Monongalia County Board recognizes University High wrestlers, spelling‑bee winner and special‑education teacher

The Monongalia County Board of Education opened its April 8 meeting with student and staff recognitions, celebrating University High School’s wrestling achievements, regional spelling‑bee success and a state teaching award.

The board and administrators recognized University High School’s back‑to‑back Class 3A state wrestling championship team and several individual state title winners. Coach Meisel and a board member presented plaques to individual athletes. Highlights included freshman Brody Keller (165 pounds); Bailey Emery, the school’s first female state champion (126 pounds); Pepper Martin, who won a second straight individual title; and senior Brock Keller, who concluded his career with a fourth consecutive state title in the 285‑pound class. Brock Keller spoke briefly: “I’m very happy to be a part of this team, and I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my life.”

The board also recognized Nirav DeMarte, winner of the North Central West Virginia Regional Spelling Bee, who will compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May. Nirav spoke briefly and was congratulated by board members.

Serena Owens, a special‑education mathematics teacher at University High School, was named the 2025 Special Education Mathematics Teacher of the Year by the West Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Owens, a national board‑certified teacher and participant in the West Virginia Department of Education Emergency Educator Network, thanked colleagues and said the recognition reflected team effort: “None of this is possible without the team,” she told the board.

Board members also introduced and thanked school representatives and EdTechs who support instruction across the district; a list of representatives from each elementary and secondary school was read aloud during the meeting.