Mr. Mat

1976 George Kovalick Bellaire Athletic Director

1977 Bill Van Horne Sports Editor, Wheeling News Register

1978 John Vrotsos Martins Ferry High School

1979 Richard Edge Principal, Springfield High

1980 George Wally John Marshall Athletic Director

1981 Bob Hedmond Steubenville Athletic Director

1982 Paul Crago Marshall County Schools

1983 Dr. Vincent Monseau WLSC

1984 Bill Hinegardner John Marshall High School

1985 Dennis Bowman Bellaire High School

1986 Ronald Mauck Brooke High School

1987 Eric Carder Wheeling Park High School

1988 Dave Kovalick Barnesville High School

1989 Steve Kish Principal Bellaire High School

1990 Carl Fodor Hancock County Schools

1991 Dr. William Welker Warwood Middle School

1992 Larry Deaton Martins Ferry

1993 John Stephehson Cadiz High School

1994 Joe Bates Woodsfield High School

1995 Bob Burney Martins Ferry High School

1996 Larry Chambers Moundsville Jr. High

1997 Gary Davis Beallsville High School

1998 Cal Pokas Martins Ferry Time Leader

1999 Tom Lackman Jefferson Union

2000 Ed "Buzzy" Evans Wheeling Park High School

2001 William McEldowney Wheeling

2002 John Craig Indian Creek High School

2003 Ed Dugas John Marshall High School

2004 Jeff Oberdick Martins Ferry High School

2005 Dan Doyle Superintendent Noble County Schools

2006 Nolan Van Gilder Brooke High School

2007 Rick Link Union Local Schools

2008 Jim Potts Cameron High School

2009 Bud Billiard Brooke High School

2010 Jeff Carroll Cadiz High School

2011 Rich Gregor Edison High School

OVAC "Mr. Mat" award winners

1976 -- George Kovalick (Founder: 7 OVAC Champs/’59 State Champs from Bridgeport, Ohio & Bobby Douglas’s Coach)
1977 -- Bill Van Horne (Dean of OVAC Wrestling writers --Whg. N-R)
1978 -- John "Corky" Vrotsos (7 OVAC Championships)
1979 -- Dick Edge (Ohio County Schools Wrestling Pioneer)
1980 -- George Walley (OVAC Tournament Director during early 1970s)
1981 -- Bob Hedmond (OVAC Tournament Director during late 1970s)
1982 -- Paul Crago (Marshall County Schools Wrestling Pioneer)
1983 -- Dr. Vince Monseau (WLSC Wrestling Coach/NAIA Hall of Fame)
1984 -- Bill Hinegardner (OVAC Coach of Year/4 State Champ Teams)
1985 -- Dennis Bowman (Author-- 50 Years of OVAC Wrestling)
1986 -- Ronald Mauck (OVAC Tourn. Director & Innovator since 1980)
1987 -- Eric Carder (3 OVAC Team Champs & 4 WV State Champ Teams)
1988 -- Dave Kovalick (OVAC Coach of Year -- Barnesville H. S.)
1989 -- Steve Kish (Outstanding Coach & Official -- Martins Ferry, Ohio)
1990 -- Carl Fodor (Hancock County Schools Wrestling Pioneer)
1991 -- Dr. William Welker (Wrestler, Coach, Official, Writer & Speaker)
1992 -- Larry Deaton (OVAC, WV & Ohio State Official since 1964)
1993 -- John Stephenson (Cadiz, Ohio Wrestling Pioneer/OVAC Champs)

1994 -- Joe Bates (Bellaire St. Johns, Ohio Wrestling Pioneer)
1995 -- Bob Bruney (Outstanding OVAC Wrestler, Coach & Official)
1996 -- Larry Chambers (Marshall County Junior High Coaching Icon)
1997 -- Gary Davis (Beallsville, Ohio Wrestling Pioneer)
1998 -- Cal Pokas (Outstanding Wrestling Writer for Martins Ferry T-L)
1999 -- Tom Lackman (Jefferson Union High School Wrestling Pioneer)
2000 -- Edward "Buzz" Evans (2 OVAC & WV State Team Champs)
2001 -- William McEldowney (Wheeling, Father of Greater Wheeling area Smallfry Wrestling in the 1950s)
2002 -- John Craig (Steubenville High School Coach)
2003 -- Ed Dugas (Long time Coach at John Marshall)
2004 -- Jeff Oberdick (Martins Ferry High School Coach)
2005 -- Dan Doyle (former Jefferson Union and Buckeye Local Coach)
2006 -- Nolan Van Gilder (Brooke High School Coach)
2007 -- Rick Link (Long time Union Local Coach)
2008 -- Jim Potts (Long time Cameron Head Coach)
2009 -- Paul "Bud" Billiard
2010 -- Jeff Carroll

Welcome to OVAeC Wrestling

(Ohio Valley Athletic ex Coach) The purpose of this web site is to promote O.V.A.C. wrestling and the individuals that make it all possible. I don't proclaim to know everything about the O.V.A.C.'s or wrestling, but I have coached in the O.V.A.C.'s for the past 8 years so I do have some knowledge of the sport, coaches and the wrestlers(2002).