The Clay County Junior Wrestling team traveled to Charleston Civic Center, February 26-27, to wrestle in the West Virginia Youth Wrestling Association (WVYWA) State Championship. A total of ten Clay County youth earned a trip to compete in the State Championship by placing in the top 8 at their regional championship in early February:
Mara Caldwell-Hall – 4U 40lbs
Easton Leftwich – 8U 75lbs
Liam Naylor – 8U 50lbs
Hinton Caldwell- 10U HWT
Palmer Adkins – 12U 135lbs
Pierce Adkins – 12U 145lbs
Levi Hamrick – 12U 145lbs
Eric Hamrick – Middle School 110lbs
Logan Hobbs – Middle School 135lbs
Ember Price – Girls 12U 77-87lbs
Three wrestlers fought their way through the tournament brackets, earning a spot on the podium. Pierce Adkins placed 1st in the 12U 145lb weight class. Hinton Caldwell placed 5th in the 10U HWT weight class. Ember Price placed 5th in the Girls Division 12U 77-87lbs weight class.
Pierce Adkins finished a perfect winter in grand fashion. Adkins wrapped up his 12-year-old season winning his 4th Coalfield Conference Championship, 5th WVYWA Regional Championship, and his first State Title in the 145-pound class during the WVYWA State Championships. Adkins also brought home 1 of the 14 WVYWA Regional Title Belts. This belt is awarded to the wrestler who takes first place in all four designated tournaments in each region of the state of West Virginia. Hundreds of wrestlers compete for this belt, but it is a very difficult task to win all four tournaments. Adkins, a previous two-time State Runner-Up and four-time State placer, finished his season undefeated with a record of 40-0.
