by Seth Staskey, Times Leader

Times Leader Online Article
WHEELING — Since Wheeling Jesuit pegged Sean Doyle as its head wrestling coach four years ago, the program has been on the fast track.

With another season slated to open Nov. 10 against Alderson-Broaddus, the Cardinals are getting a jumpstart on the campaign by hosting their inaugural Cardinal Culture Festival at the Alma Grace McDonough Center on Thursday.

"We are trying to build some momentum into our season," Doyle said. "We want to create an environment that's sort of like midnight madness in basketball. It's an opportunity for fans and our students to see our team before the season starts."

The event will run from 7-9 p.m. and feature events and activities for kids and adults. For the kids, a free youth wrestling clinic will be conducted by the members of the Cardinals' wrestling team, which is ranked third in the region according to D2wrestling.com. Along with the clinic, which is open to kids of any age, the Cardinals' wrestlers will go through simulated matches and a workout type event.

"We'll have an announcer, keeping everyone updated on who's on the mat, what's going on and that kind of thing," Doyle said. "We want to make it enjoyable for people to come and watch. We're not going to have the guys just doing drills, but we're also not doing any actual wrestle offs either."

The event will feature music and inflatables for kids and college-aged people as well.

"We want our fans and students to get to our team a little bit better," Doyle said. "There will be a lot of fun things going on in the gym while the wrestling is going on, too."

Doyle obviously wants to connect more with the Jesuit student body, but he also certainly wants to maintain his connection with the general fanbase, which has been on board since the program's inception.

"We've done a good job of getting the community involved and engaged with wrestling," Doyle said. "The students on this campus have gradually embraced wrestling, but, like anything else, you have to become educated (on the sport) before you can become a fan."

While the youths taking part in the wrestling clinic will be admitted free, there will be a general admission fee for adults will be $4.

"There will be a small fee, so we're able to generate some funds for some things we'd like to do this season, but the free component for the kids makes it nice and the adults are getting some great value,"Doyle continued.