Dr. Bill Welker conceived and initiated the award in 1988. He was named the West Virginia Wrestling Sportswriter of the year seven times and the National Wrestling Sportswriter of the Year two times by Wrestling USA Magazine.

Dr. Welker chairs the selection committee of five Ohio Valley wrestling dignitaries that selects the honorees. The West Virginia representatives are OVAC Ron Mauck Tournament Director Dr. Dan Doyle and WLU coaching legend Dr. Vince Monseau, who replaced the late OVAC wrestling icon, Ron Mauck. The Ohio representatives are OVAeC Wrestling webmaster Sean Smith and Jeff Crosier, past OVAC President.

The committee has the extreme pleasure of announcing the 36th Annual “Bill Welker 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 Wheeling Park’s Bradyn Lucas and Indian Creek’s’ Dom Paterra.

BRADYN LUCAS

• 2022 West Virginia AAA State Champion

• 2023 West Virginia AAA State Champion

History

• 2022 West Virginia AAA Regional Finalist

• 2023 West Virginia AAA Regional Champion

• Three-Time OVAC Ron Mauck Place-winner

• 2022 OVAC Ron Mauck Champion

• 2023 OVAC Ron Mauck Finalist

• Career Record: 107-25

• Senior Record: 46-5

• GPA: 2.90

• Future Plans: Bradyn plans to wrestle in college

DOM PATERRA

• Two-Time Ohio State Division II Finalist (2022-2023)

• Three-Time Ohio State Qualifier

• Three-Time Sectional Champion

• 2022 Ohio District Finalist

• 2023 Ohio District Champion

• 2022 OVAC Ron Mauck Champion

• 2023 OVAC Ron Mauck Finalist

• Three-Time Ron Mauck OVAC Place-winner

• NHSCA All-American

• Two-Time Academic All-American

• Career Record: 161-29

• Senior Record: 46-5

• Participated in the OVAC vs.MAC All-Star Meet

• GPA: 3-91

• Future Plans: Dom plans to attend Kent State’s Nursing Program.