A recent Parkersburg South graduate is already receiving recognition at the college level, for his academic achievements. Hunter DeLong made the 2017-18 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team. A total of 432 student-athletes were named to the team, which honors conference competitors who are new, incoming freshmen at their respective league institution. A 2017 graduate from South, DeLong is now a freshman wrestler at West Virginia University. He was the 2017, 182 pound state champion and South's first four time OVAC champion. Athletes on the academic rookie team are freshmen who completed 24 semester hours and achieved a GPA of at least a 3.00. They had to participate in at least one of their team's scheduled contests, and be a member of the team for the entire NCAA season.