Photo by Kim North Barnesville wrestling coach Jayson Stephen, third from left, is pictured with his family after being named the OVAC Bill Van Horne Coach of the Year Tuesday night during the OVAC Banquet of Champions inside WesBanco Arena. From left, are sons Griffen and Bentley, Stephen, his wife Jamie, and sons Easton and Reese.

WHEELING — Jayson Stephen has built a dynasty in western Belmont County over the past decade or so, but the 2023-24 school year was the culmination of all that hard work as Barnesville finished as state runner up at the 87th annual Ohio Division III wrestling tournament while producing a pair of state champions.

For those lofty accomplishments, Stephen was named the OVAC Bill Van Horne Coach of the Year on Tuesday night during the 39th annual OVAC Banquet of Champions which was held on the main floor inside WesBanco Arena.

“This is unbelievable,” Stephen admitted. “Being up for it last year was an honor. Being up for it again … I never thought it would happen. Our accomplishments were pretty good as were those of the other finalists. It means a lot.”

The other finalists were Ken Maisel (University High wrestling); Holly Pettit (Cameron girls’ basketball); Jayson Stephen (Barnesville wrestling); Dave Tallman (Morgantown boys’ basketball); Ed West (John Marshall softball) and Ryan Young (Wheeling Park girls’ basketball).

All but one of the finalists –ironically Stephen — won a state championship in their respective sports this past school year. However, what his team accomplished was nothing short of amazing. The Green Machine went 20-1 in dual meet action, the lone loss coming to Milan Edison in the Division III state duals championship match. They also won the OVAC Ron Mauck overall title and the Class 3A Division with an impressive 259 points and three titlists, as well as the OVAC Bill Hinegardner Class 3A Dual Meet crown.

Barnesville won the D-III sectional and district team titles, with seven Shamrocks claiming district championships. They also set or tied 18 school records and had six individuals win at least 100 matches. The senior class combined for an eye-popping 787 victories.

“I can’t believe they are gone,” Stephen said of his superb senior class. “It was a special group that was a rare breed. I’ll definitely miss them, but we’re not going anywhere. We have a lot to look forward to.”

Two Shamrocks, Reese Stephen and Skyler King, won state championships. It was the second straight for Stephen.

“Reese winning those state titles was incredible coming from a small school like Barnesville, especially when it went back-to-back,” his father/coach said.

This marks the second consecutive year that the prestigious award was won by a western Belmont County head coach as Union Local volleyball coach Kaye Sechrest won in 2023. It is also the second time in the last three years that a wrestling coach has prevailed. Wheeling Park’s Brian Leggett was the winner in 2022. It is the sixth time a wrestling coach has been the recipient.

“Like I said in my speech, I don’t think wrestling gets the publicity that it should,” Stephen added. “I’m just one of the many coaches that are trying to get the word out about the sport.”

More than $45,000 within 40 scholarships — ranging from $250 to $3,000 — were presented to worthy recipients during the banquet, with 54 individuals representing 29 conference schools receiving funds to further their college educations. Six of the scholarships were wrestling-related.

“This is the Banquet of Champions for champions by champions,” OVAC Executive Director Dirk DeCoy told the large gathering.

Bob Koch was honored with the OVAC OverTime Award for his work as the long-time OVAC Rudy Mumley All-Star Football Classic Game Director, along with a variety of other things he has done for the bi-state conference.

Basketball official Amaya Williams was recognized as being the first female African American to officiate a game in the OVAC.

The student-athlete achievement award was presented to Madonna (Class 1A); Shadyside (Class 2A); Linsly (Class 3A); St. Clairsville (Class 4A); and Morgantown (Class 5A).

The OVAC Overall Champions were Trinity Christian (Class 1A); Shadyside (Class 2A); Barnesville (Class 3A); St. Clairsville (Class 4A); and Morgantown (Class 5A).

Championship banners were presented to 84 champions in 23 different sports, with the Fort Frye girls’ golf team being honored as the first-ever in conference history.