Photo Provided Pictued is the 2018-19 Magnolia High School wrestling team and coaching staff.

MHS Head Coach Eric McKeever and assistant coaches Robert Gomez and Derek Metz will help keep the rock-steady Blue Eagle grapplers heading in the right direction.

We already know that Coach McKeever was an outstanding coach at Tyler Consolidated Middle School and was voted a few years back as the OVAC Assistant Coach of the Year at Magnolia. Coach Gomez wrestled at James Madison, and new coach Derek Metz was a state champion back in 2002 when he wrestled at Calhoun County, where he was also an assistant coach.

Heading the way are for Magnolia are Gage Adams (138 lbs), Jason Beisel (126 lbs), James Stillwagoner (182 lbs), and Mikey Hamrick (285 lbs) – the nucleus of the team, along with returning grapplers Alan Collins (120 lbs), Sam Zombotti (132 lbs), and Jesse Coulter (132 lbs). Trenton Mitchel (152 lbs), Carter Pyles (160 lbs) Hunter Scott (220 lbs), and Kyle Waters (285 lbs) look to keep wrestling at Magnolia on the rise.

The season appears promising as McKeever has some talented newcomers to keep the Eagles flying high, including Travis Carr (113 lbs), Austin Stillwagoner (132 lbs), Jacob Phillips (145 lbs), Caleb Wilkinson (152 lbs), Brody Rush (170 lbs), Caneron Stillwagoner (195 lbs), and Chantz Williams (220 lbs).

“We expect to compete in each and every competition, and to qualify some of the team in state, as well as winning some matches in the OVAC,” said McKeever.

The season looks promising, as Magnolia has some talented wrestlers that will compete at a high level in (state qualifier) Mikey Hamrick, Gage Adams, Jason Beisel and James Stillwagoner all season, and they look to surprise a lot of teams.

They also have some guys that looks pretty good early on in Jacob Phillips, Cameron Stillwagoner and Chantz Williams.

The Eagles will host a Holiday Quad with Paden City, Monroe Central, RCB, Beallsville and Tyler Consolidated on Dec. 29 inside the Magnolia Gymnasium.