By DAVID WALSH - The Herald-Dispatch
 

HUNTINGTON -- Huntington High School wrestler Jason Mays is open to suggestions. Especially when the suggestions come from a two-time NCAA wrestling champion, two-time NCAA runnerup and member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Mays, a senior who competes at 160 pounds, and his teammates picked up some tips three days this week from Pat Milkovich, who achieved the above notoriety during his career at Michigan State.

"I learned a lot," Mays said Tuesday after Milkovich finished his one-hour session with the Highlanders in the wrestling room. "It�s a different style, a different level. That always helps. Through repetition and hard work, you master what he showed us."

Milkovich, who celebrated his 48th birthday Tuesday, and his wife, Carol, visited Huntington High this week to present their L.E.A.D.E.R.S (Leadership Education Academy to Develop, Encourage, and Reinforce Success) program. They have taken a two-year leave of absence from Rochester Adams High School in Rochester, Mich., so they can take the program to schools nationwide. The program is largely funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

If the school has wrestling Milkovich is willing to share his vast knowledge with the team. Highlanders coach Bill Archer took advantage of that opportunity.
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"He�s one of the best," Archer said of Milkovich, who coached wrestling at Rochester Adams until taking the leave of absence.

"If I can be of service, I�m glad to help," Milkovich said. "I�m another resource. It�s like a mini-clinic."

Milkovich posted a 90-8-4 record in four years at Michigan State. He won NCAA titles in 1972 and 1974. His first title gave him the distinction of being the youngest NCAA champion in history (18 years, 3 months). In 1976, he received the Big 10 Medal of Honor for achievement in athletics and academics. He was inducted into the Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 1989, Ohio Hall of Fame in 1997 and National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2000.

Milkovich had three sessions with the Highlanders.

On Thursday, the Highlanders left for Myrtle Beach, S.C. They seek their fourth consecutive title in the North Myrtle Beach Invitational today and Saturday.

"It�s going to be a tougher field," Mays said. "What we�ve learned here can only help. This is what we want. It could make the difference in a match. You hit somebody with something they haven�t seen."

Huntington High�s freshman-sophomore dominated team is off to a 12-0 start. Mays, Robbie Williams (130) and Robert Chaney (152) are the only senior starters.

Last weekend, the Highlanders went 10-0 to win the St. Albans Duals. The key match was against Hedgesville, one of the better Class AAA programs in the Mountain State. Huntington won the match, 39-36.

"We didn�t wrestle our best," Mays said. "The younger guys stepped up and it made the difference."

"Considering we start nine freshman and sophomores, we�re off to a good start," said Archer, whose team finished runner-up in the state tournament last year.

This is the first of Huntington�s two big trips during the season. The second is next weekend when the Highlanders compete in the Floyd Central Super Duals in Floyd Knob, Ind.

"You see different styles," Mays said. "It helps make you better. This is where the bonding starts, too."