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Creese, Hall reach title match

Oak Glen 145-pound wrestler Jonathan Creese celebrates after his victory over Independence’s Shawn Dawson on Friday in the Class AA/A West Virginia State Wrestling Tournament in Huntington. (Photo by Kim North)

From Staff Reports

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Oak Glen’s Jonathan Creese and Peyton Hall will wrestle for state championships after action on Friday at the 73rd annual West Virginia State High School Wrestling Tournament at Mountain Health Arena.

Creese, a senior, scored an 8-2 decision over Independence senior Shawn Dawson in the Class AA/A 145-pound semifinal in the evening session to earn the right to wrestle Point Pleasant junior Mitchell Freeman in today’s final.

Creese (33-11) is the third-ranked wrestler in the West Virginia Wrestling Coaches Association poll, while Dawson was ranked second. Freeman (49-5) is ranked first.

In the early session, Creese toppled Wahama’s Trevor Hunt, 9-3, in a quarterfinal match.

“It’s the best feeling I’ve had in a long time,” Creese said of making the finals. “I’ve dreamed about this since I was a kid and now I get a shot at it.”

Creese was third at 145 last season.

“Jonathan has battled all season,” Oak Glen coach Patrick McGillian said. “His weight class has been one of the toughest around, but he seems to come out near the top every time. He has an advantage that nobody else has and that is training with Peyton. That has to rub off on him.”

Hall, a three-time state champion and a West Virginia University recruit, pinned Bridgeport’s Kemo Summers in 1:05 in the championship semifinal at 152 and will grapple with Point Pleasant’s Wyatt Wilson (44-11) in today’s final where he will attempt to become the first Golden Bear to win four state championships.

He has won at 120 (freshman), 132 (sophomore) and 138 (last year).

Hall (48-2) worked quickly in the quarterfinal as well, pinning Herbert Hoover’s Zakarie Bailey in 1:22.

“It feels great. It’s my last year representing Oak Glen, so I want to do the best I can,” Hall said. “I’m just as happy with Jonathan in the finals as I am being there.”

Overall, Oak Glen has had 47 state champions.

Senior Camden Barr began his day with a 7-3 loss to Liberty Harrison’s Ryan Morgan in the 106-pound quarterfinal. Barr rebounded with a 10-1 major decision over Nicholas County’s Roger Thomas in the second consolation round. In the evening session, Barr kept himself alive with a 2-1 decision over North Marion’s Brody Hess in the third consolation round. Barr (35-16) will meet East Fairmont’s Geno Casuccio in the consolation semifinal today. Casuccio was the top-ranked wrestler in the weight class coming into the tournament.

Sophomore Clayton Lamb reached the 120-pound semifinal but was beaten by Independence’s Judah Price in his attempt to reach the final. In the day session, Lamb beat Doddridge County’s Riley Curran 6-1 in the championship quarterfinal.

Lamb (28-14) will meet Oak Hill’s Ashby West in today’s consolation semifinal.

Oak Glen junior Kyler O’Connor, ranked second in the state by coaches, was paired with the top-ranked wrestler at 182 in his championship semifinal. The defending 182-pound champ Jordan Williams of Point Pleasant came out on top with a 12-0 major decision.

O’Connor secured his place in the semifinal round by scoring a 14-0 major decision over Greenbrier West’s Ferrin Moul earlier in the day.

O’Connor (35-8) will wrestle Midland Trail’s Colten Yoder in the consolation semifinal today.

Three Golden Bear wrestlers were eliminated from contention on Friday.

At 126 pounds, Oak Glen junior Kaden Lundy beat Braxton County’s Logan Bennett 7-2 in the first consolation round and then was eliminated in a 7-2 decision by South Harrison’s Preston Pack in the second consolation round. Lundy ended his campaign at 31-19.

At 138 pounds, Golden Bear sophomore Camden O’Connor was a 3-1 winner over Herbert Hoover’s Andrew Rollyson in the first consolation round. North Marion’s Hunter Kuhn then eliminated O’Connor with a 6-1 decision in the second consolation round. O’Connor finishes the season at 29-22.

At 195 pounds, Oak Glen senior Caiden Adams beat Doddridge County’s Adam Burdside 5-0 in the first consolation round, but then was eliminated after Magnolia’s James Stillwagoner pinned Adams in 2:35 in the second consolation round. Adams ends his final season at 24-17.

The fourth session will take place at 10 a.m. today and will feature consolation semifinals and finals for third and fifth place.

The championship matches will be contested at 6 p.m. with 28 matches on two mats.

Writer Kim North contributed to this report

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