[West Virginia High School Wrestling]

Huntington High School

Highlanders -- Wrestling

  • Coach: John Dempsey (HHS '90)
  • Assistant Coach: Steve Riner (HHS '04), Jake Dempsey (HHS '09)
  • Class: AAA
  • Region: 4
  • Conference affiliation: MSAC - Mountain State Athletic Conference,
  • School colors: Dark green, light gold
  • School Address: #1 Highlander Way, Huntington WV 25701
  • School Phone: (304) 528-6408
  • School FAX: (304) 528-6403
  • County: Cabell
  • Coach Address:
  • Coach Phone: John Dempsey (304) 840-7660
  • e-mail address, John Dempsey: jhdempse@k12.wv.us
  • Athletic director: Bruce Senior
  • Principal: Joedy Cunningham
  • Directions to school: I-64 to Huntington. Get off at the Hal Greer Blvd exit. Go south on Rt. 10. Get in the left hand lane. Go straight until you get to the bottom of the hill. Take the first left up hill on to Highlander Way.
  • Coach Office: (304) 528-6408








2022-2023 Schedule AT THIS LINK

WV AAA State Champions 2013, 2014

The Huntington High wrestling program program is one of the top programs in the state every year. Legendary Coach Bill Archer was the school's first state champion in 1966, then brought the program from anonymity to a perennial leader as head coach from 1971-2006. HHS has crowned 46 individual state champions and numerous state placers. Huntington High and Huntington East consolidated in 1996 to form the new Huntington High.

Coach Rob Archer took over the program for the 2006-2007 season after an 8-year stint as an assistant to his father. The HHS program is strongly supported by its alumni and booster club. HHS is fed by local Middle Schools: Huntington Middle, and Huntington East Middle. The Huntington Hammers and the Huntington Elite Club feed the middle schools.
HHS All-AmericansHHS State Champions
Bill Archer- Marshall University
     High School All-American
     MU record holder for varsity wins in 3 years
     Inducted into MU Hall of Fame - 2005

Richard Johnson
     High School All-American

Ken Chertow- Penn State University
     High School All-American
     Jr. National Champ (FS & GR) & Freestyle OW
     Jr. World Champ (FS)
     Espoir World Champ (FS)
     3x NCAA All-American (3rd, 3rd & 6th)
     1988 US Olympian

Bobby Taylor- Clemson University
     High School All-American
     All-Conference ACC

Todd Chertow- Ohio State University
     High School All-American

James Branch- West Liberty State
     4x All-American
     NCAA Div. II National Champion

Rob Archer- Ohio State University
     High School All-American
     Espoir All-American (FS)
     Big 10 Conference Placewinner

Jake Dempsey - Life University
     Cadet National All-American (GR) 8th
     Jr. National All-American (GR) 5th
     NAIA All-American (8th)

Justin Riggs
     High School All-American

Justin Arthur - University of Nebraska
     High School All-American
     Cadet National All-American (GR) 6th
     Jr. National All-American (FS) 6th
     4x National HS All-American (3rd, 2nd, 1st& 2nd)
     NCAA Tournament Qualifier

Logan Grass - Mercyhurst University
     Cadet National All-American (GR) 7th & (FS) 7th
     2x NCAA Tournament Qualifier

Zane Lanham - Life University
     HS All-American
     NAIA All-American (3rd)
     NAIA National Champion

1966 Bill Archer
1969 Mike Blake (Hunt. East)
1972 John Jobst (Hunt. East)
1974 Richard Johnson
1975 Richard Johnson
     Paul Finley
1979 Paul Richmond
     Tom Brumfield
1982 Bill St. Clair
1983 Ken Chertow*
     Bobby Taylor
     Sam St. Clair
1984 Ken Chertow*
     Bobby Taylor
1987 Craig Hale
1989 Todd Chertow
     Jason Hale
1990 Jon Smith
     Todd Chertow
1991 Jon Smith
1992 James Branch
1993 Allen Beckett
1994 Allen Beckett
     Anthony Lieving
1997 Blaine Crabtree
1998 Joe Thorpe
2001 Jason Mays
2006 Zack Fraley*
     Ryan Cook
2009 Justin Riggs
     Jake Dempsey
2010 Justin Riggs
     Justin Arthur
2011 Justin Riggs
     Chris Miles
2012 Jordan Allen
     Billy Waldeck
     Justin Arthur
2013 Logan Grass
      Jordan Allen
      Justin Arthur*^
2014 Logan Grass
     Jordan Allen
2015 Josh Humphreys
     Logan Grass ^
2017 Zane Lanham
2018 Zane Lanham
2020 A. J. Dempsey
2021 A. J. Dempsey
2022 Garrin Arthur
     Robby Martin



*Outstanding Wrestler
^ Dutton Award Winner



Huntington High School associates who are members of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, West Virginia Chapter
William Archer
Diane Archer
Andrew Hosey
Mike Caruso
Bruce Niday
 David Riggs
Aristotle Svingos
Jim Issaac
James St. Clair
Alex Skirpan


Huntington High Wrestling Newsletter
July 2014
May 2014
January 2014
November 2013
September 2013
May 2013
August 2012
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