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Glad to see this event grow each year!
West Liberty State
College
Hilltopper Wrestling |
Local West Liberty Wrestlers Give Back
July 4, 2009
Recently, some local West Liberty University athletes were presented with an
opportunity to give back to the sport and community that has given so much to
them: wrestling and the Ohio Valley. Hilltopper Head Wrestling Coach Brian Davis
teamed up with Wheeling Park Head Coach Sean Doyle and the YMCA to conduct a
four-day wrestling camp in Warwood, June 29-July 2. In doing so, Davis
challenged his college wrestlers that reside in the Ohio Valley during the
summer months to volunteer their time to attend the camp and work with young
wrestlers from the Valley. As a result, the camp saw over a dozen past and
present members of the Hilltopper wrestling team show up to lend a hand.
“It was great to see our guys show a genuine interest in
helping the 37 local wrestlers that attended the camp,” said Coach Davis of
his WLU wrestlers. “Most of these young men work summer jobs and had to make
sacrifices to be able to help. I am very proud of how they stepped up to the
challenge. They represented our program and the university very well.”
The camp saw four days of instruction from some outstanding clinicians. On
the first day campers were treated to a special appearance by former
Hilltopper All-American Jeff LaMotte (WL class of 2002). Lamotte currently
resides in Arizona where he teaches and coaches. He was in the area visiting
family the week of camp and volunteered his assistance. Other clinicians
during the week included former WL wrestler and 4X All-American Richard
Foston (WL class of 1997), two current WL wrestlers: 2009 NCAA DII
All-American Mitch Smith (Ripley HS) and 2X National Qualifier Kayne Melko
(Bellaire St. Johns HS), and former Buckeye Local standout and current
Wheeling Park Head Coach Sean Doyle. Doyle was also a 3-year letterman at
Cornell University in the late 1990’s.
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Along with the clinicians, numerous soon-to-be and current WLU wrestlers were
on hand to help. Ben Giles and Jarrod Shaw, both former Brooke HS wrestlers,
were present everyday to help with the camp, as were incoming WL freshmen and
Harrison Central graduates Ian Howell and Nick Risdon. Other WL wrestlers from
the area that showed up to help were Dirk Bauer, Allen Earnest, Dusty Hill, Matt
Hill, and Aaron Majetich, all Wheeling Park products, and Shawn Fullerton of
Cameron HS.
“As coaches at West Liberty University, our administrators always encourage us
to participate in community involvement activities,” explained Davis. “By
allowing us to volunteer our time to work with area kids in this setting, the
YMCA gave us an opportunity to do just that. We appreciate that.”
Davis, who will begin his third season this fall as the head coach of West
Liberty’s storied mat program, was very pleased with the camp. “We had good
numbers, the kids worked very hard, and we received some very positive
feedback,” said Davis. “I think this is something we will do more of in the
future.”
Two big time transfers!
Two NCAA DI Transfers Join 'Topper Wrestling Team
Coach Brian Davis has announced the addition of two
Division I transfers,
Ashtin Primus (University of
Missouri) and
Dusty Hill (WVU), to the 2009-2010 West Liberty wrestling program.
Primus is a 2006 graduate of Connellsville HS (PA) where he was a 2X State
Champion, placing all four years. At
Missouri, Primus was a starter as a
true freshman for the Tigers at 141 lbs. for a team that finished third
in the
NCAA Tournament. During his frosh campaign, Primus won 30 matches, 20
of those by way of fall. In 2007-2008 Primus used his redshirt season, and in
December 2008 he withdrew from Missouri and returned home to Western PA.
Hill is a 2007 graduate of
Wheeling Park HS (WV) where he was a 2X state place winner (2nd & 3rd).
Hill utilized his redshirt season in 2007-2008 at WVU. As the 2008-2009 season
drew near, Hill had earned himself a starting spot in the Mountaineer line-up
by winning WVU's wrestle-off at 184 lbs., but shortly afterwards he suffered a
season ending injury.
Looks like a great class of freshman! I love to see the
valley boys stay at home good job coach Davis.
West Liberty Announces Recruiting
Class
In wrapping up his 2009 recruiting class,
Hilltopper Head Wrestling Coach Brian Davis has realeased the following list
of graduating high school seniors who will be attending WLU and wrestling the
upcoming school year/season. Listed is their anticipated college weight class,
student/athlete’s name, HS (state), 4-year career HS record, and placement at
the state level in their respective state tournament:
125—Dirk Bauer, Wheeling Park HS (WV), 160-22, 3X State Champion.
125—Sean Jordan, Teays Valley HS (OH), 104-19, 1X State Qualifier.
125—Aaron Majetich, Wheeling Park HS (WV), 120-49, 2X State Placer (2nd &
4th).
125/133—Justin Fisher, Roane County HS (WV), 150-24, 2X State Placer (2nd &
4th).
125/133—Nick Risdon, Harrison Central HS (OH), 134-47, 3X State Qualifier.
133/141—Logan Sheldon, Hyndman HS (PA), 120-27, 3X State Qualifier (2nd in
’09).
133/141—Nick Taylor, Wheeling Park HS (WV), 126-48, State Champion & 2X
Runner-up.
149—Andy Church, Parkersburg South HS (WV), 151-34, 4X State Placer (2nd, 3rd,
4th, & 6th).
157—Dave Doyle, Brunswick HS (OH), 95-35.
157/165—Kyle Appleby, Avella HS (PA), 122-39, 1X State Qualifier.
165/174—Nate Ormiston, Teays Valley HS (OH), 151-44.
184/197—Tucker Goodwin, Wheeling Park HS (WV), 101-54, 2X State Qualifier.
184/197—Ian Howell, Harrison Central HS, 106-34, 1X State Placer (6th).
Please note that this is only the 'Incoming Freshmen' portion of the 2009
recruiting class. A few transfers will be added to this list as soon as some
transfer issues are cleared up.
As Davis wraps up his 2009 recruiting season, he had this to say about this
class of incoming freshmen, "Myself and our staff feel as though each young
man in this incoming group will be a nice fit with our program. We look for
athletes with a great attitude and work ethic in the classroom and on the mat.
This group appears to fit that mold. We look forward to getting them on campus
and getting at it."
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