At Mountain Health Arena

HUNTINGTON — The leaders began to separate themselves from the rest of the pack during Friday’s two sessions at the 73rd West Virginia state wrestling tournament at Mountain Health Arena.

HUNTINGTON — The first day of the 73rd annual West Virginia State high school wrestling tournament at Mountain Health Arena kicked off Thursday with the first round of matches for both Class AAA and Class AA-A.

The Kanawha Valley contenders, from a team standpoint, are carrying perspective into this week’s state wrestling tournament at Mountain Health Arena in Huntington on Thursday through Saturday.

QUINCY – The Riverside wrestling team set out with one goal in mind this season – winning a regional title for the first time in school history.

Herbert Hoover coach Richard Harper would not have believed his team was sitting in a good place had he not been told so.

COAL CITY — Herbert Hoover wrestling coach Richard Harper doesn’t like the trend that had been developing since his team joined Class AA-A Region 3 three years ago.

One is at a new school. Both moved two weight classes.

West Virginia University pitchers combined for a three-hit shutout as the Mountaineers took their baseball season opener Friday at Jacksonville 3-0.

Herbert Hoover coach Richard Harper called it, “the best time of the year.”

PARKERSBURG — Riverside had a chance to dethrone host Parkersburg heading into the finals of the Mountain State Athletic Conference wrestling tournament Saturday, but the host Big Reds came through when they had to.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — The visual was a bit surreal.

HUNTINGTON — The second and final day of the WSAZ Wrestling Invitational ended with a lead change in only one of the three classes while Point Pleasant proved it may be the best team in the state, regardless of classification.

HUNTINGTON — Through the first round of the 42nd annual WSAZ High School Wrestling Invitational Friday at Mountain Health Arena, Cabell Midland led the Class AAA division with Huntington, Hurricane, Riverside and St. Albans all in the top 10.

St. Albans has finished tops among Kanawha Valley Class AAA teams at the state wrestsling tournament in each of the last four years.

Last year, a young Herbert Hoover wrestling team battled its way to a 10th-place finish at the state tournament, learning lessons along the way.

PARKERSBURG — Olympic aspirations naturally elevate athletes to higher planes of performance. Limits are pushed and boundaries broken on one’s rise to an elite existence.

HUNTINGTON — Both seniors, both multi-time state-championship winners, both ending their careers on the highest of notes.

HUNTINGTON — About the only drama to be decided during Saturday night’s championship finals at the state wrestling tournament was the battle for individual titles.

Prep wrestling -- state tournament results

HUNTINGTON — There are few days in West Virginia prep sports as grueling as Friday at the state wrestling tournament, especially for those who lost opening-round matches on Thursday.

HUNTINGTON — Friday night’s semifinals painted a clearer picture of just who would be competing for state championships on Saturday.

Prep wrestling -- state tournament results

HUNTINGTON — For the Kanawha Valley’s top teams, the first hurdle at the state wrestling tournament was cleared before competition even began at Big Sandy Superstore Arena.