State champions

[dunbar76]

I'm not a student of the state tournament so I have a couple of questions. When , if ever, has a region 4th place finisher won either one of the state tournaments(AAA and A/AA)? Has anyone not one of the 1-4 region placers ever won a state tournament? Thanks, just interested.

[coach_stump]

I had one that finished 4th his senior year, 2002, in the regionals and won the state title at the 130 lb weight class. This wrestler was cut from the basketball team his 9th grade year and came to me and asked if he could wrestle. The rest is history. His name was Derek Metz.

[Bearhugger]

1982, Ted Zervos of John Marshall placed 4th in his region. He won the state title a week later.

The next two seasons, 1983 and 1984, the regions were changed and only the top THREE were taken to the state tournament. This change never made sense when a regional 4th placer just won the state title in 1982. In 1985, taking the top four was restored.


I am just reciting historical facts about wrestling. I hope nobody gets offended or blames me for something they need to take responsibility for.

[Monarch1996]

1982, Ted Zervos of John Marshall placed 4th in his region. He won the state title a week later.

The next two seasons, 1983 and 1984, the regions were changed and only the top THREE were taken to the state tournament. This change never made sense when a regional 4th placer just won the state title in 1982. In 1985, taking the top four was restored.


I am just reciting historical facts about wrestling. I hope nobody gets offended or blames me for something they need to take responsibility for.

This is very true. I wrestled for Coach Zervos at Moundsville and John Marshall and he, to this day, uses 1982 as an example: just get there. In order to win the whole thing, you have to beat other good wrestlers. Doesn't matter when you beat them, but you have to beat them. Just get there. So, yes, a 4th guy has won it...and it was Ted's second state title, having won in 1981 as a regional runner-up.

What's even more interesting (to me, anyway) is that he counts his sophomore season state tournament as his best. He finished third. Why? He only gave up a single point that whole tournament, losing 1-0 in the semi-finals to Rod Haller of Park. I was looking at some of the brackets and sent him a text commenting on it.

It's hard to predict who will win a tournament, or how. Just in my history at John Marshall, Ryan Muldrew's win his junior year (in 1996) wasn't exactly unexpected, but he had yet to beat South's Zack Hasse...until he pinned him for the title. In 1994, Cliff Ward had a similar challenge--I want to say it was PHS's Bryce Edwards, but not entirely sure--finally beating him by decision in the finals. Then you have the very close ones...Rod Persinger, in both of his title runs, had nail-biters all through the tournament. I will grant that none of these three were 4th place regional guys (though Ryan didn't qualify his sophomore year, placing 5th out of 5 at 112 or 119, possibly due to being sick, having beaten all in his weight, save one, through the year). I know Ryan and Cliff were runners-up and I want to say that Rod lost to Mark Roberts in the region his senior year, but it shows how unpredictable these things can be. These were just my teammates that I was privileged to see win.

The point being that no match, regardless of history, is guaranteed to repeat. Nor does a 4th place guy automatically translate to no better than 12th or 16th best at the tournament. Weird things happen.

[Coach_Beech]

I remember a few years ago a wrestler finishing 5th in his region, and going on to finish 2nd in the State Tournament.

[mscoach134]

I remember a few years ago a wrestler finishing 5th in his region, and going on to finish 2nd in the State Tournament.

Montero from Oak Glen i believe is who you are referencing. At least that is the one that pops into my head in recent memory. wouldve been 08 or 09.

[InsideTrip]

In 2007, Tyler Cumpston of Cameron finished 4th place in the regional tournament then won the state tournament.

[Monarch1996]

Just took another look at that 1982 bracket and the finals match at 119 was 4th from region 1 (Zervos) vs 3rd from region 1 (Yurko).

[Bearhugger]

Just took another look at that 1982 bracket and the finals match at 119 was 4th from region 1 (Zervos) vs 3rd from region 1 (Yurko).

Yes, and the regional champion finished 4th

[hhs92]

I remember a few years ago a wrestler finishing 5th in his region, and going on to finish 2nd in the State Tournament.

Montero from Oak Glen i believe is who you are referencing. At least that is the one that pops into my head in recent memory. wouldve been 08 or 09.

it was montero,and yep it was 09 finished 5th and moved up to the 4th place slot when the regional champ from williamstown go hurt(i heard someone say coming home from the regionals he slipped on ice and broke his hand)

[dunbar76]

Thanks gang. I figured the were some.