Forty-one schools sent 96 wrestlers to the 26th Annual State Tournament that was held at Parkersburg Memorial Fieldhouse on February 25th and 26th, 1973. Huntington lead all schools with six qualifiers followed by Greenbrier West, Jefferson, John Marshall and Nitro with five each. Thirty of the 41 schools scored at the tournament.
John Marshall bagged their second consecutive state title after Friday’s semi-finals with a 20 point lead and wound up with 49.5 points to runner-up Nitro’s 31.5. Warwood’s John Vdovjak successfully defended his title while the other defending champion, South Charleston Mickey Arnold lost his first round match.
Fairmont West’s Pat Bonasso, with 10 votes, was named the Tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler. Parkersburg South’s Steve Bosley was second in the voting with 8 and Warwood’s Vdovjak was third with 6. John Marshall’s Bill Hinegardner was unanimous Coach of the Year.
Official’s for the tournament was Steve Edwards of Charleston, Jim Feltz of Fairmont and Burton Rogers of Parkersburg. Three mats were used for the quarter-finals with two mats being employed for the duration of the tournament.
Special Thanks to Steve Bosley, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel This archival in memory of Shorty Bosley and Charles Sams (Uncle Charlie)
| 1. | John Marshall* | 49.50 |
| 2. | Nitro | 31.50 |
| 3. | Fairmont West | 31.00 |
| 4. | Weirton | 26.00 |
| 5. | Parkersburg South | 23.50 |
| 6. | Warwood | 20.50 |
| 7. | Parkersburg | 19.00 |
| 8. | Hurricane | 16.50 |
| 9. | Wirt County | 16.00 |
| Dunbar | 16.00 | |
| Petersburg | 16.00 | |
| 12. | Morgantown | 15.50 |
| 13. | Ravenswood | 15.00 |
| 14. | Wheeling Central | 12.00 |
| George Washington | 12.00 | |
| 16. | Jefferson | 11.00 |
| 17. | Big Creek | 10.50 |
| 18. | St. Albans | 10.00 |
| 19. | Bridgeport | 9.00 |
| 20. | Beckley | 8.00 |
| 21. | East Fairmont | 6.50 |
| 22. | St. Marys | 6.00 |
| Huntington | 6.00 | |
| 24. | South Charleston | 5.00 |
| Shady Spring | 5.00 | |
| Huntington East | 5.00 | |
| Oak Glen | 5.00 | |
| 28. | Stonewall Jackson | 4.00 |
| 29. | Lewis County | 1.00 |
| Sissonville | 1.00 | |
| 31. | Ripley | 0.00 |
| Charleston | 0.00 | |
| Greenbrier West | 0.00 | |
| Buckhannon-Upshur | 0.00 | |
| Calhoun | 0.00 | |
| Keyser | 0.00 | |
| Berkeley Springs | 0.00 | |
| Milton | 0.00 | |
| Sophia | 0.00 | |
| DuPont | 0.00 | |
| Barboursville | 0.00 |
