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Addition of PSHS would strengthen OVAC mats

Wrestling season is months away, but the idea of the stepping back on the mat is in the minds of many as Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Executive Secretary Tom Rataiczak officially announced Parkersburg South High School has applied for re-admission into one of the largest high school conferences in the country the OVAC.

South has accumulated 38 West Virginia state titles in just over 40 years among all sports and 14 of those titles have come in grappling. The only other team to surpass the Wood County Patriots is cross-town rival Parkersburg High (18). One team that trails the Parkersburg powerhouses is one of the stellar in the OVAC Oak Glen with 13 state titles.

According to Rataiczak, going through the proper chain of command to join the conference, the earliest South would become official members would be during the OVAC’s November meeting. This re-instatement to the conference would make them immediately eligible for the 2009 Ron Mauck OVAC Wrestling Tournament, but scheduling conflicts may alter Patriots’ coach Paul Jackson’s debut at WesBanco Arena.

“We have not been in a conference for nearly 10 years,” Jackson indicated. “Our principal has been throwing out the idea of joining a conference for some time and many that we looked at we would simply dominate in wrestling.”

In a phone conversation, Jackson admitted domination in the OVAC would not be the case as the conference is loaded with a heap of talent.

However, a disappointment to many wrestling fans may come as Jackson said his 2008-2009 wrestling schedule is already set.

“Excited, yes,” he admitted about joining the OVAC. “However, wrestling at the OVAC tournament will not be possible this year. Our schedule has been made already for this year. I am the type of person that has made a commitment to a place and I will not back out of that unless we are instructed otherwise by our athletic director. However, I believe he understands my belief in a commitment and will allow us to honor those commitments.”

South will return a young squad with six returning state place-winners with the highest returner being silver medalist Tyler Green. A 119-pounder in 2007-2008, Green fell short to cross-town rival Jordon Nolan of Parkersburg by a score of 4-0.

OVERTIME

PARKERSBURG SOUTH is no stranger to OVAC wrestling squads. In the past, the Wood County Patriots have journeyed to the Wheeling Park Domino Duals where they have seen numerous local squads. They have also headed to Meadowbrook which encompasses about five OVAC squads.

DOUBLE OVERTIME

IN OHIO there is a stigma towards West Virginia wrestling. The stereotype is many of the local state place winners would not be able to compete in the Schottenstein Center in March at the Ohio state tournament. Well, I am afraid to say South is the real deal. Jackson, in his 11th year as head coach, has had multiple teams in the national high school wrestling rankings. His best team came in 1995 when he had 11-of-13 guys in the state finals.

TRIPLE OVERTIME

THE BIGGEST shame of South potentially joining the conference is they will not get to join the conference tournament. Wrestling minded folks have already been conjuring up the Wheeling Park, Oak Glen and South competition in a tournament format. However, the anticipation for a potential 2010 debut is one well worth the wait as Jackson should have a very veteran squad during his first appearance at WesBanco Arena.

“This conference is an exceptional conference and I am looking forward to getting into it,” Jackson said. “Wrestling wise, I think it would be a mistake to keep us out. I think we are the best in West Virginia and we can only make that conference better in wrestling.”

Cook can be reached at bcook@timesleaderonline.com

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