By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
Best in Show: Ripley Wrestling won the 2026 West Virginia State Team Duals Division 2 Championship held at the WV State Fair Fairgrounds in Fairlea as the Yellow Jackets wrangled up last place.
Moorefield was one of eight teams to qualify for the 7th annual WV State Team Duals Tournament.
Keyser (champion) accompanied Moorefield (runner-up) in representing Region II.
The Yellow Jackets were given a nice send-off as fellow classmates and teachers lined the hallways to wish them happy trails to Lewisburg.
“It is nice to know we are one of the final eight teams in the state going to Lewisburg. I just hope we wrestle well and nobody gets hurt. Our program is growing and I plan to implement some new things next year to really help us grow. I hope to add a middle school program. We have a winning tradition and I will do what I can to help us to the next level,” Moorefield coach Larry Schoonover remarked during the state tournament departure.
Region I was represented by Williamstown and Oak Glen.
Herbert Hoover and Independence came from Region II.
Ripley and Point Pleasant hailed from Region IV.
Ripley defeated Herbert Hoover 42-30 in the WV State Team Duals Division II title match.
Williamstown beat the Golden Tornado 43-29 for third place.
Independence edged Point Pleasant 39-36 to claim fifth place.
Oak Glen grounded the Yellow Jackets 64-18 to snatch 7th place.
Moorefield opened the WV State Team Duals Tournament Quarterfinals against eventual runner-up Herbert Hoover and fell 77-6.
The Yellow Jackets lone points belonged to Alex Rodriguez in the 157 class with a first period pin at 1:53 against Herbert Hoover.
Rodriguez would finish the tournament with a 2-1 record and was selected as the Moorefield Most Outstanding Wrestler.
Rodriguez received a top quality Rudis backpack full of apparel and accessories for keepsakes.
Moorefield lost seven times by pin against Herbert Hoover, but the matches for David Stonestreet (150) and Nate Crites (165) lasted into the second period.
Moorefield’s Jhon Paul (138) had the longest match against Herbert Hoover finishing in a 21-5 technical fall loss.
The official results for the quarterfinal match were as follows:
106 Bryson Young (HH) won via forfeit
113 Preston Rhodes (HH) p. Teagan Eversole, 0:23
120 Josh Bostic (HH) p. Ledziel Matos, 0:29
126 Hunter Hughart (HH) won via forfeit
132 Alex Arbogast (HH) p. Javi Acosta, 1:51
138 Casey Siders (HH) tech. fall Jhon Paul, 21-5
144 Brayden Tolley (HH) p. Jordan Fields, 0:21
150 Sam Snyder (HH) p. David Stonestreet, 3:29
157 Alex Rodriguez (M) p. Brennon Harrison, 1:53
165 Andrew Easter (HH) p. Nate Crites, 3:27
175 Ethan Deal (HH) won via forfeit
190 Devin Silvas (HH) won via forfeit
215 Tristan Shaffer (HH) p. Blake Robinnette, 0:43
285 Mighty Lopez (HH) p. William Atkins, 1:26
The Yellow Jackets proved capable of competing and despite the 8th place finish, they kept improving the scores in each match moving forward in Fairlea.
The lasso got bigger as Moorefield tied up two individual wins during a 68-12 consolation semifinal loss to Point Pleasant.
Rodriguez collected his second victory with a first period pin at 1:32 for the Yellow Jackets and Javi Acosta (132) was given a forfeit win for the 12 total team points.
Moorefield’s Teagan Eversole (113) succumbed in a 15-nil technical fall against Point Pleasant.
Point Pleasant notched forfeits in four matches.
Jordan Fields (144) and William Atkins (285) managed to reach the second period for the Yellow Jackets, before being pinned by Point Pleasant.
Jhon Paul had another match determined by points for the Yellow Jackets in a 11-5 decision setback.
