Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
Pocahontas County High School athletes were celebrated May 13 at the athletic awards event held at the school’s gymnasium.
There was a noticeable absence among the coaches seated beside the athletes after the loss of girls basketball Coach Mike Kane, who passed away April 30.
Athletic director Chasity Taylor, assistant girls basketball coach Tim McClung and track coach Josh Abbott all honored Coach Kane by sharing memories of working with him and honoring the example he set for countless athletes through the years.
“One thing he always said was ‘let us all be friends, amen,’ after each prayer at every game,” Taylor said.
She added that when the girls won a game, Kane would lead them in chanting “Hip, Hip, Hurray,” three times, which she and the girls did at the awards event in his honor.
After asking for a moment of silence for Kane, McClung said he was grateful to work with Kane in his final season as a coach.
“Coach Kane was a Warrior,” he said. “He really was. When you come to practice every day and you have cancer, and you’re taking chemo, you’re tired, you’re sick. He was a trooper. He put the effort forward, and he wanted to be here. I appreciate the time I got to spend with him. I appreciate that he called me and asked me to help him.”
Abbott said he didn’t know Kane well, but he felt he learned a lot about him through others sharing stories about him.
“I was fortunate enough to have met him and had a few conversations with him, but I honestly did not know him that well,” he said. “But, in a sense, I feel like I did because of all the stories I heard about him, and the fondness of him that is shared by his friends and his current and former athletes he coached.”
This led Abbot to think about Proverb 22 – “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”
“It had me thinking about what’s in a name?” he said. “A good name is more desirable than great riches. We currently live in a very self focused culture. ‘You do you, don’t worry about others; you’ve got to do what’s best for you.’ I know from everyone in this community that that’s not how Coach Kane lived his life. The amount of time, money and energy he sacrificed and the ways he gave back to those he loved is how I’ll remember him and his name, and that’s my challenge to all these athletes behind me.
“As you finish your careers here at the high school or as you move on to the next stage of your life, what’s in your name?” Abbot continued. “How is the world going to remember you when they hear your name? Are you going to be someone who shows up or will others say don’t waste your time, they’re not coming? Are you going to be a hard worker? Or will you be satisfied doing the bare minimum. Will you be a person of integrity, where your yes means yes and your no means no, or will you make others constantly question you?
“Whether you believe it or not, despite what we’re told sometimes, every decision that you make will affect others – some for good and some for bad. So a good name is more credible than good riches, and my hope is that is what you seek in your futures.”
Several awards were presented during the evening. The Arch Wooddell Award was presented to Kynlee Wilfong and Wyatt Hendrick. Wilfong also received the June Riley Award.
The William Dilley Memorial Scholarship was presented to Jessica Armstrong.
During the event, coaches recognized their teams and handed out certificates to those were were named to the Potomac Valley Conference teams and the All-State teams.
Darlene Arbogast honored the cheerleaders – seniors: Jersey Simmons and Taiylor Hoke; junior: Kendra Moyers; and sophomores: Braelyn Gibson, Serenity Cochran, Berkley Buzzard, Heidi Jordan, Madilyn Hicks, Winsor Aldermand and Callie Davis.
The cheerleaders have the longest season of all the athletes because they cheer at football games and basketball games.
Boys soccer coach Justin Dilley recognized Ben Withers, who was PVC player of the year, as well as Trenton Brock, Kaden Wayne, Wyatt Hendrick, Matthew McQuain and Clayton Burns, who joined Withers on the PVC team.
The team is – seniors: Clayton Burns, Ben Withers and Wyatt Hendrick; juniors: Dauvaughn Morris, Trenton Brock, Willie O’Ganian, Cornell Morris and Matthew McQuain; sophomores: Dylan Keller, Kaden Wayne, Wade Garber, Florian Baudler and Warren Burns; and freshmen – Griffin Taylor, Quincy Sharp and Ben Workman.
