wvmat.com

Last season, you had to really be informed to know who was going to the Walsh Ironman. Maybe more fans would attend if we knew what was going on?

The word on the street is:

Parkersburg South is taking their full team.

Oak Glen is taking 4 grapplers.

Parkersburg is taking the Best wrestler they have.

Who else might be going?????????????

Here’s a link to ironman site. Looks like oak glen, phs & South. Even if your local team isn’t going this is a fun tournament to watch. The semis and finals are amazing. The blood round is brutal.


http://walshjesuitironman.com/2018-team-list/

Last year we were entertained with “Shoegate” in the finals. UFC star Clay Guido was coaching a team and as Tim mentioned, some of the best high school wrestling in the country.

Small gymnasium at Walsh Jesuit packs people in tight, but it’s worth it!

Gator's correct, it is rather tight, and not that we "need" more of a crowd... But there are some other "local" schools involved that aren't from WV. These include Warren Local, Beaver Local, and Steubenville. There are 95 schools represented and teams from 21 different states (this year including Hawaii). There are 11 from California, 9 from Pennsylvania, 7 from Virginia, and 6 from Florida. Undoubtedly the best "in-season" collection of talented high school wrestlers. You don't need to watch a "team". Just look around and watch excellent wrestling on every mat.

The best aspect of Ironman is that they extend invitations to individual wrestlers.

The masterminds behind the Ironman tournament know that a hardworking, dedicated and top performing wrestler can be on a developing team.

Looking at last season's Ironman attendees from West Virginia, here is where they are now:

Rea/Weir/Wrestling at WVU

Hall/Oak Glen/Signed with WVU

Humphreys/South/Wrestling at Lehigh

Martin/South/Wrestling at WVU

There were approximately four other South wrestlers at Ironman last season that are still in high school and probably weighing options.

Yep, you left out Haga, headed for Lehigh.

Certainly the invitations to individual wrestlers allows schools to send individuals when they could not afford to send the whole team across the country.

Just thought of this, there could have been a wrestler at Buffalo High School that could have eventually received an invitation to the Ironman, despite not having other individuals or even a full team to get invited. Definitely not gonna happen now though!