West Virginia Wrestling

WEST VIRGINIA MAT THOUGHTS

by Dr. Bill Welker

2007 OVAC Wrestlers of the Year


Today, I have the extreme pleasure of announcing Mat Talk's 20th Annual "OVAC West Virginia and Ohio Wrestlers of the Year."

The honorees are determined by a committee of five Ohio Valley wrestling enthusiasts, which includes and is chaired by yours truly. As always, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bill Hinegardner (1984 Mr. Mat), Ron Mauck (1986 Mr. Mat), Dave Kovalick (1988 Mr. Mat), and Dick Wolf for graciously volunteering to serve on this selection board. I have never worked with a more sincere and honorable group of men.

The recipients must be seniors and are chosen on the basis of personal wrestling accomplishments over their entire scholastic careers. This year's winners are Wheeling Park's Ronnell Green and Indian Creek's James Myers.

Ronell Green
* Two-Time West Virginia AAA State Champion (2005 & 2006)
* Three-Time West Virginia AAA State Place Winner
* Three-Time West Virginia AAA Regional Champion (2005 - 2006 - 2007)
* Two-Time OVAC Champion (2006 - 2007)
* Three-Time OVAC Place Winner
* Two-Time Union Local Invitational Champion
* Three-Time Park Duals Invitational Champion
* Selected to wrestle in the OVAC All-Star Team vs. MAC Conference (PA) All-Stars
* Overall Record: 132-18 Senior Record: 33-3
* Coach: Gene Monteleone

James Myers
* 2007 Ohio Division II State Silver Medalist
* Three-Time Ohio Division II Place Winner
* Three-Time OVAC Champion (2004 - 2006 - 2007)
* 2007 OVAC Bierkortte Award Winner (Outstanding Wrestler)
* Four-Time OVAC Place Winner
* Four-Time Sectional Champion (2004 to 2007)
* Three-Time District Champion (2004 - 2005 - 2007)
* Selected to wrestle in the OVAC All-Star Team vs. MAC Conference (PA) All-Stars
* Overall Record: 156-17 Senior Record: 46-1
* Holds the record for most wins at Indian Creek
* Coach: Brandon Pendleton

MAT TALK FINAL EXAM
(29th Edition)

Since this is the last Mat Talk column of the season, it is again time for my faithful readers to be tested on the facts disseminated throughout the series. There are no grades given, but you can rate yourselves.

True or False
1. There are no longer any individual ties in wrestling.
2. The coach can instruct his wrestler during injury time.
3. A wrestler can never lose if he has a technical fall.
4. Excessive false starts can never disqualify a wrestler.
5. A fall scores the same amount of team points in a dual meet and a tournament.

Short Answers
6. What is baiting an opponent in wrestling designated as in the rulebook?
7. How many match points are awarded for a takedown right to the back, with the match being stopped due to the bottom man crying out that he is injured? 8. If Wrestler A applies a straight body scissors
while attempting a fall and Wrestler B can not continue, who wins the match?
9. What can eliminate a wrestler from competing in a dual meet or tournament before it starts?
10. If a wrestler secures a takedown while his opponent is a figure-4 head scissors, how many points would he receive?

Mat Salute
Special accolades are addressed to the following 2007 area individual state champs:

West Virginia: Dirk Bauer and Zach Basich, Wheeling Central; Tyler Cumpston, Cameron; and Taylor Potts, John Marshall.

Furthermore, all OVAC wrestlers who have placed in their respective state tournaments will again receive the WHEELING NEWS-REGISTER's "Mat Talk All-State Award Winner" certificates for their outstanding performances. This year certificates have been forwarded to 50 local matmen. Since 1982, more than 1000 certificates have been distributed.

Special Recognition
Congratulations are forwarded to the Oak Glen wrestlers and the coaching staff on their 11th straight West Virginia State AA Championship. Also, many congrats to Golden Bear head coach, Larry Shaw, for being selected the Dix Manning WV AA Coach of the Year. This award is especially gratifying to Coach Shaw because the legendary wrestling coach, Dix Manning, was Larry Shaw's high school mat mentor.

Permit me to take this opportunity to thank the West Virginia Wrestling Coaches Association for selecting yours truly as the "2007 Media Person of the Year."

Official's Corner
This year four area referees were selected to officiate the state tournaments on both sides of the Ohio River. Ray Marling, Jack Regis, and Chris Diserio refereed the West Virginia State Championships.

In fact, Chris Diserio was selected as the "2007 West Virginia Official of the Year."

Steve Kish, former superintendent at Martins Ferry, officiated at the Ohio State Tournament this year. Many congratulations are extended to all four of these fine OVAC officials!

Mat Message
"When you're not practicing, remember that someone somewhere is practicing, and when you meet him he will win." - Ed Macauley


Answers to the Mat Talk Final Exam: 1. True; 2. True; 3. False; 4. True; 5. False; 6. Unsportsmanlike Conduct; 7. Four Match Points; 8. Wrestler A; 9. Not Making Weight; 10. Three Match Points.

Check Your Rating
(the number right)
9 to 10 - Referee's Rating (He has the last word.)
6 to 8 - Coach's Rating (He has the next-to-last word.)
3 to 5 - Spectator's Rating (He knew the answer but is now confused because the "ref" and coach are having words.)
0 to 2 - No Rating (You've been watching too much studio "rassling" and are at a loss for words.)

Be seeing you next season with more "Mat Talk!"

PAST OVAC WRESTLER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
The following are the past Ohio and West Virginia wrestlers receiving the prestigious OVAC Wrestlers of the Year Award:

1988 - John Crain, Oak Glen
Rick Burlenski, Bridgeport

1989 - Dave Wood, Cameron
Dunyasha Yetts, Steubenville

1990 - Ed Neely, Weirton Madonna
Babe Sidon, Martins Ferry

1991 - Eric Potts, Cameron
Scott DeYarmon, Buckeye Local

1992 - R. C. Anderson, Cameron
John Gilbeaut, Union Local

1993 - Ryan Dudas, Cameron
Kelly Shields, Edison

1994 - Chad Burge, Cameron
Ryan Slack, Shadyside

1995 - Jason Taylor, Wheeling Park
Brian Roskovich, Bridgeport

1996 - Josh Giovengo, Bishop Donahue
Eric Anderson, Bellaire St. John's

1997 - Dewitt Stanley, Brooke
Sean Doyle, Buckeye Local

1998 - Chad Pratz, Linsly
Travis Clark, Union Local

1999 - Alex McClung, Oak Glen
Matt Salsberry, East Liverpool

2000 - Steve Ochap, Wheeling Park
Scott Roth, Martins Ferry

2001 - Eric Noel, Oak Glen
Cole Bowersock, Beaver Local

2002 - Derrick Sickles, Oak Glen
John Tierney, Martins Ferry

2003 - Phil Bliss, Brooke
David Berolino, Buckeye Local

2004 - Casey Hughes, Cameron
Koel Davia, Union Local

2005 - Dustin Richey, John Marshall
Clay Tucker, Martins Ferry

2006 - Rhett Northcraft, Oak Glen
Willie Saxton, Buckeye Local


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