RVHS senior wrestlers reflect on ECOL championship season
WARSAW – River View High School’s senior wrestlers are proud to say they brought the ECOL championship back to Black Bear Country.
“It felt awesome,” said Rann Zimmer.
River View’s wrestling team last won the ECOL in 1983, which was 35 years ago.
“We set that as a goal early in the season and when we started winning and beating better people we knew we could get it,” said Kyle McClain.
River View claimed its championship title on Feb. 3 at the ECOL meet in Zanesville.
“I think what helped us get there is that we are more of a family this year,” McClain said.
Sam Mitchell shared the same thoughts as his teammate.
“We are working together as a team and sticking together,” he said.
Mitchell is 37-1 right now and recently recorded his 100th win. He hopes to return to the state wrestling tournament where he placed sixth last year.
Nick Jacob also is happy with his season and is proud of the team.
“I’ve won more than I lost and winning the ECOL felt really good because it’s what we’ve been working toward,” he said.
Jacob believes River View can win the ECOL championships again even after the seniors are gone.
“They are going to have a good team next year too,” he said. “They just have to keep working.”
Braiden Davis agreed that hard work and dedication to the sport paid off for the River View wrestlers.
“The ECOL hasn’t been won by us in 35 years and to know we are the team that did that felt pretty good,” he said.
The team is led by Head Coach Devin Klein who was named ECOL Coach of the Year. The River View alumnus is in his ninth season at the school.
“We talked about winning the ECOL at the end of last year so we knew going into this year that it was a possibility,” Klein said. “It was exciting to see the kids win it. They really wanted it for themselves and I knew this group could do it. We’ve really progressed this year, but I always tell them I’m going to be proud of them no matter what.”
Austin Horn said Coach Klein was a key part of getting the team where it is.
“Coach Klein really pushed us and it was pretty amazing what we were able to do,” Horn said.
River View’s regular season ended on Feb. 14. They will move on to sectionals this weekend in Steubenville and then hopefully districts and state.
“We have quite a few kids who should advance, but it just depends on who shows up,” Klein said. “Our goal would be for every kid to make it to state.”
Category: High School, Sports
