WHEELING — Ray Jefferis had an outstanding wrestling career during his days at Barnesville High School. He won 113 matches, an Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Tournament championship as a senior and a four-time Ohio state tournament qualifier, placing sixth his senior season.

He continued his mat career at West Liberty University under then-head coach Dr. Vince Monseau. However, it was at the urging of a friend that he found his niche in refereeing.

“It was something growing up that I didn’t want to be a part of, as far as officiating,” he admitted Friday night after being named the 2018 Larry Deaton OVAC Official of the Year. “A friend of mine, Nick Spencer, talked me into it. I went to a couple of meetings, got involved and 17 years later I’m still doing it. I love it.”

He also loves the camaraderie that the officials have.

“It’s a great group of guys to work with,” he said of his fellow OVAC officials. “They are a hard-working bunch of guys.”

While Jefferis has called matches at the OVAC Ron Mauck Tournament for more than a decade and worked sectional and district tournaments, he has failed to get an Ohio state tournament assignment.

“That’s the next step, hopefully,” he said.

Jefferis is currently a physical education teacher in the Cambridge City School District. He, his wife , Olivia, and daughter, Rose, reside in Barnesville.

Free OVAC Wrestling Youth Clinic

As part of the “SUBWAY Sports Clinic Series” the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference will be hosting its annual free youth wrestling clinic in conjunction with the Ron Mauck OVAC Wrestling Tournament today.

The free wrestling clinic will be held on the OVAC championship mats of WesBanco Arena from 9:30-11 a.m. Registration will begin at 8:30. The clinic will be led by Branden Lee Hinkle, national champion NCAA wrestler, US national freestyle all-american and MMA participant. The clinicians will teach the basic fundamentals of wrestling and help build the kids’ self-esteem. The clinic is free and open to boys and girls ages 5-13.

Parents are required to have insurance and be present the day of the clinics to sign a waiver form.

— Special awards were presented to Rich Lowe (Syd Stolz Memorial Award) and Dr. Bill Welker (Program Recognition Award).

— Five weight classes — 106, 120, 152, 195 and 285 — have all top 4 seeds remaining in the championship semifinals.