Welcome Back
JACKSON TWP — Helping high school wrestlers is something Louis Newell believed he would enjoy. Doing so at his alma mater makes it even more special for the Seneca Valley product.
A recent Kent State graduate, Newell is living in his native Cranberry Township.
“Kevin Wildrick (SV head coach) was texting me the last couple of years, wanting to know when I was going to come back and help coach the high school team,” said Newell. “I always told him that if I got back to the area and it worked out with my job, I’d definitely come help out.”
Newell, who works in marketing, was added this season as a volunteer assistant with the Raiders. SV’s current competitors can learn a lot from one of the most decorated wrestlers in program history.
Competing between 106 and 120 pounds, Newell placed no worse than third at WPIALs during his four years (2015-18) at the varsity level, winning a district title as a sophomore. He medaled (top eight) in four trips to the state tournament, including runner-up finishes his sophomore and junior seasons.
Newell’s prep record was a very impressive 156-25.
“His biggest strength was his quickness on his feet,” said Wildrick. “He was also a high-level soccer player and used that same athletic skill set to set himself apart in wrestling. It’s great to have him back.”
While Newell is certainly proud of his accomplishments on the mats in high school, the atmosphere in which he achieved them is also very important to him.
“The wrestling program is one big family,” he said. “That’s the way it was for me, from the youth level up through the high school team. I know that family-type feel helped me be successful and it’s great to be part of it again.”
Newell almost missed out on a great wrestling career.
“I tried it in kindergarten, but it was a little too rough for me and I gave it up in first grade,” he said. “The next year, a family, the Johnsons, moved into my neighborhood. They had five boys and they all wrestled. I got back into it because of them.
“I guess I started to toughen up a bit in second grade.”
In the eighth grade, he went undefeated before placing fifth in the state.
“It was during my junior high years when I realized I could be pretty good,” Newell said.
Following his high school career, he wrestled for three years at the University of Pittsburgh, placing fourth in the ACC at 125 pounds in 2020. After transferring to Kent State, he finished third in the Mid-American Conference at 133 pounds prior to graduating earlier this year.
“I’ve competed in the sport very recently and I think that helps the kids, knowing that I’ve been there,” said Newell. “I love working with them. It’s a young team, but we have a lot of hard workers.”
