Week 6: Nicholas County Dual, Inaugural Par Mar Stores Lady Blue Devil Invitational, and Alleghany Duals Tournament.
The opening Shot.
Week six of the 2025 – 2026 Greenbrier East Wrestling season is in the books. Nicholas County High School traveled to Greenbrier East for a home dual meet and celebration of Greenbrier East’s graduating seniors. The women’s team made the three and half hour drive to St. Mary High School for the Inaugural Par Mar Stores Lady Blue Devil Invitational. The men’s team crossed the border into Virginia to participate in the Allegheny Dual Tournament.
The Week in Review.
On Wednesday, Nicholas County High School came to Greenbrier East for a home dual meet and Senior Night celebration. We thank all of our supporters and fans who turned out for the meet. It was a large crowd full of energy. We cannot thank you enough for coming out to support our program. Greenbrier East won the meet by the score of 54-30. Way to go East.
There were many notable performances during the meet. Maya Frank earned two pins on the women’s side, and Isabella Jones had an epic dual, finally winning by the score of 15 – 10. Six minutes may not seem like a long time until you are on the mat in a six minute battle against another exceptionally good wrestler. Way to hang tough Isabella. Sativa Dunbrack and Izzy Blankenship both wrestled on the men’s side of the bracket acquitting themselves well. HEHS had wins all up and down its bracket including Hunter Holcomb, Sonny Herbert, Kaden Stone, Carter Webb, Mason Miller, Keegan Baron, Harrison Smith, and Cire Brown.
We must also acknowledge our Seniors, Kaden Stone and DeAndre Toliver. Each prepared a statement regarding the importance of wrestling in their lives and thanking those who helped them along the way. Kaden, thanking his parents, noted that he almost did not wrestle, only joining youth wrestling when basketball was not available. Basketball’s loss was wrestling’s gain. DeAndre noted the impact of wrestling in his life, thanking Head Coach Davis Solak for always believing in him, and sticking with him. DeAndre noted “[i]n wrestling, circumstances change, but growth does not.” A profound statement from a very bright young man. Coach Solak said of our seniors “both of the wrestlers are tremendous assets for the team and are excellent people.”
GEHS Women’s Division. At the Inaugural Par Mar Stores Lady Blue Devil Invitational, the women’s team once again was down a wrestler due to injury, but still had a great tournament, placing sixth out of nineteen teams – a mere four points out of fourth place. Izzy Blankenship continued her winning ways, earning a second place finish in the 138 pound weight class, with only one loss on the day. Maya Frank also had one loss on the day, placing third in the 120 pound weight class.
GEHS Men’s Division. Greenbrier East High School was the only West Virginia team to wrestle in the Allegheny Dual tournament in Covington Virginia. GEHS finished fourth in the tournament. GEHS was part of a three way tie for second place; however, GEHS lost on tie-breaking criteria. When asked his impression of the tournament, Coach Solak commented: “I am extremely happy with the way they have been wrestling. They are starting to come together and step in for each other to win dual meets.” All of the wrestlers had important wins. Past wrestlers of the week Kaden Stone and Harrison Smith were undefeated with a record of 6 – 0. Hunter Holcomb, in the last two dual meets has a record of 6 – 1.
Greenbrier East Wrestling Club (youth). A quality wrestling program must start with its youth wrestlers. The Eastern Greenbrier Wrestling Club traveled to Braxton County this weekend with twelve wrestlers! Congratulations to all for their hard work and dedication! The following wrestlers placed at this tournament. Open Division: Brayden – 4th, Camden – 3rd, Kellan – 2nd, Luke – 2nd, Weslan – 4th, Wyatt – 4th; Girls Division: Harper – 1st; Paisley – 3rd.
Sponsor Spotlight.
We thank our week 6 tournament sponsors: Nicholas County Dual: Patriot Painting; Allegheny Duals Tournament DAI Developers; and the women’s 185 pound weight class, the Fisher Family. Without the support or our sponsors our participation in tournaments would be significantly diminished. If you wish to sponsor a tournament, please call Rob Frank, 719 322-2985, or email to rob@rjflaw.com.
Wrestler of the Week (Woman’s Division) – Elizibeth (Izzy) Blankenship.
Greenbrier East High School’s Week 6 Wrestler of the Week (Women’s Division) is Izzy Blankenship.
Izzy is coming off of her second top two finish of the year, having earned First Place at the Fallen Heroes Tournament and Second Place at the Inaugural Par Mar Stores Lady Blue Devil Invitational. Izzy has a 9 – 4 record, including her matches against men. While losses are not always celebrated, hard fought battles should be. Izzy’s match against a good male wrestler at the Nicholas County dual meet showed her ability to match up well against any wrestler that steps on the mat against her. She will be wrestling for the varsity team in the upcoming Regional Dual Championship Qualifying Tournament. Izzy is known to many teams as one of the toughest wrestlers on the mat, and one of the most socially outgoing off of the mat.
In Her own Words:
We sat down with Izzy to ask her some brief questions. Here are her responses:
1) Why wrestle?
