A familiar face will be taking over the reins of the Midview High School Wrestling program as Assistant Coach Paul Steele was elevated to Head Coach at the August 17 Board of Education Meeting.

"The opportunity to become Midview Wrestling head coach is something I have aspired to attain and will cherish for the rest of my life," Steele said. "I was introduced to Midview wrestling when my son asked me to take him to an open mat session. Meeting Coach Bristow and seeing the energy and positivity he built in the wrestling room restored my love for the sport of wrestling. I knew I had to be a part of this program because those who truly buy into it will do great things."

Steele replaces Shawn Bristow, who retired following the 2021-22 season to spend more time with his growing family. Bristow led the Middies back into the OHSAA spotlight over his 10 seasons at the helm. Alec Forrer broke a 22-year drought by qualifying for the OHSAA State Wrestling Tournament in 2016 and triggered a wave of Midview wrestlers making the hard-fought journey to Columbus each March. Midview has had at least one qualifier in six of the last seven seasons, including a trio—Forrer, Seth Frambach and Spencer Berthold—in 2017 where the Middies finished a program-best 14th place overall. Rising junior heavyweight Austin Dye became the latest to qualify in 2022.

 "The immediate goal is to not only continue the success Coach Bristow has built into the Midview Wrestling program but to also grow upon it," Steele said. "A high priority will be place on positive attitudes. We will start to shift from the "I have to" mindset to "I get to" when it comes to practice and working hard both within the sport and gaining a quality education. I will expect my wrestlers to ALWAYS do the right thing and act with honor and integrity. Professionalism and representing the Midview Community will be the team's top priority."

Steele began coaching with the Midview Youth Program before transitioning to the interscholastic level at Midview Middle School in 2020-21. Last season he stepped up to the high school staff.

"Seeing the growth of the young athletes as wrestlers, students and young people is more rewarding than I could have imagined," Steele said. "To see the pride on their face when they won a big match, got a good grade on a test or made a good decision in life makes me feel like I am helping to grow the Midview Community."

Originally from Mount Vernon, Ohio, Steele earned an associate degree in Electrical/Mechanical Technology from the Community College of the United State Air Force in 1998. He is also working on his bachelor's degree in Organization Leadership at National University. Steele is an Operation Services Manager at First Energy, where he has worked since 2012. He is a founding member of The Illuminating Company Veterans and Allies Employee Business Resource Group.

Midview is scheduled to open its season at the 37th annual Comet Classic Wrestling Tournament at Solon High School on December 2-3. Coach Steele plans to hold an introductory meeting for wrestling families in the very near future. Details will be communicated once finalized.