George E. Kovalick is recognized as the "Father" of high school wrestling in the Ohio Valley.

Coach Kovalick has previously been inducted into the West Liberty State College Hall of Fame, the Ohio Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Hall of Fame.

George was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference's "Mr. Mat" Award in 1976. The award is bestowed annually for outstanding contributions to the sport of wrestling.

As a sports mentor, Coach Kovalick produced numerous championship teams in football, wrestling and baseball. In fact, his 1964 WLSC baseball team won the NAIA Championship, the only national title captured in the school's history.

Among the athletes he coached in high school and college are John Havlicek, Joe and Phil Niekro, and world-class wrestler and coach Bobby Douglas.

George was not only one of the founders of the OVAC Wrestling Tournament, but his Bridgeport, Ohio Bulldogs won the first seven conference championships. Kovalick's 1959 Bridgeport team won the Ohio state high school wrestling team title.

He is also the only coach in the history of West Virginia wrestling to be named coach of the year while serving as an assistant coach, earning the honor in 1974 while working at Weir High School.

The late George Kovalick and his wife Evelyn have four children: George, Mike, Will, and Joe. They also have nine grandchildren.

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame is proud to honor George Kovalick with its Lifetime of Service to Wrestling award.