CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – When you are in a tournament with the quality of wrestlers as in the NCAA Division II National Wrestling Tournament you want the best officiating in your match and former

Ohio Valley Athletic Conference referee Merle Tournay is one of those high caliber officials.

Originally attracted to the valley because of the West Liberty mat program, Tournay went onto spread his wrestling knowledge at Brooke High School for 12 years. The veteran wrestler and rookie coach quickly built a Bruins’ powerhouse capturing the school’s only West Virginia state title in 1980.

“After graduation from West Liberty State College I coached at Brooke High School, but got out of the sport for a while in 1985, 1986 and 1987,” Tournay explained how he landed on Bruin Drive many years ago. “Then Bill Welker approached me about getting into officiating and so I did. From that time on I have been officiating high school, college, have been fortunate to go to the NCAA Division I tournament and now am at the Division II tournament.”

Finding officials with 20 plus years of experience are hard to come by now and especially ones that are respected as much as Tournay.

“He is one of the best,” Eric Bown, a former athlete of Tournay and West Liberty assistant coach, said. “He has so much knowledge of the sport and doesn’t let people push him around. I was on the team when we won our only state title and a lot of it had to do with him keeping us in great condition.”

Tournay’s reputation goes are beyond the Ohio Valley praises and it was proven in 2003 as Tournay was awarded the NCAA Official of the Year across all classifications.

“It was a great honor to get,” Tournay said. “I think coaching and being a wrestler myself has helped me to know the rules giving the tools to be a good official. I have tried to stay consistent over the years and that has a lot to do with it, staying consistent.”

Consistency shows to have paid off for the 53-year old Tournay as this is his eighth Division II National Tournament and he also has officiated two Division I National Mat Tournaments. He has also done many collegiate qualifying tournaments and the West Virginia state high school tournament to name a few.

LIKE MOST all officials Tournay didn’t start off doing large high school tournaments or even the OVAC. It was a long process which started as he put on the stripes to officiate the Cameron Open.

“The guy who got me started – Bill Welker – is one that I still keep in contact with throughout the year. Every so often I still give him a buzz,” Tournay said about his officiating mentor.

A LOT of times when you watch high school wrestling as a fan you can get frustrated watching bad wrestling. At the collegiate level it’s a lot difference with the intensity and caliber of guys on the mat.

“I like officiating college wrestling the most,” Tournay indicated.” You have the edge calls, wrestling continues and no one lets up. It is just more exciting to officiate college.”

BEING ON both sides of the match is a learning experience, but the joy of working out with kids is another one many coaches will share is why they do what they do.

“When I got out (of coaching) I was ready to get out,” Tournay admitted. “Now that I have been out for five years I am ready to go back.”

However, this time it will be on a little different level. Tournay indicated he will be taking over the junior high program in Montour, the district around McKees Rocks, Pa. where is currently resides, beginning next season.

“Working at the junior high level is really special because you really get to teach the sport to the kids,” Tournay said.

TRAVELING through the US Cellular Arena it’s very unique when someone recognizes Ohio’s first settlement of Martins Ferry and knows about The Times Leader, but it happened once again for this wrestling guru. Fred Koch, a St. Clairsville native, has been working behind the scenes of the national mat tourney this weekend.

After graduating from Ohio University Koch and his wife Pam moved towards to the Midwest where he is currently retired and she works for Upper Iowa University. Very active in the UIU alumni office, the two decided to volunteer with this year’s tournament that has been very plentiful of Peacocks’ alumnus.

Cook can be reached at bcook@timesleaderonline.com