Sports

Checking Into the New Season

Rayven Jo, Staff Writer

October 9, 2025

Wheeling Park’s hockey team won its first state title in 16 years on February 8th, 2025, beating Morgantown 7-4. The team continued their winning season at nationals by placing third in the nation. Then, Coach Black and assistant Coach Wilson resigned. This left the team in a predicament following their reigning season.

The new Head Coach is Mato Kret. The assistant coaching staff is Coach Shah, Coach Herron, and Coach Velas for the 2025-2026 season.

Adjusting to new coaches, working with the new players, and facing the pressure of last season are just some of the challenges the team has faced in the new season so far. Owen Abraham, a junior on the hockey team and two-year varsity player, shares his thoughts on the transition.

“It felt pretty good after all the hard work that we put in. Coming together as a team at the state championship felt good when we won,” said Abraham. “Getting to know the other coaches’ systems, and just getting to know the coaches.”

A team that was on top after the state playoffs had to work hard in the off-season to prove they deserve to be the reigning state champions.

Hailey Hastings is one of three goalies for the Wheeling Park hockey team. During the off-season, Hastings worked on her goaltending at Shane Clifford’s Elite Goalie camp.

“We have to relearn how to work together with the new coaches and adjust to new plays,” said Hastings.

Although losing coaches placed a hitch on the season, Logan Roxby, a senior on the team, shares what he and the team are looking forward to.

“Getting to meet new people, building relationships with people on opposite teams, and just learning about new people that are coming onto varsity,” said Roxby.

As the season begins, the team could use community support to ensure that this season is just as incredible as the last. The Wheeling Park Patriots play Penn-Trafford at the Wesbanco Arena on October 16th at 6:30 PM.

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About the Contributor

Rayven Jo, Staff Writer

Rayven Hoskins is a sophomore at Wheeling Park High School first-year member of the Park Press, a 2-year member of fire and safety, and a 2-year lacrosse player. She has put many hours into becoming the lacrosse player she is today, being the only goalie after our 24-25 school year’s goalie graduated. Not only did she have the opportunity to play on Park’s lacrosse team, but she was also able to play hockey for Park as a right wing, which she had to decline due to injury. She has taken pictures for the Wheeling Nailers a handful of times, although none of them were published on the website, she was grateful that many of the team members acknowledged them. Currently, she volunteers at Newbridge Kids, she watches kindergarten-1st grade while kids’ parents are attending church, and when she turns 16, she hopes to be a volunteer firefighter at the West Liberty fire department. Once she is out of high school, she plans to go to the University of Michigan for Radiation Oncology.