Dr. Welker chairs the selection committee of five Ohio Valley wrestling dignitaries that select the honorees. The West Virginia representatives are OVAC Ron Mauck Former Tournament Director Dr. Dan Doyle and WLU coaching legend Dr. Vince Monseau, who replaces 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 37th Annual “OVAC Bill Welker 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 Barnesville’s Reese Stephen and Parkersburg South’s Gage Wright.

REESE STEPHEN

2023 Ohio Class III State Champion; 2024 Ohio Class III State Champion; Three-Time Ohio District Champion; Three-Time OVAC Ron Mauck Place-winner; 2023 OVAC Ron Mauck Champion; 2024 OVAC Ron Mauck Finalist; Career Record: 178-10; Senior Record: 54-3

Stephen plans to continue his academic and athletic careers at Cleveland State University, majoring in Mechanical Engineering Technology.

Head Coach: Jayson Stephen. Assistant Coaches: Rick Milhoan, TJ King, and Kyle King.

GAGE WRIGHT

Four-Time West Virginia AAA State Champion; 2024 West Virginia AAA Co-Outstanding Wrestler; Four-Time West Virginia AAA Regional Champion; Four-Time OVAC Ron Mauck Tournament Champion; 2024 OVAC Ron Mauck Tournament Outstanding Wrestler – Bierkortte Award; Senior Record: 49-1; Overall Record: 149-8

Ironman Champion; Beast of the East Champion; Powerade Champion; WVSSAC State Team Duals Most Outstanding Wrestler; Ranked #1 in the Nation @ 175; 2022 NHSCA National Champion; National Record Holder: Quickest Pin at 170 (3 seconds); Pending National Record: Quickest Back-to-Back Pins (5 seconds and 5 seconds)

Wright plans to matriculate at Virginia Tech University and wrestle.