RYAN WINGROVE
Son of
Dallas J and
Cheryl Wingrove
D J WINGROVE
& Son's Jewellers
Hometown: Parkersburg, West Virginia
Height / Weight: 6-3 / 235
Bowling Green State University Football, OHIO
Was one of the most improved players on the team in the spring '99 making a successful switch from tight end to defensive end after the first week of practice...was so impressive on defense, he is likely to be the starter this fall...showed excellent quickness and a good toughness...will be a key member of
the defensive unit this season
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News and Sentinel Parkersburg WV
Source
Wednesday, December 31, 2003
Wingrove signs with Cowboys
By JAY W. BENNETT
CHICAGO - The third time looks like it just might be the charm for former Parkersburg South standout and ex-Bowling Green defensive end Ryan Wingrove.
That's because Wingrove officially became a Dallas Cowboy on Tuesday, getting invited to camp next year by head coach Bill Parcells.
If he makes the team as a reserve defensive end like Parcells hopes, then he'll earn the league minimum of $305,000 and likely have the second year of his contract picked up as well.
"He's a no nonsense kind of guy," Wingrove said of his new coach. "I
probably talked to him for six or seven minutes. He basically told me they
would probably only have two or three defensive ends returning next year.
"He wanted me to come in and fill one of the backup spots. He saw me play with the (New York) Jets and I had a workout with the Cowboys."
"I definitely still like the Eagles," he said. "It would be awesome to get an opportunity to play against them.
Wingrove is working at a hardware store in Chicago and staying in shape as
we awaits spring.
"I'm working out steady," Wingrove said. "Obviously, I'm not hitting it as hard as I would if I was getting ready to play."
The 6-foot-3, 270-pounder is anxious for things to get started.
"With coach Parcells there's no politics," Wingrove said. "If you do well and you play well you will stay around. I felt like he was actually interested in me
and wanted me to play there.
"This is definitely a lot better opportunity than I've had in the past. When you have Bill Parcells calling you personally that shows you they are interested."
After graduating from Bowling Green, Wingrove signed on as a free agent with Atlanta, only to be injured and released two years ago.
This year, he nearly made the roster with the Jets, but was cut before the start of the season.
"I had about two weeks to go through all my options and debate which was a better choice (Jets) and based on a lot of factors the Cowboys ended up being the one."
Dallas has advanced to the playoffs for the first time since the 1999
campaign when Minnesota beat the visiting Cowboys 27-10 in an NFL Wildcard game.
While Wingrove assuredly will be keeping an eye on how his new team
does Saturday at Carolina, he's more concerned with an approaching happy
New Year right now.
"It's going to be an evening hanging out in Chicago with some of my friends," he said. "I can handle it."
. . . . . . . . .
.
News and Sentinel Parkersburg WV
Source
02 April 2003
Wingrove's Dream of Playing in NFL Detours to Europe
By JAY W. BENNETT
TAMPA, Fla. - The dream continues for former Parkersburg South standout and Bowling Green State University graduate Ryan Wingrove.
The defensive end, who received an injury settlement from the Atlanta Falcons after training camp last year, has caught on with the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe.
Wingrove left from Florida early last Tuesday to fly to Frankfurt, Germany, and then on to Berlin as the Thunder get ready for the 10-game regular season in what is considered a developmental league for the NFL.
Although he wasn't originally drafted onto an NFL Europe roster, he got the call that a position was open while in Wisconsin, where he had made the roster of the Green Bay Blizzard of the Arena Football League.
"It was one of those things where I got offered by a bunch of different arena teams and we picked that up as a backup," Wingrove said before leaving Florida a week ago Monday night.
"We wanted to do NFL Europe from the start, but I didn't get drafted. I was only there (in Wisconsin) for like three or four days.."
Wingrove's first practice overseas was last Friday and the first game is scheduled for this coming Saturday.
"It's going to be a good experience to go over there, have it paid for and get paid while I'm there," Wingrove said. "It's definitely a great opportunity. They pay for everything and you get paid like $1,200 a game. Quarterbacks get a little bit more money, but everyone else gets the same amount."
