ADAM HOPPEL
ADAM HOPPEL
School: Beaver Local.
Grade: Sophomore.
Positive influence: My dad Carl Hoppel was a three-time state champ, and he taught me wrestling and took me to camp. Brother Doug wrestles with me every day.
Best memory: Winning state.
Future: I would like to wrestle or play football in college.
STEVE VALLOS
School: Boardman.
Grade: Senior.
Positive influence: Coach Dom Mancini brought a new intensity into the wrestling room this year that helped me succeed throughout the season.
Best memory: Wrestling in the state finals. It had been a goal of mine since I went and watched the tournament as a sophomore.
Future: Next fall I will attend Wake Forest University on a football scholarship. I hope to pursue a career as a physical therapist.
BRANDON ALEXANDER
School: Howland.
Grade: Sophomore.
Positive influence: My mother because she supports me at all my matches.
Best memory: I was losing to the kid that I had pinned earlier in the sectionals. I knew I had to win, so I got an escape and won the match.
Future: Either go to Penn State and wrestle or try to play football for Tennessee.
CRAIG BATES
School: West Branch.
Grade: Senior.
Positive influence: Coach Mike Helm helped me and our teams potential.
Best memory: Winning N.B.C. title.
Future: Going to college and play football.
BOB BRENNER
School: Canfield.
Grade: Junior.
Positive influence: Coach Dean Conley. He helped me through some tough times and always has been behind me with support. He really is a great guy and coach.
Best memory: The sectional tournament I pinned my way through and tied the school pin record of 21 in my final match.
Future: I would like to go on and wrestle in college. I am not sure where I would like to go yet.
ERIC CHINE
School: Fitch.
Grade: Sophomore.
Positive influence: Coach Kevin Snyder because he is a great influence to me, and he works with me in everything I do in life, not only wrestling. He's not only a coach, but a great friend and role model.
Best memory: Placing second at district, which qualified me to the state tournament and when I first walked out of the tunnel at state to wrestle my first match.
Future: I hope to place at state in the future, and my No. 1 goal before I graduate is to be a state champ.
JIMMY GIBSON
School: Kennedy Catholic.
Grade: Senior.
Positive influence: Dad. He was the one that started me in the sport, and he has been with me through my whole career.
Best memory: Advancing to the state finals.
Future: Attend college and wrestle.
RYAN GILLIAM
School: Howland.
Grade: Senior.
Positive influence: Coaches Brian Earich and Cooley have made me a better person on and off the mat, and they have helped me study harder in the classroom.
Best memory: Winning the EOWL tournament and beat Scott Rodgers of Liberty.
Future: After graduating from high school I'll be attending Pittsburgh Tech and majoring in multimedia.
CHRIS GREEN
School: East Liverpool.
Grade: Junior.
Positive influence: Coach Bob Thayer has had a real influence on my life. He has taught me that goals are achieved through hard work and dedication, and he has showed me how to be a leader.
Best memory: I will always remember the match that allowed me to participate in the state tournament.
Future: My immediate plan is to have a good track season. Next year, I plan to participate in football, wrestling and track. I will not only participate, but I plan to improve. My long-team goals are to participate in wrestling or football at the next level.
ERIC HENRY
School: Southeast.
Grade: Senior.
Positive influence: Coach Ralph Graham. He motivated me to work harder and was always willing to do whatever it took to help me achieve my goals.
Best memory: State tournament, wrestling back through the consolations to place.
Future: Attend college and ultimately attend law school.
JARED HOPPEL
School: Beaver Local.
Grade: Junior.
Positive influence: My junior high wrestling coach, Craig Godwin. Though battling illness and despite doctors' warning, he still helped us as much as he could and enjoyed the sport very much and still tries to make it to as many of our matches as possible.
Best memory: Winning my semifinals match of districts and knowing I was going to state.
Future: Work hard in the off-season to prepare for next year. Graduate high school and attend a four-year college.
LEE KECK
School: Jackson-Milton.
Grade: Junior.
Positive influence: Coach Tomaino is an inspiration both on and off the mats. Any problem that presents itself for any of his wrestlers, he is always around for help.
Best memory: Sending 10 wrestlers to the district tournament surpassing our previous school record of eight.
Future: Right now I am on course to graduate with honors. I plan on going to college with a major in history.
KYLE KEMBLE
School: Jackson-Milton.
Grade: Junior.
Positive influence: Coach Dave Tomaino continues to motivate and influence me to succeed.
Best memory: The EOWL tournament. My match against Stu Sanor where I won by one point.
Future: Continue another year as a senior and wrestle.
BRETT LINZEY
School: Southeast.
Grade: Senior.
Positive influence: My father, he rarely misses a practice or match. He has been positive to all decisions I have made dealing with athletics.
Best memory: Walking out of the tunnel at the state tournament.