Girls soccer coach Shannon Arbogast presented the team – seniors: Mileya Bircher, Andrea Alderman, Kynlee Wilfong and Elizabeth Friel; juniors: Riley Pollack, Ellena Bauserman, Mackenzie Taylor, Miranda Gum, Eden Smith, Brianna Cochran, Jasey Kramer and Mallori McCoy; sophomores – Ramona Hardy and Shayla Bennett; and freshmen – Alexis Arbogast, Riley Cassell, Erin Rider, Leanne Green, Baylee Nelson and Allyson Taylor.
Arbogast recognized the players who made the PVC team – Brianna Cochran. Shayla Bennet, Mackenzie Taylor, Mallori McCoy, Riley Pollack, Eden Smith. Smith was also named PVC player of the year.
Golf coach David Moore said the team did not make it to the state championship this year, but it did win the all-tournament regional championship. Dillon Dunz placed all-tournament at the regional championship where he shot a 76 – four over par – game.
The team is made up of seniors: Stone Hall, Ronny Simmons, Reggie Whiting; juniors: Rachel Felton, Dillon Dunz and Bailey Zickefoose; and sophomores – Austin Hillery, Reagan Friel and Warren Burns.
Moore also recognized Gavin Walls who was the team manager.
Football coach Brad Carpenter announced the PVC team members – Honorable mention defensive back, Devon Burgess; second team offensive line, Cody Lewis; honorable mention running back, Haydon Moore and Austin Price.; and honorable mention quarterback, Brady Carpenter.
The football team includes – seniors: Christopher Williams and Cody Lewis; juniors – Devon Burgess, Caleb Ritter, D.J. Wilfong, Clayton Sharp and Landon Hebb; sophomores – Haydon Moore, Brady Carpenter, Jesse Dean, Dominic Bennett, Gary Warner, Jacob Bennett, Nathaniel Wimer and Justin Dean; and freshmen – Morgan Beverage, Gavin Jordan, Noah Friel, Logan Keatley, Austin Price, Gavin Doolittle, Thomas Arbogast, Draven Hannah, Anthony Bennett, Aiden Jordan and Camden Gregory.
Boys basketball coach Scott Garber recognized Dillon Dunz who was named to the PVC second team and All-State honorable mention.
The team consists of – seniors – Clayton Burns and Wyatt Hendrick; juniors – Matthew McQuain, Dillon Dunz, Trenton Brock, Devin Armstrong and Dyllan Tinney; sophomores – Bryant Peteete, Silas Beezley, Wade Garber, Carter Vandevander and Dylan Keller; and freshmen – Griffin Taylor, Benjamin Workman, Anthony Bennett, Camden Gregory, Cash Beers, Draven Hannah and Austin Price.
For girls basketball, McClung said the team was both sectional and regional champs and were defeated in the first game of the State Championship against the top seed Cameron High School.
Olivia Vandevender made the PVC first team and Calli Propst made the PVC second team.
Named All-State honorable mention were Riley Pollack and Olivia Vandevender.
The girls team is – seniors – Olivia Vandevender, Mileya Bircher, Kynlee Wilfong and Andrea Alderman.; juniors – Riley Pollack, Mackenzie Taylor and Mallori McCoy; sophomores – Ramona Hardy, Shayla Bennett and Calli Propst.; and freshmen – Alexis Arbogast, Riley Cassell, Allyson Taylor, Caroline Bennett, Leanne Green, Sierra Nelson, Addison Hamrick, Charleigh Halterman and Baylee Nelson.
Softball coach Natasha Trainer was unable to attend the event, so Taylor recognized the team. She said the season was not over at that time, but Trainer did want to recognize Madeline Hicks as the most improved player for 2024.
The softball team includes – Seniors: Ciasha Waddell, Kynlee Wilfong and Andrea Alderman; juniors – Kirsten Friel, Brooklyn Moyers and Rachel Felton; sophomores – Ramona Hardy, Berkley Buzzard and Madilyn Hicks; and freshmen – Addison Hamrick, Natayle Burdette, Riyan Gladwell and Charleigh Halterman.
Baseball coach Bill Meehan recognized Oden Lizotte as the most improved player and said the team is finishing up its season soon.
