WHEELING — From the Hilltop to the Southeastern Conference. A transition such as that doesn’t come down the pike too often.

It is one, however, Isaiah Myers is ecstatic to make.

The former Wheeling Park High two-sport standout recently concluded his junior wrestling campaign at West Liberty University. In late May, Myers will be embarking on two-month trip to Starkville, Miss.

Myers has secured a strength & conditioning internship at Mississippi State University. He will be working with the Bulldogs’ football program, commencing May 29.

“I am really excited. This is a great opportunity,” Myers said. “The SEC is a super football conference. This position will enable me to really learn more about the profession.”

While on duty with the Bulldogs, Myers will be working with another Ohio Valley native.

DeVaughn Gordon, who starred at Wheeling Central and West Liberty on the gridiron, is an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Mississippi State. Gordon has previously worked in similar capacities with North Carolina Central University and East Carolina.

Myers launched his collegiate career at Waynesburg University following a sparkling Patriot prep tenure. He was a defensive end on Park’s 2015 and only state championship football team. Myers added another state title to his athletic resume by capturing the state wrestling championship in the 220-pound class as a senior. He was selected the 2016 OVAC West Virginia Wrestler of the Year.

After a year of Yellow Jacket football, he had a change of heart, opting to transfer to West Liberty and turn to the mat sport. Myers had to deal with injuries this past winter as an early-season elbow issue hampered him much of the campaign. “I got into a strength and conditioning program this year at West Liberty. I told one of my instructors about my goals,” Myers said. “He gave me some contacts and I sent out e-mails to a lot of schools like Florida and Florida State and Central Florida.

“Cincinnati offered me an internship. But Mississippi State was too attractive to pass up with DeVaughn there,” he added. “It is a real good football school. It will be an ideal learning experience for me.”

Myers plans on wrestling again next winter for the Gold & Black. He is majoring in exercise physiology.

“I will be at Mississippi State until the end of July. I will be working with the football athletes,” Myers said. “It will be a great training ground for me. I realize how lucky I am to gain this opportunity. My goal is to become certified in this field and make it my profession.”

BUBBA’S BITS

CHARLIE WARD is still regarded as one of the premier distance runners in Ohio Valley history. He authored a resume at Bellaire High second to none. Now his daughter, Olivia, is scripting a tremendous prep career as a pole vaulter for Canton Glen Oak High School. The talented junior captured the Stark County Championships last weekend, clearing an impressive 10-6.

CONGRATS to Coach Dave Riethmiller and his Linsly School girls’ tennis team. The Cadets continued their impressive OVAC dominance, pocketing their record ninth straight conference crown Wednesday. Riethmiller is one of the classiest guys in the profession.

BLAZE GLENN turned in a monster performance for the Youngstown State baseball team Wednesday. The former Toronto High three-sport star belted a homer, double and single, plating six runs in a 10-0 Penguin drubbing of St. Bonaventure. For the season, Glenn is hitting .261 with nine doubles, eight homers and 39 RBI. He has started every game for the 10-32 Penguins.

WHEELING AMERICAN Legion Post 1 will hold its second-chance varsity and jayvee tryouts on Sunday, June 2 beginning at 1 p.m. at the I-470 J.B. Complex Field 5. Pre-registration begins at noon.

EDISON HIGH has hired John Visser as its new head girls’ basketball coach. Visser has extensive basketball coaching experience, including as Bridgeport High’s head boys’ coach. Edison made a solid choice.

AFTER AN elongated search, Steubenville Catholic Central has hired a new head football coach in Anthony Agresta. He has been coaching in Louisiana. The Baldwin-Wallace grad has big shoes to fill as he replaces Steve Daley at the Crusader grid helm. Daley guided his alma mater for eight seasons, delivering seven straight winning seasons and four playoff berths.

AUSTIN CREBS is enjoying a solid sophomore season with the Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team this spring. The Wheeling Central product has crafted a 2-1 mound mark. He has fanned 23 batters in 32 innings of work, working in 16 games. In his latest outing this past Wednesday, Crebs tossed three scoreless innings against Albany. He struck out one and yielded just one hit.

A QUARTET of local prep head football coaches will help raise money for the Easter Seals Telethon today on TV 7. Wheeling Central’s Mike Young, Wheeling Park’s Chris Daugherty, Weir’s Tony Filberto and Steubenville’s Reno Saccoccia will all be manning the phones this afternoon (from 4-5) taking pledges for a most worthwhile cause. Their respective pledge phone numbers are Young (1-304-232-0108), Daugherty (1-304-232-0112), Filberto (1-304-232-0107) and Saccoccia (1-304-232-0109).

THE PITTSBURGH Steelers selected Kentucky running back Benny Snell Jr. in the fourth round of the NFL Draft Saturday. He played his high school ball for Bellaire High coaching great John Magistro at Westerville Central.