Week 2: Morse Reese and Old Man Winter Gets Another Win
The opening Shot.
FAIRLEA- Week two of the 2025 – 2026 Greenbrier East Wrestling season is in the books. The women were scheduled to compete in the Shady Spring Scuffle, however, Old Man Winter struck again, and the tournament was canceled due to inclement weather. While it is easy to criticize the choice to cancel a tournament (I am guilty of this) the school administrators, tournament directors, and coaches have a primary responsibility to the safety of the young men and women wrestling and any decision they make regarding the cancelation of a tournament must be viewed through this lens.
Thankfully, GEHS was able to host the very successful Morse Reese Memorial Dual Tournament and get in the first live competition of the year.
The Week in Review.
The Morse Reese Memorial Duals Tournament is a tribute to one of the greats of Greenbrier County wrestling. Coach Reese was a long tenured coach of GEHS and EGMS. He coached East’s last state champion, Joe Heath, who won the Class AAA heavyweight titles in 1999 and 2000. He likewise coached current GEHS coaches, making a lasting impact on generations of wrestlers. Any successful wrestling program must have a link to its history and past successes. While Coach Reese is no longer with us, his legacy lives on.
Ten teams competed in the tournament in a dual team format. The results were: 1st – Independence High School; 2nd – Lord Botetourt High School; 3rd- Woodrow Wilson High School; 4th – Alleghany High School; 5th – Greenbrier West High School; 6th – Greenbrier East High School; 7th -Midland Trail High School; 8th – St. Albans High School; 9th – Elkins High School; and 10th – All Stars. Congratulations to Independence on the win, and to all teams who competed.
Greenbrier East Coach Davis Solak was encouraged by the success of Greenbrier East’s new and incoming wrestlers: “This tournament has given us a lot of positives to work with and grow from. I was especially proud of the way our first-
year wrestlers competed. As the year goes on, we will only get better and more confident.”
The success of the Morse Reese Memorial Dual Tournament was largely the result of an “all hands-on deck” effort on the part of the parents, volunteers, donors, coaches and administrators supporting our program. Special thanks are given to the GEHS women’s team, who, while not wrestling, were indispensable as scorekeepers and tournament facilitators. The men’s team looks forward to returning this favor at future women’s events.
Thanks must also be given to our Tournament Sponsor Kevin Baker and KB3 Towing, and to our Elite Sponsors Dr. David Shaffer; Paul Grist, Grist Real Estate Associates, Inc.; Tony and Brian Hill, Cherry Lane Auto Sales; Spartan Athletic Foundation, Inc.; Solak Builders; Robert and Aby Frank; Law Firm of Robert J. Frank & Assoc., PLLC; and Chris and Rachel Vass, Vass Engineering and Mineral Appraisals.
Wrestler of the Week – Kaden Stone
Each week we recognize the outstanding wrestler of the week.
Greenbrier East High School’s Week 2 Wrestler of the Week is Kaden Stone. At the Morse Reese Memorial Dual Tournament Kaden had five wins, no losses. Four wins were by pin, and one win was by a technical fall. A technical fall occurs when one wrestler gains a 15-point lead over their opponent, resulting in a win for the dominant wrestler.
Kaden is Greenbrier East Wrestling’s lone returning senior, with past third and fifth place finishes at the state wrestling tournament. Kaden is a multi-sport athlete who was selected as a first team all-state defensive back following the 2025 high school football season. Kaden excels academically, has earned a place on the 2024-25 WV-Mat Academic All-State Team.
In His own Words:
We sat down with Kaden to ask him some brief questions. Here are his responses:
1) Why wrestle? I like to compete. Wrestling is a demanding sport that pushes you both mentally and physically. Wrestling brings out the best in who I am and challenges me to be better.
2) What are your primary goals as a person, a student, and an athlete? I strive to do the best I can in everything I do. I never want to leave myself coming up short because I did not do my best. I have as a goal to work hard to reach my full potential.
3) What contributes the most to your ability to achieve these goals? My competitiveness and my passion contribute to achieving my goals. They push me to consistently try to be better as a person, and athlete and a student.
4) What advice do you have for fellow students and athletes as they pursue their goals? Never count yourself out. Do everything in your power to pursue and achieve what is important to you.
5) As a Senior, what are your plans after high school? After graduation I am going to college to study in a pre-dental program, or in biology.
Kaden is a success on and off the mat. He is as impressive as a young man as he is good as a wrestler. Our program is better for having him in it.
Upcoming Events and Sponsor Highlight.
Due to the prior two victories by Old Man Winter and expected snow in Tyler County, the women’s team will join the men’s team at the Fallen Heros Wrestling Tournament taking place Friday December 19, and Saturday December 20, 2025. The event is being held at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center, 200 Armory Dr., Beckley, WV 25801. Wrestling starts at 10:00 a.m. on both days. The women will wrestle on Friday, and the men will wrestle both Friday and Saturday. Beckley is a short drive, and you are all invited to join us to support the men and women of our program.
This week’s Fallen Hero’s tournament is sponsored by Solak Builders, Inc. Without its sponsors, our team would be unable to compete in the many tournaments we have scheduled. We still have tournament sponsorships available and would love to welcome you as a sponsor.
Little Known Fact of Wrestling.
In wrestling, there are two primary formats for tournament competition: dual format and individual tournament format. A dual format is a direct competition between two teams where each individual match contributes to a final team score. Dual tournaments – such as the Morse Reese Memorial Tournament – will have multiple teams, each competing one-on-one, with the best win-loss record determining the winner. An individual tournament format involves multiple teams where wrestlers compete in brackets by weight class to determine a single individual champion, with team scores being a secondary calculation. Both formats allow for both individual and team recognition.
The premiere dual tournament in West Virginia is the Dual Team State Championships held February 6 and 7, 2026 at the fairgrounds in Fairlea West Virginia. This tournament consists of the best dual teams and wrestlers in West Virginia. Block the date for this unmissable event.
Next Week.
Next week’s article will give results of the Fallen Heros Tournament, information on upcoming tournaments, and wrestler and donor spotlights.