The down lineman was hoping to make the Atlanta Falcons after his successful career with the collegiate Falcons, but things didn't work out. Despite that, Wingrove knew he had to keep a strong work ethic and get himself prepared for another shot, no matter where it came.
"Right after I got released I went home for a week or two and then went to Bowling Green and went to rehab and helped them coach," he said. "Then I came
home and worked out at the Y.
"I stayed in shape running and lifting. I was just trying to do my own thing and get ready for when my chance came."
Now, that opportunity has arrived and Wingrove knows it's time to perform. "It's definitely good," he said. "Even when we had practice in Tampa, there's always four or five scouts and when we had scrimmages there's just about all the scouts there.
"You have a great chance of getting seen. Scouts are always looking at you and your tapes and it's a great opportunity to get picked up by another team."
As soon as the NFL Europe season ends, there's a three week break before the start of NFL training camps.
Wingrove is hopeful he impresses enough to get another shot, but knows it's likely to come from Atlanta.
"Right now, I have talked with the scouts from Atlanta, they've talked with me when I was down here, but other than that, that's about it right now," Wingrove
said.
"I've got to get this game film and hopefully scouts will watch the games, see me and I'll start to get some interest."
Perhaps the biggest problem facing Wingrove the next couple of months won't be on the football field, but rather in everyday life in a foreign country. Making matters worse, Wingrove knows very little German.
Courtesy Linda Mitchell
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Added 21 June
2003
Source
Wingrove Signs Deal with New York Jets
By JAY W. BENNETT
PARKERSBURG - The dream is still alive for former Parkersburg South Patriot and Bowling Green State
University standout Ryan Wingrove.
Having just completed a 10-game tour of duty with the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe, Wingrove signed his
second professional National Football League contract on Wednesday with the New York Jets.
"It definitely worked out the way I was hoping," said Wingrove, who was given a medical release at the end
of preseason last year from the Atlanta Falcons after suffering a freak shoulder injury.
"I went over there (Europe), worked myself into a starting position and played on three special teams
units. I had three teams to choose between (the Cardinals and Dolphins were the others) and that was
pretty exciting for me."
Wingrove finished in the top 10 of NFL Europe with 4 quarterback sacks. The 6-foot-3, 270-pound defensive
end also registered 41 tackles.
"We (Wingrove and his agent) basically went through the depth charts to see how I could help someone out
the most," he said of deciding upon the Jets.
"The Jets looked like the best team opportunity-wise and depth-wise for me. There were probably three or
four other teams that wanted me that didn't have slots, but still contacted my agent."
The deal with the Jets was agreed to on Monday and Wingrove visited Long Island a week ago today after
driving to Toledo and then catching a plane.
"The way it works when you come from NFL Europe, we had to wait until the World Bowl was done and the
first day we could do anything was actually Monday," he said.
Wingrove's last game for the Thunder was Saturday, June 7, and other than working out in New Jersey, he's
taking things pretty easy for the moment. "We went through workouts, met some people and did all
kinds of drills," Wingrove said of his visit to the Jets' training camp.
"I talked to the defensive line coach and a couple of their scouts and stuff, but that's about it so far."
Unlike Atlanta a year ago, Wingrove will have someone he knows when New York opens camp on July 18.
"I know Khary Campbell, he's a linebacker and been there for a year," Wingrove said of his collegiate
teammate. "We're real good friends and with him being there, that will be sweet.
"Thankfully, I did come out of NFL Europe with no injuries and I'm happy about that. My shoulder was
fine and it never gave me any problem."
Wingrove said he'd be back in Parkersburg before his birthday on July 3.
A week ago Wednesday, he visited a West Virginia all-stars practice for the 10th annual Battle Against
Cystic Fibrosis Football Classic, which he is one of only two players to have his jersey retired from.
"I'm so thankful for everyone in Parkersburg always being behind me and I appreciate all the support,"
Wingrove said.
That support is likely to continue with more area people turning into New York Jet fans, especially if
Wingrove ends up on the final NFL roster for opening day.
Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com
Courtesy Michael Higgins
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Added 01 July
2003
http://www.newsandsentinel.com/sports/story/0630202003_spt02erickson.asp
$1.5M goal is set for Erickson Stadium drive
By STEVE HEMMELGARN
PARKERSBURG - You see the Erickson All-Sports Facility
and think, 'What a nice place,'' but there's still a
lot of work to be done to make it complete.
That's why the second phase of the Erickson Capital
Campaign fund-raising drive is an ongoing effort for
the next three years.
And heading up the drive is jewelry store owner
Dallas
Wingrove, who for nine years was an athletic trainer
at Parkersburg South High School. He's probably better
known now as the dad of
Ryan Wingrove, former South
and Bowling Green State University gridder who just
signed a free agent contract with the New York Jets.
When asked to assume the position as the director of
the second stage of the Erickson Capital Campaign,
Dallas Wingrove didn't hesitate. ''If it was for the
kids and our community, I was willing to do whatever I
could,'' he said.
The campaign's second phase is a three-year project
that began in the spring with Gov. Bob Wise on hand for
the kickoff. So far, two major fund-raising events -
the Erickson Extravaganza June 21 and the ninth annual
Erickson Golf Scramble Friday at South Hills Golf Club
- have brought in $72,000 of the goal of $1.5 million.
Construction of tennis courts will be starting very
soon and should be done next year, said Wingrove. But
still on the drawing board waiting to be funded
through this drive are the completion of the home and
visitor locker rooms, trainers/weight room and coaches
dressing room and offices as well as the addition of
another concession stand, more ticket booths, a
permanent press box, filming rooms and an elevator.
Key in the campaign's success is a widespread mailing
throughout the community of pledge cards wrapped
around a four-page leaflet in the last several months.
''And we don't care whether people pledge weekly,
monthly, yearly or give a one-time pledge,'' said
Wingrove. ''We'll take it any way they want to give it
to us.''
So far, a total of $120,000 has been raised, but
really it is at least twice that amount because an
anonymous donor has pledged to match all donations
through today (June 30) dollar for dollar.
''People look at the (Erickson) facility right now,
and because it is so nice, they think, 'Gee, it's
done,' '' said Wingrove. ''But it's really not even
started being completed. It's not only football, but
track, soccer, tennis, softball and baseball as well.
We want it to be an all-around outdoor-sports
facility.''
Wingrove stressed that the campaign to upgrade and
improve Erickson will benefit the entire community.
''It's not just Erickson for the southside (of
Parkersburg),'' he said, ''but it's Erickson for all
our kids and for the whole community and all the
surrounding areas as well. I think really when
Erickson is complete, we are probably going to be the
most looked-at self-community-built facility maybe in
the entire eastern United States. We have people
calling us wanting to know how you do this.''
Wingrove has no doubt the $1.5 million campaign goal
will be reached. ''It's just going to take people to
step up, just like this community always has in the
past,'' said Wingrove. ''We've never, ever had a
problem when we go out and ask for the community to
step up.
''And this is not just for Parkersburg South, but for
our whole community. The track is used by all the
county schools, the football facility by all the
county schools. It's a county project. We're really
proud of what's been done so far, but we really know
and feel in our hearts that our vision that we have is
just going to keep right on going (until Erickson is
totally complete).''
That would mean, in addition to the items covered in
phase 2, football and soccer practice fields,
permanent home grandstands to replace the bleachers
that now serve as the visitors' side, a softball
diamond and a baseball field.
''I think of what's been accomplished at Erickson so
far, but you look at our dreams and plans for it and
realize how great this will be when it is complete,''
said Wingrove.
Anyone who has not gotten a pledge card or has any
questions concerning the Erickson All-Sports Facility,
can contact Wingrove at home or at
D. J. Wingrove &
Sons Jewelers
in Parkersburg.
Contact Steve Hemmelgarn at
shemmelgarn@newsandsentinel.com
Courtesy Michael Higgins
Bowling Green Football
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