FOLLOW THIS LINK to see complete bracketsPLACES Weight: 98 1st: Rusty Mercer JM 3- 0- 0 2nd: Tom Lumadue NIT 2- 1- 0 3rd: Steve McKenney HUR 3- 1- 0 4th: Dale Bennett SS 2- 2- 0 Weight: 105 1st: Jim Weatherholt PS 3- 0- 0 2nd: David Litton NIT 2- 1- 0 3rd: Mark Eckleberry OG 2- 1- 0 4th: Kevin Messinger MRG 2- 2- 0 Weight: 112 1st: Dan Doyle CEN 3- 0- 0 2nd: Kim Slaughter SA 2- 1- 0 3rd: Joe Graziani RAV 3- 1- 0 4th: Dave Garrett FW 2- 2- 0 Weight: 119 1st: Chris Pryor WEI 3- 0- 0 2nd: Alvin Baker FW 2- 1- 0 3rd: Steve Bell HUR 3- 1- 0 4th: Rod Burton WC 2- 2- 0 Weight: 126 1st: Ed West JM 3- 0- 0 2nd: Rocky Corbin RAV 2- 1- 0 3rd: Bob Smith DUN 3- 1- 0 4th: Johnny Sites PET 1- 2- 0 Weight: 132 1st: Pat Bonasso FW 3- 0- 0 2nd: Ron Griffin JM 2- 1- 0 3rd: Burl Cline PKB 2- 1- 0 4th: Dave Feagans JEF 1- 2- 0 Weight: 138 1st: Denny Moyers PET 3- 0- 0 2nd: Randy Bierce JM 2- 1- 0 3rd: Vic Seccuro EF 3- 1- 0 4th: Joe Wesley SJ 2- 2- 0 Weight: 145 1st: John Vdovjak* WAR 3- 0- 0 2nd: Steve Payne BC 2- 1- 0 3rd: Mike Hudson NIT 3- 1- 0 4th: Rich Johnson HUN 2- 2- 0 Weight: 155 1st: Steve Bosley PS 3- 0- 0 2nd: Ken Clarke MRG 2- 1- 0 3rd: Brian Campbell WAR 2- 1- 0 4th: Mike Coffey NIT 2- 2- 0 Weight: 167 1st: John Empson GW 3- 0- 0 2nd: Steve Burkett BP 2- 1- 0 3rd: Mike Childers SM 3- 1- 0 4th: Scott Lehaskey JM 2- 2- 0 Weight: 185 1st: Eric Frankovitc WEI 3- 0- 0 2nd: Rod Watson WC 2- 1- 0 3rd: Charles Honaker BCK 3- 1- 0 4th: David White HE 2- 2- 0 Weight: UNL 1st: Charlie Richards PKB 3- 0- 0 2nd: Terry Bennett DUN 2- 1- 0 3rd: Steve McDonough JEF 3- 1- 0 4th: Chuck Miller SC 2- 2- 0 CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS Wt: 98 Rusty Mercer JM def Tom Lumadue NIT Decision 6-1 Wt: 105 Jim Weatherholt PS def David Litton NIT Decision 8-2 Wt: 112 Dan Doyle CEN def Kim Slaughter SA Decision 5-1 Wt: 119 Chris Pryor WEI def Alvin Baker FW Decision 3-1 Wt: 126 Ed West JM def Rocky Corbin RAV Decision 7-4 Wt: 132 Pat Bonasso FW def Ron Griffin JM Decision 9-2 Wt: 138 Denny Moyers PET def Randy Bierce JM Decision 4-0 Wt: 145 John Vdovjak* WAR def Steve Payne BC Decision 10-5 Wt: 155 Steve Bosley PS def Ken Clarke MRG Fall 1:43 1 Wt: 167 John Empson GW def Steve Burkett BP Decision 5-2 Wt: 185 Eric Frankovitc WEI def Rod Watson WC Decision 8-2 Wt: UNL Charlie Richards PKB def Terry Bennett DUN Decision 3-1 CONSOLATION FINALS Wt: 98 Steve McKenney HUR def Dale Bennett SS Fall :40 3 Wt: 105 Mark Eckleberry OG def Kevin Messinger MRG Decision 6-2 Wt: 112 Joe Graziani RAV def Dave Garrett FW Decision 7-6 Wt: 119 Steve Bell HUR def Rod Burton WC Fall 1:10 2 Wt: 126 Bob Smith DUN def Johnny Sites PET Decision 4-2 ot Wt: 132 Burl Cline PKB def Dave Feagans JEF Fall 3rd OT Wt: 138 Vic Seccuro EF def Joe Wesley SJ Decision 6-4 Wt: 145 Mike Hudson NIT def Rich Johnson HUN Major Decision 12-2 Wt: 155 Brian Campbell WAR def Mike Coffey NIT Decision 5-0 Wt: 167 Mike Childers SM def Scott Lehaskey JM Major Decision 11-3 Wt: 185 Charles Honaker BCK def David White HE Decision 2-0 ot Wt: UNL Steve McDonough JEF def Chuck Miller SC Decision 3-2 CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER-FINALS Match: 1 Wt: 98 Dale Bennett SS def Greg Sampson CAL by Decision 9-4 Match: 2 Wt: 98 Tom Lumadue