Published: February 18, 2008 10:09 am         

Four Frankfort wrestlers advance

Peer, Snoberger, Clark, Rust will compete in the state tournament

GRAFTON, W.Va. - Alec Peer and Ben Snoberger captured championships and teammates Ryan Clark and Dallin Rust also earned spots in the state tournament with top-four finishes in the Class AA, Region II wrestling tournament on Saturday.

The top four finishers in the regional qualified for the state tournament Feb. 21-23 in Huntington.

Peer and Snoberger won their weight divisions in the regional with decisions in their respective title matches.

* Peer won the 125 championship with a 7-1 decision over Josh Connor of Berkeley Springs. Peer had reached the final with a lopsided 15-2 decision over Brandon Foresha of Lincoln in the semfinals.

Peer is the defending 112-pound state champion, and has a chance to become the first two-time state champion in school history next week.

* Snoberger won the 152 division with a 4-0 decision over Beau Bartlett. To get to the final, Snoberger pinned Andrew Judy of Keyser 1:44 into the first round, then decisioned Wes Barr of Petersburg 8-1 in the semifinal.

Snoberger returns to the state tournament after placing fifth in the 140 division a year ago.

* Clark finished third in the 112 division. After a first-round bye he lost to Alan Frush of Keyser in a 13-2 major decision, but then came back to beat Zach Matthey of Liberty Harrison by pin in 1:48. He beat Ty VanMeter 5-4 in the consolation finals.

* Rust placed fourth in the 171 class. He began with a 13-2 major decision over Clayton Shaver of Braxton County, but was pinned by Petersburg's Matt Porter in 1:01 of the championship semifinals.

Rust pinned Josh Zirkle of Philip Barbour in the consolation semifinals before dropping a 7-5 decision to Tyler Killingsworth of Lincoln in the consolation final.