CAULIFLOWER REPORT
SOUTH OPENS 2003 SEASON
SEEKS FIFTH STRAIGHT TITLE
3 FRESHMEN TO START
Parkersburg South opens their 2002-03 wrestling schedule on Saturday, Dec 7th at McGuffy High School, Pennsylvania. The match with McGuffey gets under way at 1 pm. This season, South will attempt to add a fifth straight state title to extend their record breaking four straight titles from last year.
The Blue and White from Blizzard Drive will be lead by senior Co-Captain Shane Grogg at 125 pounds. Shane is a two time High School All-American and won the National High School Coaches Association Preseason Title last month. He is a two time state placer finishing as runner-up last year and finished third as a sophomore. As a Jr. Wrestler, Shane won two Folkstyle World Championships and several national titles.
Sharing Captain duties will be senior Bryce Pickens. Bryce will be pre-occupied this Saturday with the state football championship but has enough practices in to join the team on Wednesday against Cabell Midland. Bryce was a state runner-up last year and a state qualifier his sophomore year. As a Jr. Wrestler, he won a Middle School National Championship and four Jr. State Titles.
Fellow senior classmate David Hess will be starting at 171 in place of Bryce. David is certified at 152 and will be giving up some weight versus McGuffy.
Other senior starters this Saturday will be returning letter winners Stephen Boone at 130, Steven Morrison at 160 and Wes Young at Heavyweight. Young was a state qualifier last year at 215 and Boone will be wrestling up two weight classes having been certified at 119.
Junior starters against McGuffy are Felix Osuna-Cotto at 112, Sean Smith at 140 and Seth Young at 145. All three started last year with Felix and Seth placing at last year's state tournament.
The junior class will be led Kyle Walters who will contend for a starting spot at 160. Kyle is the reigning 152-pound state champion but will be playing at the state championship football game in Wheeling on Saturday.
Fellow classmate Curt Radcliff will join the starting lineup at 189 when the football season is done.
Top newcomer to the wrestling squad is Middle School National Champion Shaun Smith. Shaun will contend for a starting spot at 130/135 but will also miss the first match because of football.
Fellow classmates Drew Munson will start at 135 and Josh Davis will start at 215. Drew is a two-time County Jr. High Champion, the reigning WSAZ Champion and has all the tools to place at this years state.
Josh had an outstanding freshmen season at Edison last year at heavyweight, winning the county and finishing at runner-up at the WSAZ.
History will be made this Saturday as newcomers to the starting line-up include three freshmen for the first time at South since the 1975 season. Four freshmen are on the squad with Aaron Kelly staring at 103, Chad Porter at 119 and Codi Norman at 152.
Aaron won last year's county tournament and the WSAZ. He competes religiously in national tournaments and will turn some heads this year.
Chad has won several national championships as Jr. Wrestler and won the National High School Coaches Association Pre-Season Tournament at the Middle School level.
Codi won the first national title for the Jr. Patriots in 1993 and has an outstanding résumé that includes only one loss in Jr. High, which was to Ripley's National Champion Mitch Smith,
Danny Underwood holds the Freshman record for wins going 16-3 in 1975. He is followed by his teammate Gig Dornick's 15-6 record. They are the only two freshmen to previously start for South.
Saturday's squad will be coached by assistant Lee Rhoades as Head Coach Tim McCartney fulfills his football duties. Several other football players have indicated they will be join the wrestling team after the championship game.
Saturday's Starting Line-up:
103 - Aaron Kelly, FR
112 - Felix Osuna-Cotto, JR
119 - Chad Porter, FR
125 - Shane Grogg, SR
130 - Stephen Boone, SR
135 - Drew Munson, SOPH
140 - Sean Smith, JR
145 - Seth Young, JR
152 - Codi Norman, FR
160 - Steven Morrison, SR
171 - David Hess, SR
189 - forfeit
215 - Josh Davis, SOPH
275 - Wes Young, SR
ROSTER
SENIORS
Stephen Boone - 119
Shane Grogg - 125
David Hess - 152
Steven Morrison - 152
Bryce Pickens - 171
Wes Young - 275
JUNIORS
Felix Osuna-Cotto - 112
Corey Porter - 135
Curt Radcliff - 189
Sean Smith - 140
Kyle Walters - 160
Seth Young - 145
SOPHOMORES
Billy Burnside - 215
Josh Davis - 215
Josiah Dorton - 275
Zach Lott - 145
Ryan Mather - 135
Drew Munson - 135
Dustin Pigott - 112
Shaun Smith - 130
Jim Weatherholt - 125
FRESHMEN
Aaron Kelly - 103
Zac McCray - 112
Codi Norman - 152
Chad Porter - 119