Calen Ketterman, who works full-time as a Court Security Officer with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, will transform into his wrestling alter ego, the Backwoods Brawler Marshall Law.  

“Becoming a professional wrestler has always been in the back of my mind,” Ketterman told The Inter-Mountain. “I remember watching wrestling with my grandma when she was in her 70s and 80s at her house. It was funny because this old woman would be yelling at the TV and I’d be right beside her doing the same. She was the sweetest woman, but when wrestling was on you better look out.”

Ketterman said some of his favorite wrestlers growing up were Bill Goldberg and the Undertaker, who he is comparable to in size. The WWE Hall of Famer stands at 6-10 and 310 pounds, while Ketterman is 6-8, 330.

“The Undertaker is a little bigger than me, but I have a little size on Goldberg (6-4, 285),” said Ketterman, who recently maxed out on the bench press at 405 pounds. “I’ve been hitting the weights really hard in preparation for this match and I have also been doing a lot of cardio to get ready.”

By day, Calen Ketterman is a full-time Court Security Officer with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office.

Randolph County Sheriff Rob Elbon, who is Ketterman’s other boss when he’s away from the ring, said he is excited to see the “gentle giant” make his first-ever appearance in the squared circle.

“We’re excited, it’s going to be pretty cool to see him get in the ring,” Elbon said. “He’s the biggest person I could find in the county to hire as a court security officer, I know that. He’s a massive guy.”

Elbon said despite Ketterman’s size, which could be intimidating to many, he is a wonderful and warm-hearted person.

“He’s a gentle giant until he needs not to be,” Elbon said. “He’s a very faithful fellow who believes in God, and he speaks very soft and easy. I just wouldn’t want to make him mad. He’s a brute of a man, no doubt about it.”

Elbon added that he will be ringside during Ketterman’s first match.

“If he gets out of control I will be there to calm him back down,” Elbon said. “I know there’s going to be a lot of other people there supporting him as well. Everyone in the Sheriff’s Office and courthouse wants to come out and watch him. I don’t know that most of them generally go to wrestling matches, but they are going to go out and watch Calen.” 

Away from the courtroom and wrestling ring, Ketterman is a family man who likes to spend time with his wife and two children. He said his son, Walker, 10, is gaga about wrestling, while his daughter, Lilly, 8, has more of a “take it or leave it” attitude.

“Walker has been taking wrestling flyers to school all week at Jennings Randolph Elementary,” Ketterman said. “He’s been handing them out to all the teachers and all his friends. He’s my little manager.”

Ketterman added that his wife, Lindsay, was kind of hesitant when she learned he was going to make his pro debut, but her feelings have since changed.

“It’s actually moving backwards for her, she’s getting a little more excited about it, while I’m kind of getting nervous. But she sells insurance, so she can take a policy out on me,” he said with a smile.

Ketterman will make his debut tonight at a local wrestling event billed as Mother’s Day Mayhem IV, set for 7 p.m. Tygart Valley Wrestling Federation owner Ben Simmons said he’s excited to feature a local wrestler at this weekend’s event.

“We are happy to be able to showcase some of our local talent with Marshall Law,” Simmons told The Inter-Mountain. “It’s nice having a guy from within the community be part of our professional wrestling organization.”

All Randolph County School students are invited to attend tonight’s wrestling for free. Students are asked to wear their school logo or team colors to the event.