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Greenville
and Versailles has become a very good rivalry when it comes to
wrestling.
In the first year of the state wrestling duals, both the Wave and the
Tigers will host opening
rounds of the competition. CNO file photo by George Starks
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Greenville and
Versailles to host state duals
Wave coach weighs in
By George Starks
GREENVILLE- It was brought to life Monday.
Former Versailles wrestling coach Bill Rolle helped get the ball
rolling on the idea of the state wrestling duals and it was approved by
the OHSAA.
Monday, both Greenville and Versailles received number one seeds in
their respective regions and both schools will host, at the very least,
a first round state dual meet.
With action starting on Wednesday, January 23, the Wave and the Tigers
will receive first round byes as Greenville, Region 16-B, will wrestle
the winner of Milton Union (9 seed) and the eight seed, Dunbar.
Versailles, Region 24-B, will get the winner of the Lehman
Catholic-Southeastern match on that same night.
If both schools are successful in their opening rounds, then Greenville
and Versailles will host a second round the following Wednesday.
“We (Greenville) found out this morning (Monday),” said Wave coach John
Shutts in an exclusive phone interview. “We had a pretty good idea
because if you are one or two in your region then you will host and
continue to host in the second round as long as you continue to win.”
With this being the initial year of the format, Shutts said emotions
ran high upon hearing the announcement.
“It’s a great honor for Greenville because it is the first year for the
state duals. It’s neat that we get to be a number one seed in our
region and we get to host also,” admitted Shutts. “We got a good draw
and our goal is to wrestle Graham in the regionals but when I found
out, I think I was more relieved than anything else. I felt like we
would be the top seed based on the match-up we’ve had so far but you
never know how other coaches are going to vote. I was a little
apprehensive before we got the results. Now that we know, I think it’s
really cool.”
While Shutts may have been on edge waiting and relieved after finding
out, he said others had different reactions, starting with athletic
director Randy Swisher and then the kids as well.
“Randy is very excited about it,” said Shutts. “He said this will be a
new experience for all of us. He is excited but he will have to move a
Wednesday night girl’s game with Troy on that night. He’s been in
contact with Troy about this. As far as the kids are concerned, they
are very excited about it. We’ve talked about this right at the end of
practice. We really haven’t hyped it up too much because it is a new
experience. We wanted this at the start of the year and we’ve earned
the respect of others to be able to do this.”
With the coaches, faculty and students finding out at the same time,
Shutts said there is one thing he wants to see.
Shutts wants the hostile atmosphere that is found at football and
basketball games.
“I would like to see the Stage Crew show up for this like they do at
basketball games,” Shutts pointed out. “I told them about this at our
last pep assembly and that was the first time we really talked about
it. We know what the Stage Crew does for our home basketball games and
I think it would be awesome for us because we are hosting a state
tournament at our school. Just having those kids up there on the stage
going nuts and getting rowdy. They will present that hostile atmosphere
and cheering our guys on. I hope they take me up on it. I’m going to
put it up on the school announcements.”
The format at Greenville will see Dunbar and Milton-Union wrestling at
6 p.m. on the 23rd while at Versailles, it will be Southeastern and
Lehman Catholic hooking up.
Twenty minutes after the completion of those matches, the winners will
meet the host Wave and the Tigers.
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When
the first ever state wrestling duals happen next Wednesday, Wave coach
John Shutts is
attempting to employ the services of the popular Stage Crew. CNO photo
by Dylan Knoop
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