Sports : Joel Neve chosen as VSHS head wrestling coach

Joel Neve, in front of former VS head wrestling coach Steve Johnson, has been hired to replace him.

A former Viking wrestler who says he initially hung around the mats after graduating so he could help a teammate has been chosen to be the next head wrestling coach at Vinton-Shellsburg.

Joel Neve received the offer on Monday after an interview with AD Jim Struve. His hiring will become official when the VS School Board formally approves it.

Neve began his final season (2004-05) ranked third in the state in class 2A at 112 pounds, and finished third in the State Meet. He had finished 5th as a sophomore in 2003. Along the way he set a school record for pins that lasted until Ryan Webster broke it in 2011. Neve also still holds the school records for single season and career team points scored.

“I didn’t originally plan on coaching after high school,” said Neve on Monday, as he watched a couple of the wrestlers in the Viking Wrestling Club working out with Iowa wrestler Tony Ramos in the Middle School wrestling room.

But Neve said he wanted to help teammate Ryan Hill (Class of 2007) work out as Hill worked to return to the State meets in his two final seasons.

Neve eventually went on to become an assistant high school coach as well as the leader of the youngsters in the Wrestling Club.

Head coach Steve Johnson stepped down earlier this year; Johnson will continue working with the program.

As the coach of the Club wrestlers, Neve works year-round with the youngsters, although some of them take time off from wrestling to compete in other sports. His success at State meets has helped inspire a goal for the younger wrestlers to achieve when they reach high school: A state title as a freshman.