Today, I have the extreme pleasure of announcing Mat Talk's 21st 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 Central's Zach Basich and Bridgeport's Bryan Skoff.
Zach Basich
* Two-Time West Virginia AA State Champion (2007 & 2008)
* Four-Time West Virginia AA State Place Winner
* Four-Time West Virginia AA Regional Champion (2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008)
" OVAC Champion (2007)
" OVAC Silver Medalist (2008)
* Four-Time OVAC Place Winner
* 2007 Buckeye Local Invitational Champion
* Two-Time Union Local DOAN'S Ford Champion
* 2007 West Mifflin (Pa) Invitational Champion
* Senior Record: 26-3
* Over-all Record: 135-20
* GPA: 3.50
* Zach plans to attend the U.S. Naval Academy
* Coaches: Chick LaMotte and Joey Skoff
Bryan Skoff
* 2008 Ohio Division III State Place Winner
* Two-Time Ohio Division III State Place Winner
* Two-Time Ohio Division III District Finalist
* 2008 OVAC Tournament Champion
* Four-Time OVAC Place Winner
* 2006 St. Johns Invitational Champion & MVP
* 2007 Beallsville Invitational Champion & MVP
* 2007 Union Local Doan's Ford Champion & MVP
* Two-Time Beallsville Champion
* Two-Time Shadyside Champion
* Two-Time New Lexington Champion
* Over-all Record: 156-35 (Ties school record with Brian Roskovich, who was the OVAC Ohio Wrestler of the Year and former state champ in 1995)
* Byran plans to attend college at Mt. Union
* Coaches: Ross and Brian Roskovich
MAT TALK FINAL EXAM
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 biting 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 Nick Taylor, Wheeling Park; James McFarland, Brooke; Zach Basich, Wheeling Central; and Ryan Asbury and Cody Miller, Oak Glen.
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 12th straight West Virginia State AA Championship. Also, many congrats to Golden Bear head coach, Larry Shaw, for producing his 50th individual state champion this year, which ranks him second to Parkersburg's Coach Joe Handlan (52) for most state champs.
Many kudos to first-year Wheeling Park Coach Sean Doyle and his "Patriot" matmen and coaching staff on finishing an outstanding season with a second place finish in the West Virginia AAA Championships. Earlier in the year they were also over-all team champions at the gigantic OVAC Wrestling Tournament.
Permit me to take this opportunity to thank the Editorial Staff of Wrestling USA Magazine for presenting yours truly with the prestigious "2008 Master-of-Wrestling Award."
Official's Corner
This year three area referees were selected to officiate the state tournaments on both sides of the Ohio River. Jack Regis, Shane Kildow, and Chris Diserio refereed the West Virginia State Championships.
In fact, Jack Regis was selected as the "2008 West Virginia Official of the Year."
Cadiz native Paul Coffland officiated at the Ohio State Tournament this year.
Many congratulations are extended to all three of these fine OVAC officials!
Special Thanks
I want to take this opportunity to thank Dave Kovalick of Barnesville for his willingness to be on the "wrestler of the year" selection committee for the past 21 years. He is stepping down. Thank you Dave for a job well done.
Taking his place as an Ohio member of the committee is Dan Doyle, the new OVAC Tournament Director.
Also, I want to thank Mrs. Mary Lou Mauck for helping me with the all-state certificate award winners. She uses her computer expertise to fill out the certificates. Thank you, Mary Lou Mauck.
Mat Message
"It takes as much courage to have tried and failed as it does to have tried and succeeded."
- Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Answers to the Mat Talk Final Exam:
1. True; 2. True; 3. False; 4. True; 5. False; 6. Flagrant Misconduct; 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!"