Former Brooke wrestling coach gets Mr. Mat Award
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WHEELING -- A four-year varsity performer and two-year captain under the tutelage of West Liberty University's iconic OVAC hall of famer, Coach Vince Monseau, Merle Tournay also made his mark as an outstanding mat coach and nationally renowned wrestling official was awarded the coveted 'Mr. Mat Award' prior to Saturday evenings wrestling finals at the OVAC Ron Mauck Wrestling Tournament.
Also a three-year soccer letterman on the Hilltop, Tournay won a WVIAC wrestling championship in 1976 and was voted Mr. Hilltopper in recognition of his athletic achievements.
He immediately entered the coaching profession and had successful runs at Brooke and Montour (Pa.) high schools. Originally attracted to the valley because of the West Liberty mat program, Tournay went on to spread his wrestling knowledge at Brooke High School for 12 years. The veteran wrestler and rookie coach quickly built a Bruins' powerhouse capturing the school's only West Virginia state title in 1980, and was also named the 1980 West Virginia AAA Wrestling Coach of the year.
During his coaching career at Brooke, Tournay produced four state champions: Chuck Taylor (1980), Larry Mazzella (1981), Phil Milantoni (1982), and Sal Jafarace (1988).
Leaving Brooke, Tournay restarted the wrestling program at Montour in 1988. He was head coach at Montour for 16 years. After that, Tourney served as assistant coach for 17 seasons, helping both the varsity and junior high programs. He now assists his son, Zachary, who is the current head wrestling coach at Montour High School.
At Brooke, Tournay taught Physical Education and Driver's Education. He always respected the teaching and coaching advice of the late OVAC Hall of Famer, Ron Mauck. As a teacher at Montour, Tournay served the students as a physical education and health educator.
Tournay also loved officiating wrestling. He quickly ascended to the top of the profession. The 2002 Wrestling Official of the Year in the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference was voted the 2004 National Wrestling Official of the Year by Wrestling USA magazine and was selected as the top official at the 2005 NCAA Division II Nationals.
A nationally acclaimed mat official, Tournay worked seven NCAA Division II Nationals, two NCAA Division I Nationals and numerous NCAA Division I and NCAA Division II national qualifying tournaments.
Like most officials, Tournay didn't start off doing large high school tournaments or even the OVAC. It was a long process which started as he put on the stripes to officiate the Cameron Open.
Since his initial seasons as a referee, Tournay's reputation as a mat official has gone far beyond the Ohio Valley over the years. This was proven in 2003 when Tournay was awarded the NCAA Official of the Year across all college wrestling divisions.
Merle Tournay is now retired from officiating, but he still stays deeply involve in the tri-state wrestling community. Most recently, Tournay serves as the liaison for the Pennsylvania Midwestern Athletic Conference (MAC) All-Star wrestling team. The OVAC vs. MAC All-Star Meet annually takes place after the completion of the Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia state wrestling tournaments.
Tournay is a member of three halls of fame: West Liberty University Hall of Fame (2007), MAC Hall of Fame (2009) and Southwestern Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame (2018).
Merle Tournay and his wife, Dee, reside in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. They have three children: Zachary, Danielle and Lucas -- and grandson Austin.