WVU Sports Hall of Fame

Inducted: 2019

Written by

Collegiate: One of the finest athletes to come through the WVU program, Vertus became the Mountaineers’ first three-time All-American with his second-place finish at the 2000 NCAA Championships in St. Louis. His first All-America honor came with a second-place finish at 177 pounds at the 1998 NCAA Championships in Cleveland. His second All-America honor came with a third-place finish at the 184-pound weight class at the 1999 NCAA Championships at Penn State. As a sophomore, Jones was the youngest of 20 finalists at the 1998 tournament and the youngest in WVU history to reach the NCAA finals. He is the first Mountaineer to be a four-time EWL champion and only the third EWL wrestler to be a four-time champion. He was the second WVU wrestler to win the EWLs as a freshman and totaled 11 EWL victories in his WVU tenure.

Jones posted a stellar 30-2 senior season at 184 pounds, setting the all-time West Virginia consecutive-wins streak at 24 and finished his career with a 95-21 mark, which was sixth-best at the time for WVU. He competed in the NCAA Tournament all four years of his WVU career.

2000 honors: Team captain … came in second place at the NCAA Tournament (184 lb.) … EWL champion (184) … NCAA Co-Wrestler of the Year … named Outstanding Wrestler at the EWL Tournament … currently ranked No. 8 on the WVU all-time list for victories as a senior (30) … currently ranked No. 5 on the WVU all-time list for victories in the 177/184 weight class (30) … George Nedeff Outstanding Wrestler Award.

1999: One of three WVU All-Americans at the NCAA Tournament (also Whitey Chlebove and Sam Kline) … came in third place at the NCAA Tournament (184 lb.) … EWL champion (184) … Most Points Award … currently ranked No. 8 on the WVU all-time list for victories as a junior (31) … currently ranked No. 4 on the WVU all-time list for victories in the 177/184 weight class (31) … participated in the NWCA All-Star Classic (defeated by Iowa State’s Cael Sanderson, 6-5) … along with teammate Sam Kline, given the George Nedeff Outstanding Wrestler Award.

1998: One of three WVU All-Americans at the NCAA Tournament (also Whitey Chlebove and Mike Mason) … came in second place at the NCAA Tournament (177 lb.) … EWL champion (177).

1997: Qualified for the NCAA Tournament … EWL champion (167) … Rookie of the Year.

Sports Awards/Honors: Three-time All-American … second on WVU’s all-time list for NCAA Tournament wins (14) … 2006 inductee to the Southwest Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Professional: Physical education teacher - North Hills HS (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Personal: Son of Vertus and Emily Jones. Born June 4, 1977

Photos: Yes