VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Ten local athletes from the Ohio Valley Publishing area took part in the 2012 NHSCA High School Wrestling Nationals held last weekend at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in the Old Dominion State.

Nine Point Pleasant grapplers and one Gallia Academy wrestler took part in the three-day event, but only one came away with All-American honors at the event.

PPHS junior Noah Searls placed sixth overall in the 132-pound weight class with a 4-3 overall mark, which was good enough to land Searls on the podium at the countrywide event. Including Searls, there were 10 state champions and 72 athletes competing in the 132-pound division.

Searls joins former grapplers Alex Reed, Brent Hereford, Rusty Maness, Casey Hogg and Zach Nibert as an All-American from the Point Pleasant program.

Other Point Pleasant performances included Zach Nibert going 1-2 in the 160-pound division, Guy Fisher going 0-2 in the 113-pound division, John Raike going 0-2 in the 106-pound weight class, Zak Davis going 0-2 at 152 pounds, Jon Peterson going 1-2 at 170 pounds, Jacob Starcher going 0-2 at 182 pounds, Gabe Loggins going 0-2 at 145 pounds, and Josh Hereford going 2-2 overall at 170 pounds.

Gallia Academy senior Brandon Taylor also went 0-2 overall in the 170-pound weight class.