Wrestling more than anything else helps build determination and requires constant growth. Wrestling gives me the skills to take on anything that comes at me in life and to keep growing in all circumstances.
2) What are your primary goals as a person, a student, and an athlete?
As a person, I try every day to be better, and to do better. To make my home and my society a better place. As a student, my goal is to keep my grades high and be accepted into college. As an athlete and a wrestler, I want to continually improve, but I also want to be kind to others, to help them, and to form relationships. In wrestling I have formed friendships with numerous wrestlers from other teams.
3) What contributes the most to your ability to achieve these goals?
The most valuable thing I have in achieving my goals is my interaction with other people and the relationships I form.
4) What advice do you have for fellow students and athletes as they pursue their goals?
Too many people give up too soon. Do not quit simply because the going gets tough. Keep going.
5) What are your plans after high school?
After high school, I plan to attend college and go into a sports medicine, physical therapy, or an athletic trainer program. I want to continue with athletics and someday would like to coach.
Wrestler of the Week (Men’s Division) – Hunter Holcomb
Greenbrier East High School’s Week 6 Wrestler of the Week (Men’s Division) is Hunter Holcomb. Hunter, an incoming freshman, is becoming increasingly dominant as the year progresses. In the past two dual meets Hunter is 6 – 1. As a top student, a great wrestler, and a football player, Hunter brings much to the Spartan wrestling room. His dedication and commitment are evident in the way he approaches his studies and his wrestling.
In His own Words:
We sat down with Hunter to ask him some brief questions. Here are his responses:
1) Why wrestle?
I love the sport of wrestling, and the competition associated with it.
2) What are your primary goals as a person, a student, and an athlete?
As a person, my goal is to become a better person every day. To become more complete and to make a difference. As a student, I want to continue to excel academically as I prepare for college. As an athlete, my goals are to become a place winner at the West Virginia State Wrestling Tournament and to continue to grow and to improve.
3) What contributes the most to your ability to achieve these goals?
The work I put into things is what most contributes to achieving my goals. Achieving worthwhile goals requires hard work.
4) What advice do you have for fellow students and athletes as they pursue their goals?
Never give up, continue working toward your goals.
5) What are your plans after high school?
After high school, I plan to attend college and either wrestle or play football.
Upcoming Events.
On January 16 and 17, Greenbrier East will wrestle in the Region 3 State Dual Championship Qualifying Tournament. This tournament will determine who will represent our Region in the WV Dual Team State Championships: February 7, 2026. The best of Greenbrier East’s wrestlers (men and women) will compete against other teams in a dual format. The tournament will take place at Woodrow Wilson High School, 400 Stanaford Road, Beckley, WV 25801. Wrestling starts at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, and 10:00 a.m. on Saturday.
On Friday, January 16, those women who do not compete in the Regional Dual Championship Qualifying Tournament will wrestle at the Cornelius Godfrey Memorial Tournament in Logan West Virginia. The Tournament will be held at Logan High School Field House, 1 Wildcat Way Logan, WV 25601. Wrestling will start at 6:00 p.m.
WV Dual Team State Championship.
Mark the Date. The WV Dual Team State Championships will be held February 7, 2026 at the State Fair Grounds in Fairlea, West Virginia. Along with the West Virginia State Championship Tournament, the WV Dual Team State Championship is the most prestigious and important Tournament in the state, not only testing individual wrestlers, but the team as a unit in a dual meet format.
Wrestling will take place in The West Virginia building starting at Noon on both days with the Championship matches at 3:00pm. Doors will open at 10:30am. This promises two full days of high stakes wrestling. This State Championship event brings together the top sixteen teams from across the state, including eight in Division 2 (Friday) and eight in Division 1 (Saturday). Endorsed by the WVSSAC, sponsored by the West Virginia Wrestling Coaches Association, and hosted by the Greenbrier East Wrestling programs. Tickets can be purchased at the Door. All Youth Wrestlers are admitted. Free. WVRC 104.7 will be Live Streaming all matches. Most importantly, Thank You to all the local supporters who have helped make this event the premier State Championship in West Virginia. If you would like to sponsor this event, please feel free to reach out to me at 719 322-3985 or email me at rob@rjflaw.com.
Over three hundred West Virginia High School Wrestlers will be competing and over 1,000 people from across the state are expected to visit Greenbrier County for this two-day Championship event. Previous Dual Team State Championship participants have included individual State Champions, H.S. All-Americans, Academic All-Americans, future college All-Americans, and Wrestling Hall of Fame Coaches. State Championship teams and nationally ranked teams have been involved since the inception. College Coaches are often in attendance including featured Guest Speakers. This event is not to be missed. We wish our GEHS wrestlers luck as they compete to be one of the top teams invited to the tournament.
Next Week.
Next week’s article will give results of the Region 3 State Dual Championship Qualifying Tournament and the Cornelius Godfrey Memorial Tournament, will give updates on upcoming events, and provide wrestler and donor highlights.
Live Stream. GEHS wrestling matches are now livestreamed and posted on the Greenbrier East Spartan Wrestling Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1400059887620954. If you cannot join us live, please join us online.
