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The mullet was in style back in the 80s. Also, AAA region 1 was probably very brutal back in the 80s. While some people still wear a mullet in the years 2015 and 2016, there are still some folks that believe AAA region 1 is still just as tough.

Although I am convinced that the 2017 AAA region 4 is unlike anything in the past 15 to 20 years, the research and the debate is fun.

Parkersburg and Parkersburg South are the only two schools that were in region 1 that have now been placed into the 2017 region 4.

I have looked over region 1 from 2016 to 2010.

I have looked at the top ten AAA schools at the state tournament from 2016 through 2010.

Whereas Parkersburg South is the top team in all classes in 2017, and

Whereas Parkersburg South has been a member of the “perceived” brutally tough region 1, and

Whereas Parkersburg South is now in the debated region 4,

I am going to use Parkersburg South as the gauge, the guide, the compass, the “McGyver” tool to walk everybody through this historical journey.

2010
1. South won region 1 with 226.50 points.
2. South qualified 13 / 14 wrestlers.
3. South won the state title with 220 points.
4. The state tournament top ten (STTT) that year from region 1 were: South, PHS and Wheeling Park.
5. The top ten schools that year that are now in the new region 4 were: South, Ripley, Huntington, PHS, Cabell Midland and Spring Valley.
6. Summary: We have all schools listed in 5 versus Wheeling Park.

2011
1. South won region 1 with 263.50 points.
2. South qualified 14 / 14 wrestlers.
3. South won the state title with 184.50 points.
4. The STTT from region 1 were: South, John Marshall, Wheeling Park and University.
5. For the new R4, the STTT were South, Huntington, Ripley, Cabell Midland.
6. Summary: This was the best year for region 1 from 2010 to 2016.

2012
1. South won R1 with 255.5 points.
2. South qualified 13 / 14.
3. South won the state with 199.5.
4. The STTT from region 1 were: South, John Marshall and Wheeling Park.
5. The STTT from the new R4 were: South, Huntington, Ripley and Cabell Midland.
6. Summary: R1 starts losing its position after this season. Even Parkersburg didn’t make the top 10 this season.

2013
1. South won R1 with 238.50
2. South qualified 12/14. <<<<<<<<<<
3. South finished THIRD in the state tournament with 138 points. Huntington was first and Parkersburg was second.
4. The STTT from R1 were: South, Parkersburg and Wheeling Park.
5. The STTT from the new R4 were Huntington, Parkersburg, Ripley and South.
6. Summary: R1 had a rough year this year.

2014
1. South won R1 with 222.
2. South qualified 13 / 14. <<<<<
3. South finished THIRD in the state tournament with 132 points. Huntington was first and Parkersburg was second.
4. The STTT from R1 were: South, Parkersburg, and Wheeling Park.
5. The STTT from the new R4 were: Huntington, Parkersburg, South, Ripley and Cabell Midland.
6. Summary: We have all schools listed in 5 versus Wheeling Park.

2015
1. South won R1 with 280.
2. South qualified 14 / 14.
3. South reclaimed the state title with 243.50
4. The STTT from R1 were: South, Parkersburg, Wheeling Park and University.
5. The STTT from the new R4 were South, Huntington, Cabell Midland, Parkersburg, and Ripley.
6. Summary: The Huntingtons, the Cabell Midlands, the Ripleys are consistently out scoring the Wheeling Parks and John Marshalls of R1.

2016
1. South won R1 with 282.5.
2. South qualified 14 / 14.
3. South won the state title with 198.50.
4. The STTT from R1 were: South, Parkersburg and University.
5. The STTT from the new R4 were: South, Huntington, Cabell Midland, Parkersburg, and Ripley.
6. Using the 2016 results alone, I would have never created the monster that region 4 is now.

2017
1. South won the new R4 with 242 points.
2. South qualified 12 / 14. <<<<<<<<<<<<<
3. Summary: South is clearly the top team in the state this year. They had their entire varsity team back from 2016 along with some incoming freshmen that are now ranked in the top 4. However, the brutality of R4 cut South’s state tournament roster to 12. The last time South only qualified 12 was when they finished third in the state tournament.

The recent history (2010 to 2016) shows that region 1 has been tough because of Parkersburg South and Parkersburg. Some of the other teams have had their moments. Wheeling Park has been a consistent top ten team. In addition, the same history shows that Huntington, Ripley and Cabell Midland are consistently in the top 10. Many times, they are in the top 5.

Enjoy this final week of what has been the craziest season of the decade.

Excellent research! Hope something positive will change in near future

I would add that Ripley was typically a or the top performer in Region 3....it isn't just Parkersburg and Park South that made Region 4 more of a gauntlet, but all three of them together. Remove any one of those three and I think it is tough, but not multiple state level performers don't qualify tough.

Bucktail wrote:I would add that Ripley was typically a or the top performer in Region 3....it isn't just Parkersburg and Park South that made Region 4 more of a gauntlet, but all three of them together. Remove any one of those three and I think it is tough, but not multiple state level performers don't qualify tough.

I agree there. Coach Smith always has his team ready to wrestle. As does Coach Archer. Both are great guys to talk with. PHS is always good and a great rival, Cabell Midland has always had some great wrestlers, Hurricane is coming on and Spring Valley is developing into a force with some big kids.

Region 1 still has great programs and great wrestlers. I have a lot of friends from the northern schools and many of them who wrestled now have their kids wrestling also. I'm sure they will make plenty of noise in Huntington.

Brent Sams mentioned that the eastern panhandle has had some teams split up with the emergence of new schools and new programs. I agree with his words on Bill Whittington. He's a great man and by the way, he is either at or near #600 in dual meet wins! I still have my shirt from #500. Congratulations my friend! Region 2 brings some good wrestlers to Huntington every year.

Region 3 has good wrestlers and some teams building their programs and will hopefully only get better as time goes on. They have a few wrestlers who can wreck a bracket in Huntington.

Best wishes to all teams in Huntington, travel safe and stay healthy!

Bucktail wrote:I would add that Ripley was typically a or the top performer in Region 3....it isn't just Parkersburg and Park South that made Region 4 more of a gauntlet, but all three of them together. Remove any one of those three and I think it is tough, but not multiple state level performers don't qualify tough.

I think Ripley gets overlooked sometimes for one of the smallest or the smallest AAA school to compete year in and year out.
This type of Region alignment would not happen in other sports I can almost assure you or it would get fixed.

Bucktail wrote:I would add that Ripley was typically a or the top performer in Region 3....it isn't just Parkersburg and Park South that made Region 4 more of a gauntlet, but all three of them together. Remove any one of those three and I think it is tough, but not multiple state level performers don't qualify tough.

Ripley won their previous region something like 8 out of the past 9 years. Huntington has won their region for some very long period also. We basically took three long running regional champion teams and threw them in together.