Bear Tracks 2025 Ed 4 AA/A 120 - WHO IS #1??

[Bearhugger]

BEAR TRACKS 2024 – 2025

2025 Edition – 4 WHO is #1??

Date of Issue: February 13th, 2025
NEW BUSINESS AND MESSAGES:
1 When you seed a wrestler #1 in a tournament, we must know why. When we rank a wrestler #1, 2, 3 and so on in the state, we must know why.
2 In a little over one week, the regional tournaments will happen. Pay close attention to each wrester’s state ranking and then how it breaks down into each region. How many wrestlers are not in the top 10 state wide but they might be #1 in their region?
3 After the regional tournaments are complete, the coaches’ committee will select the clear cut #1 and #2 wrestlers in the state and separate them in the state tournament pairings. When doing so, the coaches know WHY. No why, then no separation
4 FOR THIS EDITION of Bear Tracks, I will provide commentary as to who I have in the top 3 and WHY. If needed, I will provide needed commentary as deep as the top 4. Every weight class is different. The sport of wrestling is too dynamic to settle for a “one size fits all” approach. If needed, I can explain WHY.
5 The Bear Tracks rankings have always been a reflection of what has happened and not a prediction of the future. These rankings are based on the best available information. If you see a wrestler ranked BELOW somebody he has beat, then as usual, please comment. I obviously do not know about the match result you do.
6 A wrestler is not responsible for his school’s schedule. If a wrestler has not wrestled anybody in the top 10 of his weight class, it doesn’t mean he cannot do well at the state tournament. It does mean his WV schedule is weak. A wrestler is not responsible for his schedule.
ENJOY!!!!

Wrestler information is listed as follows: Name, School, State Tournament Place/Designation, Grade, QOP, Event on February 15th

Weight Class:
120 AA/A
1 Sandy, Williamstown, Freshman Extraordinaire LKC
2 Koontz, Ripley, Q1, Sophomore, QOP 17 Cardinal Conf
3 Hughart, Hoover, Third Place, Junior, QOP 16 Cardinal Conf
4 McKenzie, Greenbrier West, Sixth Place, Senior, QOP Coalfield Conf
5 Lewis, South Harrison, Q1, Senior, QOP 3 LKC
6 Varney, Independence, Outsider, Freshman Coalfield Conf
7 X. Wells, Wirt County, Q1, Junior, QOP 14 LKC
8 K. Bullman, St. Marys, Outsider, Freshman LKC
9 Cordeiro, Ritchie County, Freshman Extraordinaire LKC
10 Hostuttler, Weir, Outsider, QUAD
11 Brown, Liberty Raleigh, Fifth Place, Junior, QOP 23 Coalfield Conf Inv
12 Acosta, Moorefield, Q, Sophomore, QOP 17 Idle
13 Taylor, Berkeley Springs, Outsider, Freshman Idle
14 Thompson, Point Pleasant Idle
15 Kelly, Tyler Consolidated, Outsider LKC
16 Julian, Oak Glen, Outsider, Grade Unknown Idle
17 Thayer Braxton County, Q1, Junior, QOP 12 LKC
17 Grogg, Calhoun County LKC
18 Rhodes, Ravenswood, Outsider, Freshman LKC

REGION 1
8 K. Bullman, St. Marys, Outsider, Freshman LKC
10 Hostuttler, Weir, Outsider, QUAD
13 Taylor, Berkeley Springs, Outsider, Freshman Idle
15 Kelly, Tyler Consolidated, Outsider LKC
16 Julian, Oak Glen, Outsider, Grade Unknown Idle

REGION 2
5 Lewis, South Harrison, Q1, Senior, QOP 3 LKC
9 Cordeiro, Ritchie County, Freshman Extraordinaire LKC
12 Acosta, Moorefield, Q, Sophomore, QOP 17 Idle
17 Thayer Braxton County, Q1, Junior, QOP 12 LKC

REGION 3
3 Hughart, Hoover, Third Place, Junior, QOP 16 Cardinal Conf
4 McKenzie, Greenbrier West, Sixth Place, Senior, QOP Coalfield Conf
6 Varney, Independence, Outsider, Freshman Coalfield Conf
11 Brown, Liberty Raleigh, Fifth Place, Junior, QOP 23 Coalfield Conf Inv

REGION 4
1 Sandy, Williamstown, Freshman Extraordinaire LKC
2 Koontz, Ripley, Q1, Sophomore, QOP 17 Cardinal Conf
7 X. Wells, Wirt County, Q1, Junior, QOP 14 LKC
14 Thompson, Point Pleasant Idle
17 Grogg, Calhoun County LKC
18 Rhodes, Ravenswood, Outsider, Freshman LKC

GENERAL COMMENTS & COMMENTARY ON THE TOP 1 THROUGH 4: This weight class currently makes a strong argument for the pill. However, the next two weekends could clean up somewhat of the mess. The current #1 is Freshman Phenom Dutch Sandy. Why? Because he is currently undefeated at 120 in WV AA/A and he defeated Koontz of Ripley back on December 14th. Dutch has been idle since January 17th. Hughart is the highest returning state place winner. He defeated McKenzie on January 18th. McKenzie defeated Koontz on January 24th. Koontz then defeated Hughart January 31st. The three-way mess between Hughart, Koontz and McKenzie is what I call a Ranking Cluster Formation or RCF for short. For this writing, I give Koontz the #2 spot because his win is the last win in the RCF chain and he and Hughart are on course for a rematch at the Cardinal Conference. For this writing, I give the #3 spot to Hughart due to his head-to-head win over McKenzie, he has the higher state tournament finish and he has more top 10 wins than Koontz or McKenzie. Region 3 will put Hughart and McKenzie together and Region 4 will put Sandy and Koontz together. Lewis of South Harrison has yet to wrestle any of the top four this season. Perhaps we could see Sandy and Lewis at the LKC? This weight class has three returning state place winners and they are all in Region 3.