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A Year in Review … From My View

By Staff | Dec 27, 2017

Editor’s Note: We hope you enjoy this special edition of Bruce Crawford’s column… A Year In Review, From My View…

This has been a great season of sports for the Wetzel Chronicle, as the Eagles’ Kelsi Chapman started things off in January by scoring her 1000th career point, helping Magnolia beat Tyler Consolidated 64-37 in basketball. Riley Nice, as well as Chapman, were the first to earn the Player of the Week title in January.

The headline in the Jan. 11 edition, wasn’t as chipper, due to the passing of one of the most most-decorated Magnolia athletes – Jim McCormick.

However, we then celebrated former athlete Whitey Bohrer’s catch of a 20-1/2, four pound and 14 ounce large mouth bass, while Magnolia’s Jordan Delaney and Paden City’s Hayden Hizer were honored as our top athletes of the week.

In mid-January, the Blue Eagles boys and girls basketball teams were both defeated in the Boggs Pizza and Grill Roundball Classic. Paden City’s Lady ‘Cats won their first WV Hometown Invitational Tournament. Hundred’s Madeline Goff and the Eagles’ Kyndra Pilant were that week’s Players of the Week.

The Eagles’ Caleb and Riley Nice placed in the OVAC Wresting Tournament.

The ‘Jacks defeated Bridgeport, and the Blue Eagles boys team late-rally nipped Paden City. These happenings all headlined the Jan. 25 front page.

The Lumberjacks’ Levi Streets and the Eagles’ Caleb Nice were honored as Players of the Week.

Wheeling Central outscored Magnolia in the Rotary Challenge, but the Lady Eagles took care of Bishop Donahue.

Hundred’s Melinda Rush was chosen as Fan Of The Week, while Hayden Hizer and Aaron Heasley of Paden City were February 1 Players of the Week.

Magnolia captured the school’s first OVAC Cheerleading Championship. Meanwhile, Nick Priem signed a letter of intent to play football at WVU. These headlined our Feb. 8 edition, while the Hornets’ Danny Stewart and the Eagles’ were Players of the Week.

The Valley Lumberjills’ late rally in the OVAC Class-A title match against Frontier fell a little short, while the Magnolia wrestling team placed third in the OVAC Class-AAA. The Valley Lumberjacks demolished Buffalo 56-37 in the H.I.T. third place consolation game, with Lumberjacks Alex Midcap and Dylan Irvin earning the week’s Players of the Week.

The Lumberjills’ Sophie Palmer recorded 1,000 career points in a loss to Beallsville, while the River Pilots claimed third place in the OVAC Class-AA tournament. The Blue Eagles’ Taylor Ludewig was presented with the game ball when she became the school’s all-time assist leader with 435 assists. Riley and Caleb Nice, along with Taylor Ludewig, was chosen as Players of the Week in the Feb. 22 sports pages.

The Eagles’ Tyler Williamson picked up a Brooks Parsons deflection and scored the game-winning bucket to lift Magnolia to a come-from-behind 49-47 victory over St Marys to win the Region I, Section II championship. Also the River Pilots defeated Division III co-sectional final with the help of Isaac Curtis’ single-game three-point goal with 12. Because of the 12 baskets from beyond the arch, Curtis was named as the week’s Player of the Week.

The Magnolia wrestling team placed runner-up in the WVSSAC Class-A State Championship with the help of Caleb Nice, who was the state champion in the 195 lbs. weight class. Of course, Nice was the Player of the Week for the first week of March.

Weirton Madonna ousted Magnolia in the boys Co-Regional tournament, and the River Pilots’ late really fell a little short at 59-57. The Blue Eagles’ fans were chosen as the Fans of the Week in a big turnout in the boys’ regional loss.

The Chronicle then focused its attention on tennis, baseball, and softball previews. Players of the week during this time were Lukas Isaly and Nick Priem. In late March, the Lady Eagles beat Ritchie, while the Wildcats defeated Cameron as Trey Slider pitched a one-hitter. The Wildcats’ Aubrey Neff was selected as the first Athlete of the Week as she pitched and hit the Lady ‘Cats to several wins during the week.

