Moorefield junior Isaac Van Meter was selected to the Wrestling USA Magazine’s Top-50 ranking of the nation’s best high school junior wrestlers for the 170-lb. weight class.
Van Meter earned special mention distinction among the group of wrestlers selected to this honor.
“It was pretty exciting to see that all of my hard work from this past season was still paying off,” Moorefield Wrestling junior co-captain Isaac Van Meter commented.
Van Meter won the WVSSAC state wrestling 170-lb. championship this season as a junior and was the state runner-up last year and placed third overall as a freshman for a career record of 166-8.
“I’m always proud of his accomplishments,” Moorefield Wrestling Coach T.J. Van Meter remarked.[private]
“This one took me by surprise a little bit. Isaac doesn’t wrestle in any of the larger post season wrestling events, because he plays so much baseball throughout the spring and summer. So, this recognition is really solely based on his high school seasons. He has had an incredible HS career thus far. He’s 166-8 for his career with a 3rd, 2nd, 1st place finish to his credit at the state level.”
According to the Wrestling USA Magazine website, the Nation’s Best 2019-20 High School Juniors final rankings were determined by six factors: 1) Accomplishments at the state high school championships (folkstyle); 2) National Junior Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships; 3) Performances at prestigious regular season high school tournaments; 4) Super 32 Challenge Tournament; 5) Cadet National Championships; 6) NHSCA Championships.
Van Meter joined one other wrestler from the Mountain State as a top junior wrestler for this weight class as Huntington’s Austin Dempsey rounded out the Top-30.
“He’s beaten several of the top ranked kids when he was in middle school or younger. As a coach it makes me wonder where he would be on a national level if he focused on wrestling. But he loves baseball, specifically pitching and as his dad I’m just proud of him and love to support him in everything he does,” Coach Van Meter added.
Isaac Van Meter continues to dominate on the mat which culminated in the state championship this season and the accolades have been stacking up for his career leading to this national recognition with one more year left to conquer in Huntington.
Despite the tremendous skill in wrestling, Van Meter has chosen to pursue his passion of baseball having won two state titles as an ace pitcher and shortstop resulting in a verbal commitment decision to play at Mount St. Mary’s University.[/private]