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