By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Matt Hedrick will go to familiar surroundings when he reports to the West Virginia State football team later this year.

The Osceola High senior offensive lineman recently signed a scholarship to the NCAA Division II team in Charleston, W.Va., coached by Ed Monroe.

Hedrick’s parents, Mark and Beth Hedrick, grew up in the Charleston area and family members remain there.

Hedrick, 6-2, 240, will play tackle for the Yellow Jackets, 3-7 overall and 2-6 in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference last year.

“They didn’t have a real good season last year, they had a lot of injuries toward the end,” Hedrick said.

Hedrick played for OHS teams that made three consecutive playoff appearances, including the 2007 state championship game.

“I’ll have a lot of good memories,” he said.

Hedrick had a standout senior season and received the Kowboy Unsung Hero Award. He was the team’s co-MVP and was selected Hog of the Week six times.

Mark Hedrick said that his son chose from among two dozen offers.

“It’s hard to keep count of how many there were,” he said. “It got kind of hectic.”

Matt Hedrick, 17, said he hopes to play as a freshman for the Yellow Jackets.

“That’s the plan. I’m waiting for them to send me a training program. I’ll probably stay here and work in (the OHS) weight room this summer to get ready,” he said.

Hedrick’s sister, Megan, was an all-county softball pitcher at OHS and played the past two seasons at Tennessee State University.