North Marion’s Noah Hess, left, and Williamstown’s Cayden Blankenship lock up during the Bob Zide Rumble earlier this year. The 120-pound Blankenship is one of five Yellowjackets who advanced to the state wrestling tournament, which begins tonight inside Huntington’s Mountain Health Arena. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

PARKERSBURG — Little Kanawha Conference wrestling programs won’t have it easy during the 76th annual West Virginia state wrestling tournament set to get underway at 6:30 p.m. today inside Huntington’s Mountain Health Arena.

Tyler Consolidated head coach Paden Morris’ team qualified five through the always tough Region I tournament, which included 175-pound runner-up Sean Winfrey.

The junior, who was named the Andrew Davis Outstanding Wrestler at the Single-A Challenge where he helped his team to a runner-up finish behind expected state champ Greenbrier West, is looking to place for a third time.

The Silver Knights were ranked second and just ahead of Ravenswood in the last wvmat.com/W.Va. Coaches Association poll.

Six-time defending LKC champion Braxton County is eyeing a top-five effort in Class AA for mat boss Sterling Beane.

The Eagles had a quartet of Region II top of the podium finishes thanks to Paxton Smith (132), Blayne Jarvis (144), Logan Bennett (157) and Jackson Davis (175). Jarvis, a two-time state placer, joins Clay County 215-pound, two-time, state runner-up Noah Casto as the lone top-ranked LKC grapplers.

Doddridge County crowned a pair of champions in Region III thanks to 190-pounder Trenton Huffman and 138-pounder Riley Curran, who earned LKC MOW honors and was state runner-up last winter at 132. Huffman placed third at 160 each of the past two seasons at Tyler Consolidated.

Like Casto, heavyweight Ethan Morris and 126-pounder Zane Minger bested their respective weight classes in Region II for the Panthers. Minger is the only other LKC wrestler who has vied for a state crown. After placing sixth at 106 as a freshman, Minger was runner-up at 120 in 2022.

Four other LKC grapplers enter the final weekend of the season as regional champs. Roane County’s Levi Holbert (106) and Tyson Pena (120) from Region II as well as Ravenswood’s Jake Bowling (150) and Wirt County’s Chase Lowe (165) in Region IV.

Although third-year Williamstown head coach Tyler George didn’t have any regional champions, five Yellowjackets qualified for state. Leading the way is 190-pounder Brayden Buckley, who was the Region I runner-up.

“We’re excited for Brayden, though he got kind of a tough pill draw,” admitted George, whose team qualified six last year and placed one after placing two and qualifying three his first season.

“He’s in a tough weight class. He took second at the Single-A Challenge.

“You got to beat someone if you want to finish in the top six. He’s the perfect guy for that. He’s got a couple tricks in his bag that could work out for us. If he has a mindset of a senior with nothing to lose I think he can beat one or two guys to be able to place.”

WHS also had a pair of regional runner-up efforts from sophomores Cayden Blankenship at 120 and heavyweight Jensen Burge.

“I think they are both set up really well with the pill,” added the coach. “I think they got great draws and good matchups. I think we can win our first two and sit in the semis, and that guarantees us top six.

“Looking at the pill as a whole, I think we lucked out pretty good for those two guys. They still got to beat guys they aren’t supposed to beat. On common opponents and how they are wrestling, I think they are ready to step up and shock some people.”

Coach George also was pleased to have the freshman duo of 106-pounder Waylon Barniak and 120-pounder Holden McComas advance.

“I wouldn’t say shock,” the coach said of the pair qualifying for Huntington. “With Barniak, we had an idea that he could. The wrestler we got back in December to the wrestler we got now is a completely different guy.

“McComas was a JV backup all year until the LKC and he stepped up for us. We had a kid quit on us and he did well, comes in and ultimately qualifies third at the regional. Definitely didn’t see that one coming.”

There are a dozen opening round matchups pitting Mid-Ohio Valley wrestlers and that includes Barniak facing Holbert, McComas squaring off with Roane County’s Chase Beckner as well as Buckley colliding with Tyler Consolidated’s Kendall Huffman.

Jarvis will open his tournament for the Eagles against Calhoun County’s Haiden Staton. At 106, Wirt County’s Xzavier Wells faces Doddridge County’s Trey McDonough while Ravenswood’s Levi Blackhurst takes on Braxton County’s Cody Stout.

The other six matches are at 113 with Clay County’s James Sears vs. Tyler Consolidated’s Kaden Huffman, at 132 with Ritchie County’s Tristen Ginanni facing Magnolia’s Lucas Zombotti, at 157 with Rebel Dalton Settle taking on Blue Eagle Jordan Davis, at 165 with Braxton County’s Tyler Cox vs. Wahama’s Andrew Roush, at 215 with the Panther Casto taking on Calhoun County’s Levi Stump and at heavyweight where Braxton County’s Ryder McLaughlin tangles with Raustyn Wade of Tyler Consolidated.

“I think we are ready to go,” added coach George. “End of the day, as coaches we can hope and wish and go through the bracket and go through every scenario, but at the end of the day you have to show up and wrestle. Everyone has to show up and there are upsets everywhere. We have to hope a little luck is on our side and we have to go out and work for it.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com