In the first paper in April, Taylor Ludewig, Rachel Baker, Kelsi Chapman Dylan Irvin and Aaron Heasley competed in the OVAC All-Star Basketball games. The Blue Eagles’ girls track team placed second in the Ryan Jobs Spring Special in Williamstown, to open the track season. Bailey Estep was the clear winner of Athlete of the Week, while New Martinsville’s Keith Craycraft knocked in a hole in one at Riverside Golf Course in Sardis.

In the April 12 edition, Wheeling Central spanked Magnolia, 10-0, while area teams from Magnolia, Paden City, River and Hundred were all in action. The Paden City softball team defeated Valley 17-11 in a slug-fest. The Wildcats’ Ashlyn Moses had a great week in softball as she had three hits, including a pair of stand-up triples and knocking in five runs in a win over Valley. Moses was named Athlete of the Week for April 12.

Magnolia knocked out Steubenville Central in April, while the Hundred Hornets defeated Jefferson Christian 19-5 to win their first of the season. Magnolia’s Peyton Moore signed to further extend his academic and athletic career at West Liberty to play golf.

Kyndra Pilant was named Athlete of the Week in softball as she smacked a walk-off home-run to defeat Paden City, while adding a single and a pair of doubles, and knocking in three runs.

The Magnolia baseball team defeated the Cee-Bees,15-7, in a slug-fest, while the Pilots’ Issac Curtis signed to play golf at AB. Riley Lollathin of River and the Wildcats’ Hayden Hizer were picked as the week’s Athletes of the Week.

The Magnolia Blue Eagles Girls track team was a repeat winner in the OVAC Class-3A, while long time Paden City AD Fred King retired from teaching and coaching boys basketball, as well as ending his term as Athletic Director. The Magnolia duo of Ashley Tharp and Jordan Delaney were clear winners of the Athlete of the Week title, in softball and track, respectively.

To open May, the Paden City softball team swept Beallsville in a double-header, while the Pilots took out Paden City in baseball. The Hundred Hornets scored 11 runs, but lost, 21-11, to Jefferson County Christian. Kelsi Chapman signed to further her athletic career at Wheeling Jesuit to play basketball, while Logan Riggs was chosen as our Athlete of the Week.

The Magnolia girls won the Regional Track Meet, while the boys finished second. The Magnolia softball team also won the Region I, Section II title, while the baseball team ended the season in sectional play. Anna Zills and Caleb Nice of Magnolia both set their sights on Wheeling Jesuit to pursue track and wrestling, respectively. Ashley Tharp and Chase Street were chosen Athletes of the Week in May 17 edition.

Bailey Estep of Magnolia and Jacob Pierce of Paden City both were gold medal winners at the state track meet, while the foursome of Brooks Parsons, Riley Nice, Hunter Partridge and Chase Street won the gold medal in the 4×200 meter relay. MHS’ Chase Street signed to play football at West Liberty, while the Wildcats’ Kallie Arnett and Hayden Hizer won the All-Sports Trophy for having the most varsity letters in the year.

MHS’ Kelsi Chapman and the Pilots’ Lukas Isaly were chosen as our outstanding Athletes of the Year, while Jacob Pierce and Bailey were both named the Athletes of the Week to finish the month of May.

In the month of June, PCHS hired its new athletic director in David Riggle, with the retirement of Fred King. Also, the second Jim Winters 3 on 3 basketball tournament was held. The PC Foundation 5K was held. Also, Hayden Hizer was chosen as the OVAC Player of the Year and was also a First Team selection to All-State in baseball. The River Pilots was given money to build an all-turf football field.

In July, former Magnolia athlete Mark Cisar was chosen to be the next head baseball coach at John Marshall with the retirement of long-time coach Bob Montgomery. Baseball, basketball and softball camps rocked the area, as well as many road races and 5K run and walks. In the middle of the month, we we started thinking about starting all over again as selections took place for the OVAC All-Star game. Local athlete Chase Street was selected as MVP as he ran around, over and through the Ohio All-Star defense, rushing for 82-yards and scoring a touchdown to give West Virginia a 20-13 victory.

In August, yours truly participated in his very first 5K run/walk race in the Jim Quinet Memorial, and I started spotlights on area high school kids. First one out was Sophie Palmer, then Trey Blain.

