Wheeling Park Coach Takes Matmen on Summer Wrestling Trek By Bill Welker Sean Doyle, head wrestling coach of Wheeling Park's Over-All OVAC Championship team and State Runner-up AAA squad, has been very busy in late June and early July. Overseeing a group of Valley wrestlers, Coach Doyle's first stop was the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) Open Tournament at Ocean City, Maryland on June 20th and 21st, where his wrestlers where very successful. Dirk Bauer, Wheeling Park's two-time state champ, was victorious at the 119-pound weight class, defeating Anthony Bruno of Alabama 9-0 in his finals match. Likewise, Zach Basich, Wheeling Central's two-time state titliest, became the 145-pound national champ by defeating Virginia's Blake Roulo 1-0.

BACK ROW: DANNY DOYLE, DOMINICK PREZZIA, JERRY KAHL, SHANE FOSTER, ZACH BASICH FRONT ROW: KYLE BAUER, AARON MAJETICH, DIRK BAUER, NICK TAYLOR, BRYAN CROZIER

Other national place-winners included Wheeling Central's Kyle Bauer who was a national runner-up at 112 pounds, Nick Taylor (WP) and Shane Foster (St. Johns) placed 4th at 130- and 140-pound weight classes respectively, and placing 7th were Shadyside's 112-pounder Bryan Crosier and Jerry Kahl at 189 pounds.

Next stop was the Virginia Dual Meet Team Competition Camp from July 7th to July 12th at the University of Virginia. After each dual meet round, the wrestlers were exposed to an hour of technique instruction from world-class coaches and wrestlers. Coach Doyle's Wheeling Park team placed second with a 10-1 dual meet record, losing to nationally ranked, Virginia's Colonial Forge.

Placing first in the competition were the Park's Dirk Bauer and Danny Doyle. Other place-winners included silver-medalists John Nice, Aaron Majetich, and Nick Taylor. Also placing were Tucker Goodwin (3rd place) and Tyler Settle, capturing 4th place honors.

Coach Doyle was very pleased with the performances of his traveling squad. He praised his team, stating that "the boys worked very, very hard for both the NHSCA National Tournament and the dual meet team competition since spring."

Lastly, Coach Doyle emphasized: "My goal was not about the wrestlers' wins and losses. That was secondary to the tremendous experience these boys gained, receiving great skill-development instruction and competing against the best in the nation over the last month."