The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Sports

November 30, 2009

Wrestling’s offseason had mix of highlights and lowlights

By Wayne Bennett

The long offseason for wrestling has ended, and young grapplers are spending time getting ready for the upcoming competition.

A few events happened during the warmer months that had positive or negative effects on the wrestling community.

On the negative side, we lost legendary coaches Dix Manning and Vic Peelish. Both passed away in August. As we said before, the wrestling world lost some great ones in those two.

Also, C.E. Stroud died this fall. He had coached in the Rainelle area at various levels. He was also a huge booster for athletics at Greenbrier West High School and Western Greenbrier Middle School. For me personally, C.E. was always so cooperative when it came to promoting wrestling. Cooperative, but not afraid to speak his mind. He will be missed.

On a positive note, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame chose an excellent group of new inductees in October. James St. Clair, Dale Hinkle, Joe Naternicola, Bill Van Horne, Ernie Sparks, Alex Skirpan and Russ Ward were inducted at a ceremony in Charleston. Congratulations!

Here are a few other positive features:

(1) Area youth wrestling has also started. President Anthony Murdock says the league has grown enough to have two divisions, Southern and Central.

(2) Trap Hill Middle School’s new coach is Matt Epling. Matt had previously coached at Park Middle School and in the youth program. Bill Wood is the new head coach at Independence Middle School. Wood coached at Indy several years ago. Welcome back, guys!

(3) Former Liberty wrestler Mike Carpenter, now wrestling at West Liberty State, started the season by upsetting Pitt-Johnstown’s Chris Dempsey. Wrestling as a heavyweight, Carpenter beat Dempsey 3-2. Dempsey was the sixth-ranked heavyweight in NCAA Division II. Carpenter’s former Raider teammate Nick Hylton wrestles for the U.S. Naval Academy.

(4) Once again, Jamie Humphrey, with a host of volunteers, showcases southern West Virginia with his Friends of Coal Classic.

n n n

Competition will begin hot and heavy for local teams Saturday. Shady Spring High School will host the BNI Tournament. About 10 teams are expected for this bracket-style tournament. Wrestling will begin at 10 a.m.

The second annual Wayne Bennett Duals will be held at Park Middle School on Saturday. Along with Park, the teams participating are Christiansburg, Va., Eastern Greenbrier, Summersville, Collins and Cedar Grove. Wrestling will begin at 9 a.m.

n n n

Well, we have taken the old water bottle off the shelf for another year, dusted it off and filled it up. Our first squeeze of the water bottle goes to Tina Nelson of Coal City. She’s a big wrestling fan and an avid reader of this column.

Text Only
Sports
  • Big12logo.jpg Getting to know the Big 12 Conference

    As West Virginia University moves into the Big 12 Conference, here's one place to come to find out about all of the Mountaineers new league opponents.

    April 18, 2012 1 Photo

  • WVU releases 2012 football schedule

    West Virginia University has released its football schedule for 2012.

    WVU announced Tuesday it has settled a lawsuit with the Big East for an unspecified amount, clearing the way for the conference power Mountaineers to join the Big 12 in July in time for the fall football season.
     

    February 14, 2012

  • WVU settles Big East lawsuit

    West Virginia University announced Tuesday it has settled a lawsuit with the Big East for an unspecified amount, clearing the way for the Mountaineers to join the Big 12 in July.
    Athletic Director Oliver Luck said the terms of the deal were confidential and WVU wouldn’t release details. But Luck said no state, taxpayer, tuition or other academic dollars will be used in the settlement.

    February 14, 2012

  • Shannon leads Woodrow win; Weiford 3 keys Spartans

    February 14, 2012

  • Woodrow holds off Huntington

     It took Woodrow Wilson’s boys basketball team nearly three quarters to figure out that the backside lob was open in Huntington High’s zone.

    January 10, 2012

  • MSU hosts Rio Grande

    For the first time since 1995, Mountain State stands a little past the half-way point at the season with five losses.

    January 10, 2012

  • OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - WVU to join Big 12 Conference

    The Big 12 Conference Board of Directors have voted unanimously to accept West Virginia University as a full conference member effective July 1, 2012.  The Mountaineers will begin competing in the Big 12 beginning with the 2012-13 athletic season.

    October 28, 2011

  • Friday update: Big East notified WVU leaving for Big 12

    The Big East says it has been notified that West Virginia is leaving the conference and joining the Big 12.

    October 28, 2011

  • Cardinals force Game 7 in World Series

    After one of the greatest games in baseball history, a 10-9, 11-inning victory over Texas in Game 6 in which the Cardinals were twice within one strike of elimination.

    October 28, 2011

  • Schiano sings WVU’s praises

    It hasn’t been the year that Rutgers coach Greg Schiano envisioned.
    Not close.

    December 1, 2010