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BENNETT: Going on with life

Trying to do anything “normal” in this day and age is anything but easy.

However, at least it appears there is some hope to have a winter sports season in the Mountain State.

Normally at this time of the month we’re in full swing with basketball every night and lots and lots of wrestling to go along with some swimming.

Of course, the only time I’ve been to a wrestling match was last month at Waterford for a triangular.

I’ve covered some interesting basketball games of late and that includes watching two teams on three-game losing skids who snapped that mark by beating a team with the nickname of Tornadoes — the Belpre boys besting Southern and the Marietta girls topping Dover.

An interesting aside, the Mountain East Conference is allowing media to cover their athletic events, but the Ohio Athletic Conference has balked at that idea.

“As of right now (Feb. 15) is our expected start practice day and March 3 being the first day expected for competition,” said Parkersburg High School head wrestling coach Matt Littleton.

“I’ve made two or three schedules by now. We know the teams we want to see. It’s just a matter of getting dates set in now. We got some in today and we’re looking to schedule more. It’s kind of piece by piece.”

Despite having a new start date for winter sports, there’s still plenty of concern in a lot of areas.

“I know it’s not going to be the full season they are used to, but obviously anything is better than nothing at this point,” added coach Littleton.

“It is what it is and we are going to try and get them through to the best of our ability and hopefully safely.”

Even with that being said, the Big Red head man is concerned about the fact “we’re going to have overlapping sports.

“I might lose kids who are going to track or baseball. We are losing some (wrestlers) there as well.”

Overall, the situation has been far from good for Littleton and every other winter sports coach.

“It’s been difficult to say the least from a teaching and coaching standpoint,” Littleton said. “It’s just been different. I’m used to being with our guys all summer and all preseason and we got half the summer, came back to school and it got shut down. I’ve been in some contact with them, but I haven’t seen them.”

∫ In case you missed it:

This past Saturday, the Glenville State College wrestling program of first-year head coach Dylan Cottrell competed on the mats for the first time since 1975. The Pioneers were defeated by host Alderson Broaddus and West Liberty.

On Sunday in Morgantown, West Virginia University opened its campaign for third-year head man Tim Flynn with a home quad versus Ohio, Kent State and No. 8 Virginia Tech.

Former Parkersburg South All-American grappler Brayden Roberts made his debut for the Mountaineers.

The freshman Roberts picked up a pair of victories via decision before coming up short 11-3 to No. 12 ranked Hokie Bryce Andonian.

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com

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