Jeff Price guides Rossview wrestling teams to new heights, wins All Area coach of year

For five seasons, Jeff Price helped develop Rossview's wrestlers as an assistant coach under Daniel Cozine.

When Cozine stepped down last year, Price took the reins and inherited a team he knew had a chance to be special.

Rossview had its most successful dual season in team history with a 30-5 record and the school's first district duals championship.

"I wanted to bring that 'We Are Rossview' mantra to these kids," Price said. "That's something the whole school has been saying. It's sort of our slogan now. That sense of pride when you say it, that's what I wanted our team to have."

Price took over a program that years ago would have struggled to field all 14 weight classes. But this season he had depth at nearly every weight class and took advantage of that depth. The team came one match away from advancing to its first ever state dual tournament.

"We could move guys around and not really miss a beat," he said. "One of those guys was our heavyweight in Logan (McMillan)."

McMillan wrestled at 285 pounds but was just 201 pounds. He finished the dual season 43-9 and third in the region despite giving up nearly 70 pounds in most matches.

"I was set up for success," Price said. "What coach Cozine did to really change the program was simple for me to just continue that and built on it."

Not only did Price lead the boys to previously unequaled success — that included six total state qualifiers — but he led the girls wrestling program to a state championship. It's the second straight year a Montgomery County girls wrestling program won the Class AAA state title, joining Northwest.

"A couple of years ago we had only two girls in our program," Price said. "This year we had four state medalists that were wrestling for the first time this year."

Ten of his girls competed at state and two — Robin Yunis (125) and Emma Walker (132) — captured state championships.

"We didn't cut any of the girls that came out for the team," Price said. "And we worked them just as hard as the boys. We were blessed to have every one of those girls be gifted athletes as well."

Reach Prep writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.