MORGANTOWN — It is the one reminder, albeit a fuzzy one at best for Brock Kehler, that no one is perfect.
That includes Kehler, whose high school resume reads more like a blue-chip stock report such as Microsoft or Apple, he just keeps going up.
“You could not ask for somebody better to be in the position he’s in,” UHS wrestling coach Ken Maisel said. “He’s so big. He’s so physical, but the little kids bully him. It’s done jokingly, because he’s such good friends with everyone. Everyone loves him.
“He is an excellent leader. He is an excellent student. Brock, at every point, he just checks the box.”
Kehler not only has three state championships — with a possible fourth coming this winter — but he has yet to be scored on in any match in the state tournament.
“That’s been unintentionally,” Kehler said. “I didn’t really know that, but now that I do, it’s become a goal to keep that going.”
He signed his national letter-of-intent Friday at University High to continue his career at WVU, currently ranked No. 19 in the country under head coach Tim Flynn.
“He’s definitely building a great program,” Kehler said of his future coach. “I’m not expecting any less of myself at the next level. I’m always going to go in with high expectations and strive to be the best I can be.”
Kehler was joined in the signing ceremonies by 10 of his fellow classmates.
Kelsey Park signed with Salem University to play softball. Sophia Sherill signed with West Virginia Wesleyan for golf. Bailey Emery signed with West Liberty for wrestling.
Logan Vance signed with LaSalle to play baseball. Lyla Byers signed with WVU to play tennis. Hannah Stemple signed with West Virginia Wesleyan for basketball.
Gavin Whorton signed with Davis & Elkins for cross-country and track. Tommy Montague signed with West Liberty for baseball.
Claire Von Boetticher signed with Youngstown State for cross-country and track and Brance McCune signed with Bethany College for baseball.
Kehler was also part of a seven-man recruiting class signed by Flynn, with the UHS senior being the highest-ranked national prospect in the class, coming in at No. 86 overall (regardless of weight class) according to MatScouts.
All of that success leads us back to Kehler’s one blemish, the one time he did not get his hand raised in victory after a match.
It was a loss by knockout during Kehler’s freshman year, maybe the only thing that could keep him from victory.
“It was against a kid from Ohio, who I believe finished first or second in Ohio states that year,” Maisel begins to tell the story. “They got in this kind of scramble, and they hit heads and (Kehler) got knocked out for a second.”
Kehler doesn’t exactly remember all the details, understandably, but what he does remember is he woke up on his back.
“I think adrenaline must have taken over to keep from getting pinned,” he said.
He did not, instead losing the match by decision, 5-3.
“It happened in the first period, but I remember everything leading up to it,” Kehler said. “I kind of remember what happened in the second period on. At that one moment, I just kind of lost consciousness.”
His career, so far, has seen 141 wins, but it’s that single L that motivates him hundreds of times more than any of the victories.
“The one loss was definitely a wake-up call that no one is unbeatable,” Kehler said. “It was a humbling thing. It drove me to keep working and to keep getting better.”
Kehler enters his senior season on a UHS team in position to win a possible second consecutive state championship.
Going undefeated for a third year is on his to-do list, as is winning a fourth state individual title.
Getting there would certainly put him in rare air before he heads off to WVU.
“He’s a smart kid, who understands the sport and understands the mental part of the sport,” Maisel said. “He’s got great coaches at WVU. I think he can compete right away, and eventually will compete to be an All-American and a national champion. I don’t know if he’ll be there as a freshman, but he can definitely compete at that level.”