Future: Attend Mount Union College and play four years of football and major in computer science.
KLYNT MASTON
School: Canfield.
Grade: Junior.
Positive influence: A positive influence would have to be my parents. They got me started in it and have been positive all the way through 'til now.
Best memory: When I won the sectional tournament. A few days before I was sick and I didn't feel very good, but I managed to win all four of my matches.
Future: I plan to work out all summer and hope to place in the top three at state next year.
JOE MURRAY
School: Fitch.
Grade: Sophomore.
Positive influence: My father, Tom Murray, has helped push me and taken me to many camps, as well as given me great advice. He's a great role model.
Best memory: After losing in the first round at state, coming back through the bracket to take fourth place and also placing in all of our tournaments.
Future: I hope to continue with wrestling and become Fitch's first two-time state champ.
DREW NEWHART
School: West Branch.
Grade: Junior.
Positive influence: My dad has been a positive influence to me because he has helped show me what it takes to become successful in wrestling.
Best memory: When our team won a match against Akron Springfield to win our conference.
Future: To attend college. Immediate plans are to continue to work hard and attend wrestling tournaments.
WILLIE ROSA
School: Boardman.
Grade: Junior.
Positive influence: Coach Dom Mancini has been behind me no matter how good or bad I did. Coach Foster has been the best coach I've had. He's influenced me greatly to try hard no matter what happens. Without my parents' support, I don't know what I would do.
Best memory: Winning EOWL wrestling tournament and qualifying for the district tournament.
Future: Going to college and wrestle, and I hope I make it to state.
SETH SHARP
School: West Branch.
Grade: Junior.
Positive influence: My parents, Phil and Glenda Sharp. My father got me started in sports when I was young and always had a positive outlook on my performance.
Best memory: When I won my semifinal match at district 11-2 to advance to state and when I walked out on the floor for the first time at the Schottenstein Center down at state.
Future: I hope to be all-state in all three of my sports next year and being a state champ. I would like to be a gym teacher or go into sports medicine. I am not sure which college I would like to go to.
JEREMY SHAW
School: Beaver Local.
Grade: Junior.
Positive influence: My father for always pushing me that extra mile to make me what I am.
Best memory: The district finals' very exciting close match that I won in double overtime.
Future: To push myself to the limit to reach my goals in sports. Attend college and work in the medical field.
JOSH STANSBURY
School: East Liverpool.
Grade: Junior.
Positive influence: My dad because he has pushed me to do my best and try hardest.
Best memory: Wrestling and placing fourth at the state tournament.
Future: To wrestle in college and maybe coach.
TONY STELLATO
School: Boardman.
Grade: Senior.
Positive influence: My parents, family for always supporting me through the years. My coaches for pushing me, believing in me, instilling the value of hard work and teaching me to never give up on my goals. Wrestling has prepared me for life in the real world. Because of it I can face anything.
Best memory: A close semifinal match 3-2 at district to advance to the state tournament and wrestle in front of 17,000 fans in Columbus.
Future: I plan to continue my wrestling career at college and major in sports medicine or education and become a wrestling coach.
BRIAN THOMPSON
School: Boardman.
Grade: Junior.
Positive influence: Jay Dana and Tom Draper have been positive influences in my athletic career. They have taught me hard work and to never give up. They were my seventh and eighth grade coaches.
Best memory: Winning the EOWL Tournament and beating Jeremy Shaw ranked eighth in the state.
Future: Right now I'm getting ready for football season and have one more year of high school wrestling left. I plan on going to college, but I don't know where. I want to major in education.
JORDAN WILLIAMS
School: Beaver Local.
Grade: Junior.
Positive influence: My father because he's always supported me and my coach Rich Wright because he's always been there and pushed me to do better.
Best memory: Winning the title at Eastern Ohio Wrestling tournament.
Future: Go to college and study education.
COACH OF THE YEAR
RICH WRIGHT
BEAVER LOCAL
People who influenced his career: My father, Rich, who started the wrestling program at East Liverpool when I was 7 years old. He laid down the foundation of the sport for me. Nick Trombetto, my high school wrestling coach at East Liverpool. He taught me the organization and skills of the sport.
Best memory of last season: Adam Hoppel winning the state championship, my second state champion in 11 years of coaching.
Future: My immediate plans are now concerning football since I'm also the head football coach and I have to get my kids stronger for next season. As far as the wrestling team, we want to hopefully continue the success that we've had in recent years.
ALSO SELECTED
Jon Varner of East Liverpool, Chris Sutcliffe of Southeast and Bryan Gray of Austintown were also chosen to The Vindicator all-star team but declined to participate in the photo and biographical process.
XThe 2002 winter All-Stars were chosen by The Vindicator sports staff with input from coaches. They were selected based on their performance during the regular season and tournaments.