Hedgesville, fourth 103 (50-6)
• Chantz Griffith, Jefferson, fourth 112 (47-7)
• Ryan Metz, Parkersburg South, fourth 119 (20-14); fifth 1999 World Folkstyle Nationals, Des Moines, Iowa
• Chris Taylor, John Marshall, fourth 152 (34-12)
• Adam Kennedy, Wheeling Park, fifth 112 (24-3)
• Justin Kessler, Martinsburg, fifth 135 (38-15)
• Victor Beard, Musselman, fifth 140 (41-6)

This year 17 sophomores placed in the top five at the AA/A state tournament:

• Derrick Stickles, Oak Glen, champion 160 (37-4)
• Aaron Barnette, Independence, champion 171 (35-9)
• Joe Caughey, Oak Glen, champion 275 (29-10)
• Chris Morris, Calhoun, runner-up 103 (30-3); fifth at 103 (37-7) as a freshman
• Tucker Brown, Cameron, runner-up 119 (41-6); third at 103 (35-5) as a freshman
• Ryan Bumgardner, Ritchie County, third 119 (15-5)
• Roger Kupfer, Cameron, third 130 (41-3); runner up at 112 (37-4) as a freshman
• Tyler Westbrook, Williamstown, third 135 (32-11)
• Ronnie Hebrock, Oak Glen, third 171 (28-10)
• Donnie Peck, Clay County, third 189 (36-9)
• Ryan Delebreau, Williamstown, fourth 189 (37-10)
• Bob Brookover, Williamstown, fifth 112 (32-17)
• Chad Snider, Tyler Consolidated, fifth 130 (25-16)
• Ben Wood, Independence, fifth 140 (35-8)
• Matt Seckman, Williamstown, fifth 152 (32-16)
• Vince Magnone, Weir, fifth 171 (35-7)
• Joe Weaver, Magnolia, fifth 215 (29-16)

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

• Matt Easter, Nitro, champion 103 (48-1); third, 1999 World Folkstyle Nationals, Des Moines Iowa; champion Eastern Nationals 1998; runner-up 1998 AAU Folkstyle Nationals, Pontiac MI;
• Chris Gibbs, Cabell Midland, fifth 119 (43-8)

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

• Casey Biddle, Williamstown, fourth 103 (32-15)
• Gary Dankovchik, Weir, sixth 103 (30-18)
• Drew Myers, Frankfort, sixth 112 (33-11)
• Chris Miller, Wirt County, sixth 145 (20-17)

• Jimmy Johnson, Calhoun County, AA/A (champ 103; champ 112; third 119; sixth 125)
• Mark Evans, Wheeling Park, AAA (fifth 103; sixth 112; fourth 125; fourth 125)
• Jared Walters, Cabell Midland, AAA (third 112; runner-up 125; champion 130; fourth 130)
• Joey Mayle, Buckhannon-Upshur, AAA (fourth 112; fifth 119; sixth 130; champion 135)
• Nick Prather, Winfield, AA/A (runner-up 103; third 103; third 125; champion 140)
• Jason Hayhurst, Ritchie County, AA/A (runner-up 112; champion 119; champion 125; runner-up 130)
• Jeff Hughes, Cameron, AA/A 140 (sixth 135; third 130; runner-up 140; fourth 145
• Robert Busick, Weir, AA/A (sixth 189; runner-up 189; runner-up 215; champion 215)

Looking to defend or reclaim state championships in 2001

• Ashley Gandee, Ravenswood, AA/A 112
• Justin Stanley, Cabell Midland, AAA 112
• Matt Stevens, Parkersburg, AAA 119
• Tim Haddox, Williamstown, AA/A 119
• Chris Johnson, Nitro, AAA 119
• Eric Noel, Oak Glen, AA/A 130
• Adam Schindler, Ravenswood, AA/A 145
• Matt Miller, East Fairmont, AAA 171
• Phillip Bellville, Oak Glen, AA/A 189

• Chris Daggett, Parkersburg South, AAA 160
• Derrick Stickles, Oak Glen, AA/A 160
• Aaron Barnette, Independence, AA/A 171
• Joe Caughey, Oak Glen, AA/A 275

• Matt Easter, Nitro, AAA 103

Looking to become a four-time state champion

• Matt Easter, Nitro, AAA 103

Looking to become four-time state placewinners

• Ashley Gandee, Ravenswood, AA/A 112
• Jonathan Delligatti, Fairmont Senior, AAA 103
• Chris Johnson, Nitro, AAA 119
• Bryan Moats, Hedgesville, AAA 140
• Matt Miller, East Fairmont, AAA 171

• Tucker Brown, Cameron, AA/A 119
• Chris Morris, Calhoun, AA/A 103
• Roger Kupfer, Cameron, AA/A 112
• Jason Mays, Huntington, AAA 145
• Jeff Courtney, Fairmont Senior, AAA 160

• Matt Easter, Nitro, 103 AAA
• Casey Biddle, Williamstown, 103 AA/A
• Gary Dankovchik, Weir, 103 AA/A
• Chris Gibbs, Cabell Midland, 119 AAA
• Drew Myers, Frankfort, 112 AA/A
• Chris Miller, Wirt County, 145 AA/A

Updated February 28, 2000