Connect Bridgeport
Ad
FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTubeRSS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Community
    • Community News
    • Anniversaries
    • Announcements
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Calendar
    • Churches
    • Clubs & Organizations
    • Directory
    • Farmer's Market
    • File Complaint
    • Greeting Cards
    • Library
    • Lost And Found
    • Obituaries
    • Parks & Recreation
    • Sponsorships
  • Trading Post
    • For Sale
    • Local Deals
    • Services
    • Yard Sales
  • Visitors
  • Relocation
  • Education
  • Jobs
  • Alumni
Ad

WVU's Noah Adams Named Hardman Award Winner as State's Top Amateur Athlete

By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on April 26, 2020

By Justin Jackson
The Dominion-Post
 
Noah Adams' perfect season didn't have the perfect ending.
 
The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic kept Adams from competing in the NCAA national championship tournament.
 
Before that, the 197-pound West Virginia University wrestler had racked up a 32-0 record and was named the Big 12 Wrestler of the Year and a place on the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-America First Team. He was also a finalist for the prestigious Dan Hodge Trophy.
 
That came on the heels of a redshirt freshman season that saw Adams — a former Independence High School standout and three-time state champion and Dutton Award winner — finish with a 19-15 record.
 
"His success is certainly deserved," WVU head coach Tim Flynn said. "While some people look at his record and his ranking and are shocked, believe me, if you saw what he did all summer, the amount of work he put in, how hard he trains, you wouldn't have that reaction at all."
 
Adams became just the second WVU wrestler to go unbeaten in a season. Former standout, and two-time Hardman Award winner, Greg Jones did it twice. Adams won the Big 12 title with a 5-1 decision against South Dakota State's Tanner Sloan.
 
While it will never be known how Adams, a No. 2 seed, would have fared in the NCAA Tournament this season, the redshirt sophomore has been selected winner of the Hardman Award, given to the state Amateur Athlete of the Year. The award is named after the late A. L. (Shorty) Hardman, longtime Charleston Gazette sports editor/columnist. The complete list of award winners may be found on the wvswa.org website.
 
The award is voted on by members of the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
 
Adams and Jones are the only two wrestlers to be honored with the award, given annually since 1934.
 
"My work effort has gone up and I've stepped it up in practice," Adams said. "I took my offseason work seriously and really worked on my conditioning. Those have been the big things I really wanted to work on heading into the season."
 
In winning the Hardman Award, Adams edged out WVU baseball pitcher Alek Manoah, Parkersburg South wrestler Braxton Amos, and Ripley distance runner Tori Starcher.
 
Manoah guided the Mountaineers to hosting a NCAA regional and was a 1st Team All-American and the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year after setting a school-record for strikeouts along with a 2.08 ERA and a 9-4 record. He was the 11th overall draft pick in the first round by the Toronto Blue Jays.
 
Amos, a 220-pound wrestler with the Patriots, won his third state title with an unbeaten record and was unscored-upon as a senior. The first two-time winner of the Dutton Award as state Wrestler of the Year signed with Wisconsin.
 
Starcher broke two state records in the 800 and 1,600 meters and also won the 3,200 to complete a three-year unbeaten run at the state meet. The Stanford recruit also set a meet record in the 1,600 at the prestigious Penn Relays.
 
Editor's Note: Photos courtesy of WVU.

Share


Sign up/stay connected

Create your profile to start adding photos, posting comments, and more.

SIGN UP

Ad
Ad
Ad

Blogs [ view all ]

  • Photo

    From the Bench: Recalling My Friend D.D....

    It was mentioned in the obituary. In fact, it was very concise and to the point in a memorial so loaded with good deeds an...

    Posted by Jeff Toquinto

  • Photo

    Time Travel: Johnson Avenue "Pre-Sheetz"...

    Look familiar? If it doesn't, it's because today this area of Johnson Avenue is completely built up. Th...

    Posted by Dick Duez

  • Photo

    Crisis Chronicles: It Takes a Village

    Around 5 p.m. on Friday, May 30th, my phone started buzzing with weather alerts. This spring has been particularly int...

    Posted by Tim Curry

  • Photo

    It's Happening: Baylor Comes Home

    Many have been following the journey of 2-year-old Baylor Waggamon since early-2025 when he was awaiting a heart transplan...

    Posted by Julie Perine

  • Photo

    The Grapevine: Enjoying the Wheeling Sym...

    Once again, the residents of Harrison County will have the opportunity to celebrate the Fourth of July with a performa...

    Posted by Rosalyn Queen

  • Photo

    ToquiNotes: Unlucky 13-Year Anniversary ...

    It was August 20, 1970, when what many will consider the worst storm in Bridgeport’s history took place. A torna...

    Posted by Jeff Toquinto

Sports Calendar [ view all ]

Sep
6

Golf Tournament

 



Bridgeport, WV
Editorial Board Advertise Privacy Policy Contact Us
FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTubeRSS

©2014 Connect Bridgeport.