NIT def Dale Litton KEY by MajorDec 12-2 Match: 3 Wt: 98 Steve McKenney HUR def Frank Willis FW by Fall :50 1 Match: 4 Wt: 98 Rusty Mercer JM def Charles Murphy DUN by Fall :56 2 Match: 5 Wt: 105 Kevin Messinger MRG def Bill Higley SA by Decision 5-2 Match: 6 Wt: 105 Jim Weatherhol PS def Jim Richmond HUN by Decision 4-0 Match: 7 Wt: 105 Bill Osborne BCK def Terry Wigfield KEY by Decision 6-1 Match: 8 Wt: 105 David Litton NIT def Mark Eckleberry OG by Decision 11-7 Match: 9 Wt: 112 Kim Slaughter SA def Jason Servis JEF by Fall 1:20 1 Match: 10 Wt: 112 Dave Garrett FW def Grant McClure HUN by Fall :54 2 Match: 11 Wt: 112 Dan Doyle CEN def Randy Golden GRW by Decision 13-6 Match: 12 Wt: 112 Joe Graziani RAV def Virgil Johnson SJ by Decision 5-3 Match: 13 Wt: 119 Chris Pryor WEI def Mickey Arnold* SC by Decision 5-1 Match: 14 Wt: 119 Rod Burton WC def Calvin White JEF by Fall 1:50 3 Match: 15 Wt: 119 Steve Bell HUR def Mike Jones BC by MajorDec 11-0 Match: 16 Wt: 119 Alvin Baker FW def Jeff Ashley SIS by Fall 1:02 2 Match: 17 Wt: 126 Bob Smith DUN def Roger Higgs HUN by Fall 1:00 2 Match: 18 Wt: 126 Ed West JM def Greg Holcomb SC by Decision 3-0 Match: 19 Wt: 126 Mike Sleeth LC def Terry Golden GRW by Decision 7-2 Match: 20 Wt: 126 Rocky Corbin RAV def Johnny Sites PET by Decision 11-5 Match: 21 Wt: 132 Roy Cochran HUN def James Witten SC by Fall 1:00 2 Match: 22 Wt: 132 Pat Bonasso FW def Burl Cline PKB by Decision 6-20 Match: 23 Wt: 132 Ken Frazier SIS def Dennis Jones GRW by Decision 6-4 Match: 24 Wt: 132 Ron Griffin JM def Dave Feagans JEF by TechFall 16-3 Match: 25 Wt: 138 Denny Moyers PET def Russ Smith PKB by Fall 1:01 3 Match: 26 Wt: 138 Vic Seccuro EF def Ron Bowman DUP by TechFall 13-1 Match: 27 Wt: 138 Randy Bierce JM def Steve Clark BAR by Decision 3-2 Match: 28 Wt: 138 Joe Wesley SJ def Gary Harriston SOP by MajorDec 11-3 Match: 29 Wt: 145 John Vdovjak* WAR def Rod Rhodes RIP by TechFall 16-1 Match: 30 Wt: 145 Mike Hudson NIT def Rocky Riffle KEY by Fall :30 3 Match: 31 Wt: 145 Steve Payne BC def Terry Bowden MRG by Fall 1:00 3 Match: 32 Wt: 145 Rich Johnson HUN def Mark Blizzard GW by Decision 12-5 Match: 33 Wt: 155 Bill Moore SS def Wayne Alt PET by MajorDec 13-4 Match: 34 Wt: 155 Ken Clarke MRG def Brian Campbell WAR by Fall :59 1 Match: 35 Wt: 155 Steve Bosley PS def Chuck Brooks HE by Fall 1:58 1 Match: 36 Wt: 155 Mike Coffey NIT def Kerry Ellison DUP by Decision Judges Match: 37 Wt: 167 Steve Burkett BP def Jim Billings GRW by Decision 7-0 Match: 38 Wt: 167 Mike Childers SM def Don Taylor MIL by Fall 1:52 1 Match: 39 Wt: 167 John Empson GW def Larry Denton JEF by Decision 8-2 Match: 40 Wt: 167 Scott Lehaskey JM def Bob Jackson NIT by Fall 3rd OT Match: 41 Wt: 185 David White HE def Fred Starr CHR by Decision 3-2 Match: 42 Wt: 185 Rod Watson WC def John Sedera EF by Fall :55 