The complete scoring for the consolation semifinal round:
106 Julian Williams (PP) won via forfeit
113 Evan Gremillion (PP) tech. fall Teagan Eversole, 15-0
120 Itayus Canterbury (PP) p. Ledziel Matos, 0:58
126 Berklee Bonecutter (PP) won via forfeit
132 Javi Acosta (M) won via forfeit
138 Blake Thompson (PP) dec. Jhon Paul, 11-5
144 Cole Hatfield (PP) p. Jordan Fields, 2:23
150 Bobby Minor (PP) p. David Stonestreet, 0:20
157 Alex Rodriguez (M) p. Vincent Anthony, 1:32
165 Carson Finnicum (PP) p. Nate Crites, 1:44
175 Braydon Sweeney (PP) won via forfeit
190 Caden Hill (PP) won via forfeit
215 Cooper Craig (PP) p. Blake Robinnette, 1:29
285 Max Richie (PP) p. William Atkins, 2:40
Moorefield finished the state team duals tournament rodeo being bucked off the mat with a 64-18 score against Oak Glen to garner 8th place overall.
The Yellow Jackets swarmed for a pair of first period pins by Javi Acosta and David Stonestreet over Oak Glen, while Teagan Eversole was awarded a forfeit.
Oak Glen hauled in six first period pins against the Yellow Jackets.
Rodriguez concluded his day with an 11-4 decision loss, but still captured the attention of the voters to be the outstanding wrestler.
The 7th place state team duals match for the Yellow Jackets against Oak Glen scores were:
106 Jordan Tomsic (OG) won via forfeit
113 Teagan Eversole (M) won via forfeit
120 Micah Julian (OG) p. Ledziel Matos, 0:39
126 Kaleb Eckelberry (OG) won via forfeit
132 Javi Acosta (M) p. Lliam Flanigan, 0:24
138 Kayden Spencer (OG) p. Jhon Paul, 1:59
144 Wyatt Wolanski (OG) p. Jordan Fields, 0:30
150 David Stonestreet (M) p. Isaac Cline, 1:49
157 Parker Boyce (OG) dec. Alex Rodriguez, 11-4
165 Paxton Ware (OG) p. Nate Crites, 1:23
175 Owen Schmidt (OG) won via forfeit
190 Mason Lamp (OG) won via forfeit
215 Noah Schmidt (OG) p. Blake Robinnette, 0:18
285 Evan Geer (OG) won via forfeit.
Keyser started the state quarterfinals edging Independence 38-37 which included four pins by Deacon Stanislawczyk, Kaydan Durr, Lane Metcalf and Ryan Swingle, while Owen Rortuck and Don Starcher finished with major decisions and Jackson Swingle took a forfeit.
The Golden Tornado lost in the championship semifinals to eventual state champion Ripley 48-23.
Keyser’s Preston House and Isaac Metcalf gathered pins, while Stanislawczyk and Jackson Swingle notched decisions and Rotruck earned a technical fall victory.
Rotruck became the winningest Golden Tornado in Keyser Wrestling program history.
Rotruck added to that glory with a pin capping off the state tournament run as Keyser took fourth place with a 48-24 loss to Williamstown.
Keyser’s Liam Gould and Stanisławczyk added two more pins against the Yellowjackets, while Jackson Swingle had a 15-0 technical fall victory and Jacob Matthews grabbed a forfeit.
The WV State Team Duals Division I champion was University with a 40-31 victory over Parkersburg.
The remaining field for Division I was compiled by Parkersburg South, John Marshall, Woodrow Wilson and Riverside.
Moorefield showed heart and determination with better scores building throughout the state tournament.
The Yellow Jackets are preparing for the Class AA-A Region II Tournament in Braxton County in hopes of punching a plethora of WVSSAC state tournament tickets to Huntington.
Moorefield has one more tune-up prior to regionals against Frankfort.
The Hive beamed with pride for Rodriguez returning with the team’s top honors from the state fairgrounds in Fairlea.
Moorefield isn’t ready to ride off into the sunset just yet as the state tournament is on the horizon.
