Local Sports, Morgantown, Sports

Healthy now, Eric Shriver has eyes on state wrestling tournament

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — As the official held Morgantown senior Eric Shriver’s hand high Wednesday night, it was clear just how much things had changed in one year.
In many ways, the win — a decisive first-round pin to help lead MHS to a 45-18 victory over Paden City — marked a return to glory for the grappler.
Shriver hit the mat in his opening match last season with a win. It was nothing but pain and frustrations from there.
During his second match, his opponent scored a takedown. As Shriver worked to get out of trouble, he was lifted into the air and tossed to the ground. The next few seconds would change his season.
“I stuck my arm out to stop the fall, because I was scared of landing on my neck. As I was falling I twisted my arm, and I tore three ligaments in my elbow,” Shriver said.
The injury put Shriver on the sidelines, a loss which coach Joseph Abughannam saw as critical to the team.
“I had high hopes for him last year, and that set him back,” he said. “He’s been showing up every day and trying to make up for that lost time, and that’s what is so inspiring.”
The return to the mat has been an uphill battle for Shriver, who had to regain his lost strength and stamina as well as his confidence while facing competition.
“I felt bad all through the year because I was the only one on the team that wasn’t able to wrestle,” he said. “It was hard to get my mentality back and I was nervous. I’m a very nervous guy; the type who brings himself down.”
Shriver has done an admirable job at persevering, tackling each challenge in front of him on the way to becoming an integral part of this year’s Mohigan squad. He was named team captain to open the season, and has emerged as a leader both on the mat and in the locker room.
“Eric is important to this team because he leads by example. When it’s time to work hard, he’s serious,” Abughannam said. “He stays focused on the task at hand, and that’s the type of leadership I like out of my captains. It’s his senior year, and he’s trying to go out on the top of his game.”
Now, Shriver is finding it easier and easier to regain his rhythm, and is excelling against the competition — his latest outing is a showcase of just that.
“I’m starting to get more confidence in myself because I’m winning more matches now. I lost my first match back — it was a match I should have won — but I’m starting to win more and more matches and it’s starting to get easier.”
As the season continues, Shriver hopes to earn a bid to the state meet, where he wants to play a small role in making history.
“My main goal is to go to states and place. Our coach hasn’t had anyone place at states, and I want to be the one to lead that. We’re still a new team — we’re mostly sophomores and freshman — that’s kind of hard. I just need to keep winning matches and regain my confidence.”