2 Match: 43 Wt: 185 Charles Honaker BCK def Jim Russell SA by MajorDec 11-1 Match: 44 Wt: 185 Eric Frankovitc WEI def Mark Waugh BS by MajorDec 11-0 Match: 45 Wt: UNL Charlie Richards PKB def Bruce Lawson HUN by Decision 5-3 Match: 46 Wt: UNL Steve McDonough JEF def Richard Daltrey GRW by Decision 7-3 Match: 47 Wt: UNL Terry Bennett DUN def George Kovalick WEI by Decision 1-0 Match: 48 Wt: UNL Chuck Miller SC def Ron Jackson BU by Fall 1:14 2 CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINALS Match: 49 Wt: 98 Tom Lumadue NIT def Dale Bennett SS by Decision 8-2 Match: 50 Wt: 98 Rusty Mercer JM def Steve McKenney HUR by Decision 3-2 ot Match: 51 Wt: 105 Jim Weatherhol PS def Kevin Messinger MRG by MajorDec 9-0 Match: 52 Wt: 105 David Litton NIT def Bill Osborne BCK by MajorDec 11-0 Match: 53 Wt: 112 Kim Slaughter SA def Dave Garrett FW by MajorDec 10-2 Match: 54 Wt: 112 Dan Doyle CEN def Joe Graziani RAV by Decision 10-4 Match: 55 Wt: 119 Chris Pryor WEI def Rod Burton WC by Fall 1:53 1 Match: 56 Wt: 119 Alvin Baker FW def Steve Bell HUR by MajorDec 14-6 Match: 57 Wt: 126 Ed West JM def Bob Smith DUN by Decision 8-2 Match: 58 Wt: 126 Rocky Corbin RAV def Mike Sleeth LC by Decision 5-2 Match: 59 Wt: 132 Pat Bonasso FW def Roy Cochran HUN by Decision 3-2 Match: 60 Wt: 132 Ron Griffin JM def Ken Frazier SIS by Fall 1:00 3 Match: 61 Wt: 138 Denny Moyers PET def Vic Seccuro EF by Decision 8-7 Match: 62 Wt: 138 Randy Bierce JM def Joe Wesley SJ by Decision 6-2 ot Match: 63 Wt: 145 John Vdovjak* WAR def Mike Hudson NIT by MajorDec 13-4 Match: 64 Wt: 145 Steve Payne BC def Rich Johnson HUN by TechFall 20-4 Match: 65 Wt: 155 Ken Clarke MRG def Bill Moore SS by MajorDec 13-2 Match: 66 Wt: 155 Steve Bosley PS def Mike Coffey NIT by TechFall 18-1 Match: 67 Wt: 167 Steve Burkett BP def Mike Childers SM by Decision 10-7 Match: 68 Wt: 167 John Empson GW def Scott Lehaskey JM by Decision 7-6 Match: 69 Wt: 185 Rod Watson WC def David White HE by Decision 6-5 Match: 70 Wt: 185 Eric Frankovitc WEI def Charles Honaker BCK by TechFall 14-2 Match: 71 Wt: UNL Charlie Richards PKB def Steve McDonough JEF by Decision 5-2 Match: 72 Wt: UNL Terry Bennett DUN def Chuck Miller SC by Decision 5-3 CONSOLATION SEMI-FINALS Match: 97 Wt: 98 Dale Bennett SS def Dale Litton KEY by Decision 10-7 Match: 98 Wt: 98 Steve McKenney HUR def Charles Murphy DUN by Decision 2-1 Match: 99 Wt: 105 Kevin Messinger MRG def Jim Richmond HUN by Forfeit Match: 100 Wt: 105 Mark Eckleberry OG def Bill Osborne BCK by Decision 9-4 Match: 101 Wt: 112 Dave Garrett FW def Jason Servis JEF by Fall :38 3 Match: 102 Wt: 112 Joe Graziani RAV def Randy Golden GRW by Decision 7-2 Match: 103 Wt: 119 Rod Burton WC def Mickey Arnold* SC by Forfeit Match: 104 Wt: 119 Steve Bell HUR def Jeff Ashley SIS by Forfeit Match: 105 Wt: 126 Bob Smith DUN def