The OVAC Wrestling Coaches Association recognizes the Ohio and West Virginia Wrestlers of the Year at the end of every season.

Dr. Bill Welker, who conceived and initiated the award in 1988, chairs a committee of five Ohio Valley wrestling dignitaries that selects the honorees. The West Virginia representatives are Bill Hinegardner and Ron Mauck. The Ohio representatives are Dick Wolf and Dr. Dan Doyle.

Today, the committee has the extreme pleasure of announcing the 31th Annual “OVAC West Virginia and Ohio Wrestlers of the Year.”

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 Parkersburg South’s Josh Humphreys and Steubenville’s Jashon Hubbard.

JOSH HUMPHREYS

Four-time West Virginia Class AAA state champion and two-time Class AAA Outstanding Wrestler. The 18th four-time state titlist in West Virginia history.

Four-Time Regional Champion

2018 OVAC Ron Mauck Tournament champion and Bierkortte Award Winner

Career record of 168-7 with 125 pins

Senior record of 49-2

Future plans include attending and wrestling at Lehigh University

Head coach: Shaun Smith; assistant coaches: Dave Jeffrey, Dean Moore, Andy Church, Bruce Martin, Tyler Green, David Jeffrey and John Price

JASHON HUBBARD

Four-time Ohio state Division II all-state medalist: (2015-3rd; 2016-4th; 2017-3rd; 2018-2nd)

Three-time OVAC Ron Mauck champion

Four-time OVAC Ron Mauck placewinner

Two-time Ohio District champion

Career record of 170-13

Senior record of 53-2

Future plans include attending and wrestling at Ohio State University

Head coach: Mike Blackburn; assistant coaches: Cornell Birden, Lucas Huffman, and Seth Fluharty.

Coaching Honors

Congratulations to Smith, his staff, and the Patriots for winning the 2018 OVAC Ron Mauck Tournament and the 2018 West Virginia Class AAA state championship! Also, many kudos to Jamie Lesho, his staff, and the Weirton Madonna Blue Dons on winning their first West Virginia Class A state championship!

Official’s Corner

This year three OVAC referees were selected to officiate the West Virginia state tournament. They were Shane Kildow, Jim Copney and Ken McWilliams, along with former area official Chris Diserio.

Also, three OVAC officials were selected for states in Ohio. They included Kildow, Paul Coffland and Ray Jefferies. Jack Regis, the local secretary of the Ohio Valley Wrestling Officials Association, was a table worker during the Ohio championships. Many congratulations are extended to all eight of these fine OVAC officials.

OVAC PAST

WRESTLERS OF THE YEAR

The following are the past Ohio and West Virginia recipients of the prestigious OVAC Wrestlers of the Year Award:

1988 – John Crain, Oak Glen; Rick Burlenski, Bridgeport

1989 – Dave Wood, Cameron; Dunyasha Yetts, Steubenville

1990 – Ed Neely, Weirton Madonna; Babe Sidon, Martins Ferry

1991 – Eric Potts, Cameron; Scott DeYarmon, Buckeye Local

1992 – R. C. Anderson, Cameron; John Gilbeaut, Union Local

1993 – Ryan Dudas, Cameron; Kelly Shields, Edison

1994 – Chad Burge, Cameron; Ryan Slack, Shadyside

1995 – Jason Taylor, Wheeling Park; Brian Roskovich, Bridgeport

1996 – Josh Giovengo, Bishop Donahue; Eric Anderson, Bellaire St. John’s

1997 – Dewitt Stanley, Brooke; Sean Doyle, Buckeye Local

1998 – Chad Pratz, Linsly; Travis Clark, Union Local

1999 – Alex McClung, Oak Glen; Matt Salsberry, East Liverpool

2000 – Steve Ochap, Wheeling Park; Scott Roth, Martins Ferry

2001 – Eric Noel, Oak Glen; Cole Bowersock, Beaver Local

2002 – Derrick Sickles, Oak Glen; John Tierney, Martins Ferry

2003 – Phil Bliss, Brooke; David Bertolino, Buckeye Local

2004 – Casey Hughes, Cameron; Koel Davia, Union Local

2005 – Dustin Richey, John Marshall; Clay Tucker, Martins Ferry

2006 – Rhett Northcraft, Oak Glen; Willie Saxton, Buckeye Local

2007 – Ronnell Green, Wheeling Park; James Myers, Indian Creek

2008 – Zach Basich, Wheeling Central; Bryan Skoff, Bridgeport

2009 – Dirk Bauer, Wheeling Park; Robbie Chilson, Bellaire

2010 – Max Nogay, Weirton Madonna; Dylan Ice, Beaver Local

2011 – Kyle Bauer, Wheeling Park; Dominic Prezzia, St. Clairsville

2012 – David Jeffrey, Parkersburg South; Jeremy Border, Caldwell

2013 – Lance Hill, Parkersburg South; Alex Quinn, Shadyside

2014 – Jonny Davis, Wheeling Park; Kameron Rayner, Caldwell

2015 – Dallas Baciak, Wheeling Park; Seth Bloor, Wellsville

2016 – Isaiah Myers, Wheeling Park; Tariq Wilson, Steubenville

2017 – Justin Allman, Parkersburg South; Greg Quinn, Shadyside

2018 – Josh Humphreys, Parkersburg South; Jashon Hubbard, Steubenville