In recognition of his 26 years of service to the Batavia wrestling program on all levels, the Batavia Wrestling Invitational Tournament will now also be known as the Steve Shinkle Invitational.

Shinkle, an industrial technology instructor, will be retiring from the Batavia Local School District at the conclusion of the 2006-07 school year.

Shinkle actually began his wrestling career as a Bulldog varsity wrestler. The 1973 BHS graduate was the champion of the 98-pound weight class in the 1972 Clermont County League Tournament that took place at New Richmond High School. He became just the second Bulldog to win a CCL crown (the first was Bill Allen who won the 112-pound weight class in the 1969 CCL tourney that took place at Amelia High School).

Former Batavia head wrestling coach and athletic director Dennis Wells recalled, “Jack Maddox was the superintendent at the time I was hired as the head wrestling coach and he asked me about Steve coaching, too. I told him to absolutely hire Steve. He began by building the junior high program and moved up to the high school with that first group.”