With the spring sports season beginning, the Blue Eagles will take to the field with a new Head Coach, Eric Mason. Coach Mason is not a new face to the area or to the Magnolia family.

Coach Mason grew up in New Martinsville and graduated in 2006. While in high school he played football and baseball for Coach Dave Cisar. He proudly pointed out that in his senior year he played in the state championship and the team won.

Although he only played two sports in high school, he explained he enjoyed sports and played most every kind he could growing up. He went on to explain he likes all sports. He pointed out he really enjoyed football and baseball. He said since college, he has coached some football and umpired a lot of high school games over the last years.

Eric explained that he has always known sports would be important in his life. He pointed out that both his brother and sister have been active in sports throughout their lives. Over the last years, he has been assistant coach at Magnolia and River.

Eric graduated from Fairmont state with a degree in history and a Masters in special education and a certificate in physical education and health.

He explained that sports in many ways has guided his life. One of the reasons he got into teaching, he knew some day he wanted to coach sports. His core philosophy, it takes zero athletic ability, but personal effort counts for a lot. “I plan on trying and build a relation with the team with hopes it keeps them coming back and improving.”

Eric played for Dave Cisar, so I asked if that experience would influenced how he coached. He learned a great deal about the game and how to play and think about the game. He said he really enjoyed playing for Cisar. He spoke about when he and other players from his past get together, they often talk of their time playing for Dave.

He explained that over the last years he has been umpiring a lot of baseball games. That has given him a lot of understanding of the game and the rules. He is eager to begin his head coaching job, but will miss umpiring. During his high school career, he played the catchers position. Looking at the game from behind home plate, has been his view for many years.

Besides building relationship, he plans on working with the team on fundamentals. As of the day we spoke he has twenty-two players out. Twelve of them are freshman. I ask if his returning players had some field experience. He explain not as much as he would like to have, but believes those coming out are eager to play.

I asked if he believes he has a pitcher. He paused as he explained that he feels there is a real potential for several players to step into that position. Maybe even in the double figures. “We are building the team, we only have one senior, so building towards the future is our goal.”

Coach Mason will take his team to, Weir on March 7th for a scrimmage game. The following week his season will open with Tyler as the Blue Eagles first scheduled game. Backing up Coach Mason will be assistant coach Eric Conner.

Coach Eric Mason has a quiet demeanor and pauses before he speaks. I believe he will be that leader the team needs. His goal, get the Blue Eagles back to the kind of teams he played on in the past. I asked is the playoffs in your future, he responded, weáll make the sectionals. Good Luck Coach Eric Mason and the 2023 Blue Eagles.