By Stephen Smoot
They pulled themselves out of their warm beds way too early on a Saturday morning. The day greeted them with bright sunshine that did not immediately soften the ice cold temperatures that gripped the region.
But today was different than any other for the student-athletes who form the Pendleton County Middle/High School wrestling squad.
It’s not every day that kids have a chance to make history.
They experienced their first meet as a team in the 42nd annual Keyser Kiwanis Tournament, one of the most competitive meets statewide in the early weeks of the season.
“Today’s a learning day,” said one of the team’s coaches, Jasper Hartman. As he explained, winning is nice, but it’s more of a day to build experience.
The teams started filing into Keyser High School’s gymnasium around 8:30 with weigh-ins starting at 9:00. Competitive wrestling divides athletes into weight classes with strict rules preventing any from engaging an opponent in a lower weight class.
Around 9:20, teams started warming up.
Competition opened at 10 a.m. when a loud voice came over the speaker saying, “Wrestlers clear the mats!” Then, the gentleman introduced Ashley Metcalf to sing the national anthem.
Metcalf, in her diminutive size, blonde locks put up in a ponytail, and tiny angelic voice resembled no one more than Cindy Lou Who from How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Her voice carried throughout the cavernous gym and, unlike some adult professionals, she got every single word right.
For its size, Keyser has a strong wrestling program and that was reflected in the quality of the opposition. Southern brought about 75 on their team. Others present included Hampshire, Petersburg, Robert C. Byrd, and East Hardy.
North Central West Virginia powerhouses Morgantown and University also came. The Mohigans, interestingly enough, occupied bleachers underneath a banner of Keyser State Champions that included Sean Biser, current Morgantown head football.
But it was University that Pendleton County had to face from the start. University year in and year out is a wrestling power and probably the toughest test possible for a squad entering its first ever match.
Hartman shared that this day would not have happened, save for “the level of support from the community” and continual work from Jacqueline Propst, the school’s athletic director.
Coach James Wood said that the athletes “all seem excited about it. They’re all ready to go.” Jed Hartman, another coach, added, “They said they’re nervous.”
And indeed, the wrestlers’ faces reflected all of those emotions, excitement, nervousness, and also pride.
The varsity squad has eight matches scheduled with more possibly to come. So far, the middle schoolers have two set up.
Wildcat wrestlers competed with determination in the first meet that has seen Pendleton County wrestlers since the year President Ronald Reagan was elected. Though the overall bright spot was having a team in competition, Bradey Bowers defeated an opponent by pin, giving the county its first individual win in decades.
Pendleton County’s team will grapple next on Dec. 28 at Grafton High School.