Greg Holcomb SC by Decision 5-1 ot Match: 106 Wt: 126 Johnny Sites PET def Mike Sleeth LC by Decision 10-3 Match: 107 Wt: 132 Burl Cline PKB def Roy Cochran HUN by Fall :55 2 Match: 108 Wt: 132 Dave Feagans JEF def Ken Frazier SIS by Forfeit Match: 109 Wt: 138 Vic Seccuro EF def Russ Smith PKB by Decision 10-6 Match: 110 Wt: 138 Joe Wesley SJ def Steve Clark BAR by Decision 7-1 ot Match: 111 Wt: 145 Mike Hudson NIT def Rod Rhodes RIP by Decision 4-1 Match: 112 Wt: 145 Rich Johnson HUN def Terry Bowden MRG by Decision 8-7 Match: 113 Wt: 155 Brian Campbell WAR def Bill Moore SS by Decision 4-0 Match: 114 Wt: 155 Mike Coffey NIT def Chuck Brooks HE by Decision 3-2 Match: 115 Wt: 167 Mike Childers SM def Jim Billings GRW by Decision 5-1 Match: 116 Wt: 167 Scott Lehaskey JM def Larry Denton JEF by Decision 9-5 Match: 117 Wt: 185 David White HE def John Sedera EF by Fall 1:52 3 Match: 118 Wt: 185 Charles Honaker BCK def Mark Waugh BS by TechFall 16-2 Match: 119 Wt: UNL Steve McDonough JEF def Bruce Lawson HUN by Fall :35 2 Match: 120 Wt: UNL Chuck Miller SC def George Kovalick WEI by Decision 3-1 FINALS Match: 122 Wt: 98 Steve McKenney HUR def Dale Bennett SS by Fall :40 3 Match: 123 Wt: 98 Rusty Mercer JM def Tom Lumadue NIT by Decision 6-1 Match: 125 Wt: 105 Mark Eckleberry OG def Kevin Messinger MRG by Decision 6-2 Match: 126 Wt: 105 Jim Weatherhol PS def David Litton NIT by Decision 8-2 Match: 128 Wt: 112 Joe Graziani RAV def Dave Garrett FW by Decision 7-6 Match: 129 Wt: 112 Dan Doyle CEN def Kim Slaughter SA by Decision 5-1 Match: 131 Wt: 119 Steve Bell HUR def Rod Burton WC by Fall 1:10 2 Match: 132 Wt: 119 Chris Pryor WEI def Alvin Baker FW by Decision 3-1 Match: 134 Wt: 126 Bob Smith DUN def Johnny Sites PET by Decision 4-2 ot Match: 135 Wt: 126 Ed West JM def Rocky Corbin RAV by Decision 7-4 Match: 137 Wt: 132 Burl Cline PKB def Dave Feagans JEF by Fall 3rd OT Match: 138 Wt: 132 Pat Bonasso FW def Ron Griffin JM by Decision 9-2 Match: 140 Wt: 138 Vic Seccuro EF def Joe Wesley SJ by Decision 6-4 Match: 141 Wt: 138 Denny Moyers PET def Randy Bierce JM by Decision 4-0 Match: 143 Wt: 145 Mike Hudson NIT def Rich Johnson HUN by MajorDec 12-2 Match: 144 Wt: 145 John Vdovjak* WAR def Steve Payne BC by Decision 10-5 Match: 146 Wt: 155 Brian Campbell WAR def Mike Coffey NIT by Decision 5-0 Match: 147 Wt: 155 Steve Bosley PS def Ken Clarke MRG by Fall 1:43 1 Match: 149 Wt: 167 Mike Childers SM def Scott Lehaskey JM by MajorDec 11-3 Match: 150 Wt: 167 John Empson GW def Steve Burkett BP by Decision 5-2 Match: 152 Wt: 185 Charles Honaker BCK def David White HE by Decision 2-0 ot Match: 153 Wt: 185 Eric Frankovitc WEI def Rod Watson WC by Decision 8-2 Match: 155 Wt: UNL Steve McDonough JEF def Chuck Miller SC by Decision 3-2 Match: 156 Wt: UNL Charlie Richards PKB def Terry Bennett DUN by Decision 3-1