At the Park

Coach Goneau: Assistant Coach of the Year

Will Medovic, Social Media Editor

February 5, 2025

Photo courtesy of Ohio County Schools

Justin Goneau, Wheeling Park’s assistant varsity wrestling coach, recently won Assistant Varsity Coach of the Year out of 42 teams at wrestling OVACs, on January 16th. He is a stellar coach and works very well with his wrestlers.

Coach Goneau has been wrestling his whole life, which has done a lot for him.

“It pretty much saved my life when I was in high school, and then I wrestled in college as well,” said Coach Goneau.

Wrestling got Coach Goneau through school and always wanted to give back.

“(I wanted to) give back to the young guys, and teach them what I know and put everything I have into it,” said Coach Goneau.

His work with the young guys truly does pays off–just ask senior wrestler, Jack Lowe.

“Coach Goneau has always been a great person and coach to be around. He always pushes us to be our best. It doesn’t matter if you’re a wrestling pro or a first time wrestler, he always helps,” said Lowe.

Being a wrestling coach is quite time-consuming, but Coach Goneau can always find the best in what he does.

“The best part of coaching is putting all the work in with the kids at the beginning of the year or the beginning of their career and see them progress as wrestlers and also as young men growing up,” said Coach Goneau

On top of watching them on the mat, Coach Goneau also enjoys seeing his wrestlers grow up into men as well.

“(Coach Goneau) has been my coach for 4 years at Park. One thing that stands out to me is that he still wrestles with us one on one to help us get better at a specific area of the sport,” said Lowe.

As for the award he won, it was very well deserved.

“I was shocked, but I’ve been a coach for 14 years, and I’ve put a lot of time and work and sacrifice into Wheeling Park High School, so it was kind of awesome just to see that recognition,” said Coach Goneau.

Off the mat, Coach Goneau works in the SUCCEED department at Wheeling Park, making even more of a difference in young people’s lives.

A huge congratulations to Coach Goneau on this well earned award!

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About the Contributor

Will Medovic, Social Media Editor

Will Medovic is the Social Media Editor for The Park Press and a junior at Wheeling Park High School. Will is proud to be one of the first members of the revamped Park Press. Outside of the Press, Will is a proud member of the 44-time winning Wheeling Park Speech and Debate Team and an anchor and producer for WPHP's "Patriot Connection." As a Speech team member, Will has competed in Impromptu, Poetry, and POI, finaling in each. Will is a member of the newly founded Quill and Scroll Society as well as the Radio & TV Club, He will also be a Career Technical Education Program Completer in Broadcast Technology and Social Journalism. Will is also a freshman mentor. When he's not working on The Park Press, you can typically find Will editing a story for WPHP. When he's not at school, Will's usually out and about with his friends and family, whom he cherishes most. Will is so excited to be back on the Press with his best friends!