Paul Jackson

WHEELING — The 21st annual Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Hall of Fame induction was held last month and former Parkersburg South head wrestling coach Paul Jackson was honored as a Legend.

A 1973 graduate of Parkersburg South, Jackson served two stints as the head mat coach for the Patriots – 1990-97 and 2007-12.

Jackson’s nine Class AAA championships are the most of any Class AAA coach in Mountain State history.

His wrestlers won 26 state crowns and he coached 130 state placers en route to winning triple-A Coach of the Year honors seven times.

Once Parkersburg South became an OVAC member, the Patriots won three straight titles (2010-12) and was tournament Class 5A and overall champ. PSHS also won the OVAC dual meet titles in 2009 and 2010.

Parkersburg South also had a stretch of 115 straight dual meet wins as Jackson sported a 325-56 mark, which featured 55 tournament titles. In 1995, PSHS was ranked 20th in the country.

Plaques of the OVAC Hall of Fame inductees are on permanent display in the outer concourse at WesBanco Arena as part of the OVAC Museum.