I love this time of year. March holds lots of action for sports fans. Traditionally, it opens with March Madness and by the end gives way to the Masters at Augusta National, the legendary golf course widely regarded as one of the most scenic in the world. I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself because there’s lots of basketball and wrestling to talk about this week, but all the things I love about spring are within sight. Things like the Masters, my infamous spring golf trip with my high school buddies, and finally, seeing our area athletes outside participating in baseball, softball and track, sure gets the juices flowing. After the winter we endured here in the Ohio Valley, knowing these activities are on the calendar, puts a big smile on my face.

If you are a fan of high school and college basketball you are about to enter the best time of the year – “March Madness”. In the early days of my career when I was the football coach at Nicholas County High School, our head basketball coach, the late Butch Powell, always took a personal day on the opening day of the Men’s NCAA Tournament. He would stay home and watch the first round of games on TV from the comfort of his living room. Back in the 80s, fans didn’t have the luxuries we enjoy today. This year, every game of the men’s tournament will be aired either on CBS, TBS, TNT or Tru TV and their digital platforms, including Paramount Plus.

The tournament, known for its upsets of favorite teams, has become one of the biggest annual sporting events in the United States. The 68-team format was adopted in 2011, and it has remained largely unchanged since 1985 when it was expanded to 64 teams. Before then the tournament size varied from as few as 8 participating teams to as many as 53.

But maybe I’m putting the cart before the horse, because March Madness can’t begin without Selection Sunday, the highly anticipated unveiling of the NCAA tournament bracket. While no baskets are made and no points are scored, this annual tradition is arguably the nation’s most scrutinized non sporting sporting event! Selection Sunday this year is March 16th.

Each year teams and fans anxiously gather to watch as the NCAA selection committee announces the 68-team field, setting the stage for college basketball’s biggest event – the Big Dance. The reactions are as much a part of the spectacle as the games themselves. Television coverage captures the raw emotion of teams huddling in cafeterias, locker rooms, and arenas waiting for their fate. Some erupt with joy as their name appears on the screen, while others are left heartbroken by a last-minute brush-off.

Our Mountaineers, according to CBS Sports bracketologist Jerry Palm, are pegged to be a #10 seed in the Midwest region squaring off against #7 UCLA. Coach DeVries had the Mountaineers ready to roll on Tuesday night against the Utah Utes, officially closing out the road portion of the team’s regular season schedule. The team returned home to face UCF for a regular season finale victory capping off an amazing first season for Coach DeVries. It is exciting to have the Mountaineers back in the mix. The first round begins on March 18th.

In local action, all area high school basketball teams have begun the march to Charleston with the girls action beginning the week of March 3 and the boys following on March 7. Still alive and moving on are the Tyler Consolidated Silver Knights boys basketball team with a deciding game at Williamstown on Wednesday, March 12, for the right to go to Charleston. Also in boys basketball action, Valley and Magnolia will square off on Wednesday, March 12, with the winner advancing to Charleston for the state finals.

I made the trip south to see the state boys and girls wrestling tournament this past weekend in Huntington. TCHS had a strong showing with Eliana Winfrey capturing her second state championship, Branson Winfrey finishing 4th in the state and Colsen Spragg finishing 5th. I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the sport of wrestling fueled by the dedication and knowledge of both past Tyler Consolidated head coach Paden Morris and current head coach Eric McKeever. Their leadership has not only shaped the athletes on the mat but also given me a deeper understanding of what makes wrestling such a demanding and rewarding sport. I have watched TCHS, Magnolia, and Paden City compete this past year in various tournaments, and all have had success at different times.

One of the most inspiring developments I’ve seen is the rapid growth of girls wrestling at Tyler Consolidated. When the girl’s program first began, they had about seven ladies participating. Today that number has grown to 15 lady wrestlers capping off with Eliana Winfrey claiming yet another state championship!

Until then, congratulations to our TCHS wrestling champions and good luck to area basketball teams as they battle for the chance to move on to Charleston.