Athlete hyphenates to honor families

West Valley High School wrestler Quinn Tate-Gannon said two weeks ago he hyphenated his last name to couple the school’s Gannon wrestling heritage with his mother’s name because he’s built like a Tate.

The name will be immortalized on the wrestling room wall after he became the first Eagle two-time state champion on Saturday. He won the State 2A 130-pound title over Manny Ybarra of Quincy. The last two years he went 68-6 under coach John Owen.

“I accomplished my complete goal and that’s just amazing to think,” Tate-Gannon said. “I’m the first multiple state champ in WV history. And my uncles are all up there (in the Tacoma Dome) to congratulate me. I don’t know if I can handle myself when I see those guys.”

Mike Vlahovich