And then there was one.

Although Bridgeport’s five wrestlers that headed to Huntington’s Big Sandy Arena Thursday for the state wrestling tournament have fared well, only one has survived to the championship round that is taking place today. And it may come as no surprise.

 

Bridgeport’s Noah Markely will be competing for the Class AA-A state championship in the 285 pound weight classification at 6 p.m. Markley, who has been dominant all season, went into the state meet as the number one seed in his division.

 

Markley will have to beat Matthew Stewart of Keyser to get the win. The junior should know his opponent well. In fact, Markley and Stewart went to overtime in the Region II finals before Markley pulled out a 4-3 decision.

 

On his path to the championship, Markley has defeated three of the state’s top wrestlers. In his first match, Markley upended Skylar Snyder of Wirt by a 5-1 count and then came back to beat Austin Dawson of Nicholas County 8-2. On Friday evening, Markley earned the right to compete for the state title in the most dramatic of fashion with a 3-2 overtime win against Sissonville’s Clay Whitney.

 

Markley will look to become Bridgeport’s third individual state champion. Adam Queen won the first title in 2007, while Garrett Stanley pulled off the trick in both 2011 and 2012.