by Jamie Harris
The Berkeley Springs Indians didn’t make the trip to Flatwoods in search of the legendary Flatwoods Monster. They came for something far more real, a top‑four team finish and tickets to the 2026 WV State Wrestling Championships. The Tribe grapplers delivered.
With grit, resilience and six state qualifiers, the Indians battled their way to a third‑place team finish,
racking up 154 points,
behind regional champion Keyser (239.5) and runner‑up Braxton County (212).
Berkeley Springs placed four wrestlers into the championship finals, but only one came home with gold.
Senior Jacob Morgan (150) capped off his regional run with a calm, controlled 6–1 victory over Lincoln freshman Easton Coby, securing the Indians’ lone regional championship and punching his return ticket to Huntington.
Morgan’s disciplined match management and experience showed from whistle to whistle, earning him a regional crown.
Despite strong tournament performances, three Berkeley Springs finalists fell just shy of regional titles:
- Sophomore Vaughn Taylor (126) wrestled with intensity but was pinned by Frankfort’s Peyton Brittingham at the 4:51 mark.
- Sophomore Kaiden Proctor (157) dropped his finals match by fall to Braxton County’s Paxton Smith at 1:49.
- Senior Trenton Fox (165) battled through one of the tournament’s wildest matches but fell in a 16–14 thriller to Petersburg’s Lukas Wolford.
All three wrestlers will still advance to the state tournament.
The Indians showed their depth and determination in the consolation rounds, with three wrestlers storming back from semifinal losses to claim third:
- Senior Eligah Parsell (113);
- Sophomore Kowen Proctor (144);
- Senior Garrin Place (175).
Garrin Place
Each wrestled through adversity to secure bronze and earn a berth to Huntington.
Freshman Ashton Henry (106) turned in a solid performance in his first regional appearance, finishing fifth and gaining valuable postseason experience.
Berkeley Springs’ state qualifiers consisted of: Jacob Morgan (150) – Regional Champion, Vaughn Taylor (126), Kaiden Proctor (157), Trenton Fox (165), Eligah Parsell (113), Kowen Proctor (144) and Garrin Place (175).
The Tribe will now set their sights on the Mountain Health Arena, where the 2026 WV State Wrestling Championships will be held March 5–7 in Huntington. The top six place‑winners in each weight class will earn all‑state honors.
With a senior‑led core, rising sophomores and momentum from a strong regional performance, the Indians enter the state tournament with confidence and a mission: bring home medals and maybe a little more hardware.