Bear Tracks 2025 Ed 4 AA/A 138 - WHO is #1??

[Bearhugger]

BEAR TRACKS 2024 – 2025

2025 Edition – 4 WHO is #1??

Date of Issue: February 14th, 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:
138 AA/A
1 Andrick, Point Pleasant, State Champion, Senior Idle
2 Metcalf, Keyser, Fourth Place, Sophomore, QOP 21 Idle
3 Spragg, Tyler Consolidated, Sixth Place, Senior, QOP 25 LKC
4 Lownsberry, RCB, Blood Round, Senior, QOP 4 Big 10
5 Kowen Proctor, Berkeley Springs, Freshman Extraordinaire Idle
6 Pucella, Williamstown, Q, Junior, QOP 10 LKC
7 Swiger, Doddridge, Outsider, Freshman LKC
8 D. DeFelice, Weir, Outsider, Senior QUAD
9 Graham, Oak Glen, Blood Round, Junior, QOP 12 QUAD
10 D. Hensley, Chapmanville, Q1, Sophomore, QOP 14 Idle
11 Jones, Poca, Outsider, Sophomore LKC
12 Starcher, Ripley, Freshman Extraordinaire Cardinal Conf
13 Steele, Independence, Outsider, Freshman Coalfield Conf Inv
14 Crow, Cameron, Shaft Level 1, Sophomore, QOP 12 Idle
15 Morris, Braxton County, Blood Round, Junior, QOP 11 LKC
16 Crow, Ravenswood, Outsider, Sophomore LKC
17 Chandler, Hoover, Q, Senior, QOP 15 Cardinal Conf
18 Twigg, Elkins, Q, Sophomore, QOP 17 Big 10
19 Brown, Lewis County Big 10

REGION 1
2 Metcalf, Keyser, Fourth Place, Sophomore, QOP 21 Idle
3 Spragg, Tyler Consolidated, Sixth Place, Senior, QOP 25 LKC
5 Kowen Proctor, Berkeley Springs, Freshman Extraordinaire Idle
8 D. DeFelice, Weir, Outsider, Senior QUAD
9 Graham, Oak Glen, Blood Round, Junior, QOP 12 QUAD
14 Crow, Cameron, Shaft Level 1, Sophomore, QOP 12 Idle

REGION 2
4 Lownsberry, RCB, Blood Round, Senior, QOP 4 Big 10
7 Swiger, Doddridge, Outsider, Freshman LKC
15 Morris, Braxton County, Blood Round, Junior, QOP 11 LKC
18 Twigg, Elkins, Q, Sophomore, QOP 17 Big 10
19 Brown, Lewis County Big 10

REGION 3
13 Steele, Independence, Outsider, Freshman Coalfield Conf Inv
17 Chandler, Hoover, Q, Senior, QOP 15 Cardinal Conf

REGION 4
1 Andrick, Point Pleasant, State Champion, Senior Idle
6 Pucella, Williamstown, Q, Junior, QOP 10 LKC
10 D. Hensley, Chapmanville, Q1, Sophomore, QOP 14 Idle
11 Jones, Poca, Outsider, Sophomore LKC
12 Starcher, Ripley, Freshman Extraordinaire Cardinal Conf
16 Crow, Ravenswood, Outsider, Sophomore LKC

GENERAL COMMENTS & COMMENTARY ON THE TOP 1 THROUGH 4: Andrick is the undisputed #1. Metcalf is the undisputed #2. Metcalf is the highest returning state place winner except for Andrick. Metcalf’s only known WV AA/A losses are to Andrick. Keyser has wrestled one of the toughest WV schedules this season. In a recent turn of events, Spragg of Tyler Consolidated is the possibly disputed #3 at 138. Returning state sixth place winner. AA/A Region 1 qualifier and heading into the brutal LKC tomorrow. As usual, Region 1 is looking brutal. The season is a 3- month exercise of repeated trials to determine who are the state’s best wrestlers. We then have a flawed state tournament qualification system that keeps some of the best out while some of the least-best move on to the state tournament. Let’s go focus our continuous improvement efforts on singlet straps being up or down and when shoe laces are tied.