Hall of Fame News and Sentinel II - Jeff Givens

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MOV trio set to join National Wrestling Hall of Fame
September 18, 2021 Parkersburg News and Sentinel
By Jay Bennett, at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com

PARKERSBURG — A trio of locals from the Mid-Ohio Valley will be inducted into the West Virginia Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame during a Halloween afternoon banquet at the Embassy Suites in Charleston.

Tyler Westbrook, a 2002 graduate of Williamstown High School who died in 2015, will be honored posthumously with the “Outstanding American” award. Joining him as “Lifetime Service to Wrestling” honorees will be his former Yellowjacket coach Jeff Givens as well as longtime area coach and official Dean Moore.

Givens, who has been the athletic director and an assistant principal at Williamstown since 2007, was a four-year letterman for coach Pickens and won the 145-pound state title during his senior year of 1981. He wrestled and earned a letter under Hall of Fame coach Vince Monseau at West Liberty before an injury ended his mat career.

After taking over as the head middle school coach, he replaced Pickens in 2003 and was honored at the state tournament as the Dix Manning Class AA-A Coach of the Year.

“I wasn’t really done coaching, but opportunities only present themselves every once in a while,” admitted Givens of going into the administration side. “I wouldn’t have minded coaching another five years or so to be honest with you.”

When asked about being inducted he admitted he was “very humbled. Very humbled. Very honored.”

Pickens recalled Givens having a rough start to his senior year and his wrestler talked to him about possibly hanging it up.

“I said Jeff, you’re going to be all right. You’re trying too hard. You’re putting yourself in a mental situation,” said Pickens, who noted Givens then went to the Jackson County Invite, won his weight class, earned Outstanding Wrestler honors and then capped his career in style.

“He came back as my assistant coach for several years and he was my choice to take over when I retired. He had a chance to move up in the administration and I can’t blame him for that. He’s done a really nice job there.”

The Sunday, Oct. 31 banquet will start with a social hour at 1 p.m. with dinner following at 1:45 p.m.

Cost to attend the ceremony is $55 and more information can be found online at http://wvmat.com/hallfame/hfreg21.pdf

Full Article: https://www.newsandsentinel.com/sports/ ... l-of-fame/