“At OVU we are really striving to have more impact in the local community. Next to football, wrestling is one of the most loved and fan supported sports in the local area. This is a hot bed for wrestling talent. The new program will serve to increase our overall visibility in the community,” OVU Athletic Director Larry Lyons said. “We want the community to really feel that OVU is their team and want them to be excited about what we’re doing and come out and support our teams.”
It doesn’t go unnoticed that OVU has recruited one of the most decorated wrestling coaches in the state. Coach Pat Sole is no stranger to the Mid-Ohio Valley or winning.
A native of Parkersburg, Sole spent the better part of his coaching career at Parkersburg South High School (PSHS) where he helped guide the program to 10 state titles and three runner-up finishes. During his tenure at PSHS he also coached seven high school All-Americans with 11 of his wrestlers going on to the NCAA Division I collegiate competition level (four went on to the NCAA Division I National Championships).
Following 18 years of success at PSHS, Sole returned to his Alma Mater, Liberty University, to help reinstate the university’s wrestling program. While there the program won the East Region Conference NCAA Division I Championship title in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Fourteen of his wrestlers went on to compete in the NCAA Division I National Championships.
“I’m honored to establish something in the valley that is much needed and happening elsewhere in the country with Division II colleges/universities. We have great talent here locally when it comes to wrestling and those student-athletes deserve the opportunity to stay local on a collegiate level and compete,” Coach Pat Sole said. “I’m excited to see OVU open its doors and sponsor this sport. It will benefit them, the community and state.”
“OVU is a faith based institution and to have the opportunity to make an impact with young men and expose or encourage them in their Christian faith is important to me. Coaching at OVU will allow us to not only build up young men physically and academically, but spiritually as well,” Sole continued.
“It was very clear to us that Coach Sole shares OVU’s Christian values and wants to work with us in transforming lives in a Christian atmosphere and academic community,” Lyons said. “The way this program has come about and having Pat serve as its leader…is nothing short of spectacular. We are very excited to have him part of our family and look forward to the enthusiasm and dedication he will bring to our student-athletes.”
Lyons noted that the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference does not currently include wrestling as a conference sport but that a number of schools within the region (West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania) do offer the varsity sport and finding strong competition will not be difficult. Lyons went on to say that Coach Sole has already begun working on a schedule and will begin recruiting immediately for the program.
To learn more about OVU sports, visit
http://www.ovu.edu/athletics
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