West Virginia High School Wrestling

30th Annual West Virginia State Wrestling Tournament - AA/A

March 3-5, 1977
Parkersburg Memorial Fieldhouse, Parkersburg, WV

Spencer High School crowned two individual state champs on its way to its first AA/A state championship. Under head coach Tom Woods, who took over the coaching duties at Spencer with the 1973-74 season, the Yellowjackets established themselves as an LKC and AA/A state powerhouse of the 1970's and 80's. Woods, who would leave Spencer for Southern Garrett, Maryland in 1978, continued his coaching career at Southern and would become a well known wrestling official in West Virginia, being named Official of the Year in 1994.

Spencer would repeat as state champs in 1984, 1988, and 1990 under head coach Garry Bender.

Greenbrier West was noted to be the surprise team of the tournament, finishing a solid second. Greenbrier West coach Toby Harris was named AA/A Coach of the Year, while Big Creek's Wesley Payne was named outstanding wrestler.

Spencer's Matt Ashley won his second state championship on his way to becoming the first four-time state champ in West Virginia wrestling history.

The tournament was originally scheduled to be held in Fairmont. However, a water problem in Fairmont caused the tournament to be delayed a week and relocated to Parkersburg.

Team Scores

1. Spencer 92
2. Greenbrier West 70.5
3. Wirt County 62
4. Big Creek 46.5
5. Magnolia 36
6. Ravenswood 33
6. Independence 33
8. Clay County 30
9. Cameron 28.5
10. Mannington 28
11. University 25.5
12. Buffalo Wayne 25
12. Northfork 25
14. Nicholas County 21
15. Milton 20
15. Richwood 20
 17. Wheeling Central 16
18. Gary 14.5
19. Iaeger 12
20. Berkeley Springs 10
20. Scott 10
22. Williamstown 9
23. Petersburg 2
24. Dunbar 0
24. Frankfort 0
24. Kingwood 0
24. Musselman 0
24. Poca 0
24. Shady Spring 0
24. Washington Irving
24. Webster County 0
24. Winfield 0

Placewinners

98
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1.Mike Golden, Greenbrier West
2. Doug Blake, Cameron
3. Rick Lyons, Ravenswood
4. Jack Whitley, Iager

 105
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1. Matt Ashley, Spencer
2. Steve Chambers, Wirt
3. Steve Lindsey, Greenbrier West
4. Allen Cook, Scott

 112
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1. Robert Perry, Big Creek
2. Jack Smith, Buffalo
3. Brad Lane, Clay
4. Kyle Casto, Williamstown

119
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1. Ed Sizemore, Clay
2. Ken Smith, Magnolia
3. Larry Ward, Cameron
4. Ollie Dudley, Milton

 126
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1. Tim Byard, Mannington
2. Dean Jones, Greenbrier West
3. Greg McBee, Berkeley Springs
4. Billy Simms, Nicholas County

 132
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1. Steve Cvetnick, Richwood
2. Sam Colombo, Gary
3. Boo Parrish, Spencer
4. Ray Chambers, Wirt

138
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1. Bob Francis, Magnolia
2. Larry Jones, Northfork
3. Allen Smith, Independence
4. Andy Fourney, Ravenswood

 145
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1. Tim Jones, Spencer
2. Tim Emmerth, Wheeling
3. Derrick Jefferson, University
4. Chuck Angie, Buffalo

 155
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1. Wesley Payne, Big Creek
2. Terry Kendall, Spencer
3. Jon Green, Wirt
4. Danny Blevins, Iaeger

167
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1. Rodney Stidom, Greenbrier West
2. Harding Howell, University
3. William Gardner, Northfork
4. John Liller, Mannington

 185
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1. Brian Furguson, Wirt
2. Jeff Brabham, Spencer
3. Brent Skidmore, Webster County
4.A.C. Mullins, Big Creek

 UNL
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1. Don Ray, Independence
2. David Kirby, Milton
3. Leroy Hanshaw, Nicholas County
4. Bob Searis, Ravenswood

Thanks to Coach Bill Archer, Randy Edrington, and Aaron Naternicola

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