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Here is our current list of Class of 2017 wrestlers who are continuing the great sport in college, broken down by region:

AAA Region 1
Frisco/University HS/WVU
Edgell/Brooke HS/West Liberty

AAA Region 2
Pastran/Musselman/New England

AAA Region 3
Slack/Riverside HS/West Liberty
Zimmerman/Greenbrier East/West Liberty

AAA Region 4
Morgan, Chase/Ripley HS/West Liberty
Morgan, Chance/Ripley HS/West Liberty
Talbott/Hurricane HS/West Liberty
Lambiotte/Parkersburg South HS/OVU
Creamer/Spring Valley HS/OVU
Donahue/Parkersburg HS/Wheeling Jesuit
DeLong/Parkersburg South HS/WVU
Jeffers/Huntington HS/Campbellsville

AA/A Region 1
Seacrist/Petersburg HS/West Liberty
Nice/Magnolia HS/Wheeling Jesuit
Bozek/Oak Glen HS/West Liberty
Keys/Tyler Consolidated HS/West Liberty

AA/A Region 2


AA/A Region 3
Adams/Independence HS/WVU
Swafford/Fayetteville HS/Liberty


AA/A Region 4


19 wrestlers
13 from AAA
6 from AA/A

5 or 26.32% won a state title in 2017.


Although opinions vary, some readers contended last season that AAA Region 4 and AA/A Region 1 were the toughest. One could take upon themselves that the college coaches were in the stands at these regions also.

As always………………………enjoy!

Michael Milam/Saint Albans
Coker college

I have taken my son to several practices and clinics with Johnni D. His technique is great yet he can simplify and explain each move in steps so everyone can easily learn or see where they're making mistakes. He wrestles with the kids and his method is interesting for even the parents watching.

While those numbers are significant, they alone do not represent anything regarding which regions are the best or have the best wrestlers. Aspects like student interest in going to college, scholarships for more than one sport, and family economics all influence whether or not a student athlete goes on to college. We had a wrestler offered scholarships in two different sports this year (wrestling and football) and he chose to pass them both up and stay home and get a job. We had another wrestler who had a 4.125 GPA as a senior and no doubt could have at least gotten some interest from a wrestling college if he had applied, and he didn't go to college either. There are more factors than simply who went to college on a scholarship that go into who is or is not on that list.

coach_williams wrote:While those numbers are significant, they alone do not represent anything regarding which regions are the best or have the best wrestlers. Aspects like student interest in going to college, scholarships for more than one sport, and family economics all influence whether or not a student athlete goes on to college. We had a wrestler offered scholarships in two different sports this year (wrestling and football) and he chose to pass them both up and stay home and get a job. We had another wrestler who had a 4.125 GPA as a senior and no doubt could have at least gotten some interest from a wrestling college if he had applied, and he didn't go to college either. There are more factors than simply who went to college on a scholarship that go into who is or is not on that list.

I do not dispute your input on this topic. However, there was significant discussion last season about the strength of AAA region 4 and AA/A region 1. This measurement (wrestlers going on to wrestle in college) is just another metric to collaborate the viewpoint of many.

I am sure that leadership, mentoring and guidance from surrounding adults plays a huge role in helping an 18 year old in moving on to college and also playing a sport in college. Most of the wrestlers listed above did NOT win a state title. They obviously do not care and they are moving forward. Good for them.

How many wrestlers does West Liberty have returning? They have 9 on your list. I know nothing about college wrestling from a recruiting aspect. Maybe they redshirt some and plan on some to start? Maybe they recruit practice partners for their upperclassmen? Just seems like a lot from just WV. Wonder how many out of state guys they've recruited as well? These are my questions...

west liberty recruited 21 wrestlers this season. as many as 3 in some weight classes

potomac highlander wrote:west liberty recruited 21 wrestlers this season. as many as 3 in some weight classes

Considering only 27% of WV kids who go to college actually complete their degree in 4 years, that is just smart recruiting. Statistically, in four years only 5 or 6 of those wrestlers will still be on the team, and that is if none of them transfer to a different school.