Fan of the Week went to New Martinsville resident Mike Justice as he took a long trip on his bike to Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, while Trey Blain was the first Athlete Of The Week for the fall sports season. Logan Riggs, Karina Patel and Hunter Partridge followed in order to end the month.

The fall sports started with Logan Riggs making 30 saves in the first Magnolia soccer match of the season, while Blain led the Blue and Gold in high school golf. Magnolia opened the 2017 football season with a 45-30 victory over Williamstown to start the season off in a good way, while Shenandoah snapped the River Pilots’ regular season win streak at 17.

The Magnolia girls volleyball team beat Madonna to get September off to a good start, while Hundred football team had to pick things up at Clay-Battelle for home games, as the flood of 2017 destroyed their field. The Pilots’ Livi Beard opened the cross country meets, finishing third in the Stormin’ The Castle meet at Tyler Consolidated. The Magnolia football season started to get away from Magnolia, as they lost a heart breaker to Shadyside, 14-13, in double-overtime. Drew Wagnild of River and Patrick Mirandy were chosen as Athletes of the Week for Sept. 13.

The Pilots ran all over Magnolia, 36-21, while the Pilots’ girls cross country team was the runner-up in the Eagles’ annual Mud Bowl. Brooks Parsons was the Athlete of the Week for Sept. 20.

Area teams took a nose-dive as Magnolia, River, Hundred and Paden City all lost, with only Valley getting a much-needed win over Parkersburg Catholic. The Lady Eagles’ soccer team got their first win of the season. Kyndra Pilant was the Athlete of the Week.

In October, the Paden City Lady Wildcats won the OVAC Class-A volleyball championships, while the Valley Lumberjacks highlighted the front page with a 37-14 win over Frontier. Hope Weber, Trey Blain, Andrew Zedell, and Aubrey Neff earned Athlete of the Week. The Magnolia Blue Eagles stunned Tyler Consolidated in a 43-21 victory to snap their six-game slide. Meanwhile, River topped Lucas on senior night, while the Lady Eagles topped Paden City and St. Marys in volleyball. Trey Blain topped off the month earning All-State honors in golf.

The Lady Wildcats won the Mason-Dixon volleyball title, while the Lady Eagles knocked off two OVAC teams in regular season action, beating Paden City and John Marshall. Mady Winters and Katherine Henderson were the November’s first Athletes of the Week, as the Westfalls – Danny and wife Cathy – were Fans of the Week. The Valley Lumberjacks chopped down Paden City, 45-6, to end their season, while River moved on in the Ohio playoffs, beating the heavily-favored Harvest Prep, 39-34, as well as Sciotoville, 59-8, to move on to the finals where they lost a heart-breaker to the top-ranked Danville.

With football, soccer, golf, cross country and volleyball out of the way, basketball previews were headlining the paper to finish November.

Opening December, the Pilots’ long-time basketball assistant coach, Gard Curtis, retired from coaching, while the Wildcats’ Hannah Loy outscored the ‘Cats’ opponent Hundred, 25-20, to give Paden City a 60-20 victory to open the girls basketball season. Also, accolades galore for the Wildcats’ Hope Weber as she was honored as the OVAC Class-A Player of the Year. The Valley Lumberjacks defeated Paden City, 69-52, to headline the Dec. 13 issue, while the Eagles’ Brooks Parsons headlined the WVSSAC Class-A All-State selections, earning First-Team offense as a wide receiver.

The Magnolia archery team began their third season, while the Eagles’ wrestling team split a tri-match with Brooke and Tyler Consolidated. The Lumberjacks plucked the Eagles with a 63-52 victory for their first win over Magnolia in a very long time. The Barrow brothers, Jared and Jakob, both claimed weightlifting honors in a competition in Mineral Wells.

As you can tell, a lot of sports in the area has been covered by our weekly paper. Yet this is only a fraction of what goes on in our little area, day-in and day-out.

I can’t wait to see whats going to be headlining in the 2018 sports pages in the Wetzel Chronicle. I hope the Hundred football team can break-out of the state’s all-time losing streak and get a much deserved win.

We all can’t be winners, but if we try and do our very best, who knows who is going to be on top.