The team consists of – seniors: Wyatt Hendrick and Christopher Williams; juniors – Devon Burgess, Dyllan Tinney and Devin Armstrong; sophomores – Dylan Keller, Warren Burns, Dominic Bennett, Luke Gainer and Gary Warner; and freshmen – Odin Lizotte and Logan Keatley.
Track coach Abbot started by recognizing the students who placed at the state track meet in 2023 which took place after the athletic awards ceremony last year.
Brycen Carroll placed 11 in the 400 meters. The 4×200 relay team of Ryan Halterman, Brycen Carroll, Mason Solliday and Max O’Ganian placed seventh. The same team placed third in the 4×400 relay.
The team of Mason Solliday, Jax Osborne, Willie O’Ganian and Ryan Halterman placed 13th in the 4×55 shuttle hurdles.
Logan Wimer placed eighth in the shot put; Jessica Armstrong placed sixth in the 100m hurdles and fifth in the 300m hurdles.
The relay team of Sabina Leyzorek, Jessica Armstrong, Christy Casey and Jasey Kramer placed 13th in the 4×200 relay.
In the 4×400 relay, the team of Brianna Cochran, Jessica Armstrong, Sabina Leyzorek and Christy Casey placed eighth.
Brianna Cochran placed 15th in discus.
Abbott recognized the students who qualified for this year’s state track meet which was May 18 in Charleston.
Allyson Taylor qualified in the high jump, shot put and discus; Brianna Cochran qualified in discus; Dauvaughn Morris and Dillon Dunz in the open 100 meter dash; Nathaniel Wimer in the open 200; the 4×100 team of Carter Vandevander, Dillon Dunz, Dauvaughn Morris and Nathaniel Wimer, who were also the regional champs; 4×200 team of Carter Vandevander, Dauvaughn Morris, Cornell Morris and Willie O’Ganian; 4×100 shuttle hurdles team Dillon Dunz, Trenton Brock, Willie O’Ganian and Carter Vandevander; and Nathaniel Wimer in the long jump.
Dillon Dunz was also the regional high jump champion.
The boys track team is – juniors: Dillon Dunz, Shawn Emery, Dauvaughn Morris, Cornell Morris, Caleb Ritter, Willie O’Ganian and Trenton Brock; sophomores: Nathaniel Wimer and Carter Vandevander; and freshmen: Draven Hannah, Gavin Doolittle, Austin Price, Aiden Jordan, Carter Faulknier and Gavin Jordan.
The girls track team is – seniors: Jadyn Lane, Sabina Leyzorek, Madelin Ray, Jessica Armstrong, Kaylee Pritt and Taiylor Hoke; juniors – Ryleigh Parker, Miranda Gum, Miya Johnson, Brianna Cochran, Haily Fitzgerald, Gracie Sisler and Alexandria Harrah; sophomores – Heidi Jordan and Braelyn Gibson; and freshmen – Abrina Hammons, Catherine Lucabaugh, Allyson Taylor, Erin Rider and Dixie Schoolcraft.
Taylor also recognized school athletes who participate in non-WVSSAC activities, including mountain biking, skiing, snowboard, dirt biking and rodeo.
Carter Faulknier placed 27th out of 148 participants from 11 states in the NICA Eastern Regional Championships. NICA is the National Interscholastic Cycling Association.
Two members of the Snowshoe Forever Wild Freestyle Team participated in the USASA – United States of America Snowboard and Freeski Association – regional competition. Nolan Street, a skier, placed third at nationals and Tristen O’Steen, a snowboarder, participated in the rail jam and slopestyle competitions.
Several students competed in dirt bike racing this year. Morgan Beverage won seventh place at the New East Coast 125 Super Class; Griffin Taylor placed first in the Mountain State Hare Scramble in the school boy class and placed third overall in the New East Coast 125 Super Class.
Placing first overall at the Mountain State Hare Scramble, first place in the New East Coast 125 Super Class and seventh in the grand national cross country was Calli Propst.
Members of the West Virginia High School Rodeo team had a good season this year, as well.
Mya Workman was the reserve champion team roper, third in break away roping, third in pole bending and fifth in barrels. She also qualified to the national competition. She was named president of the WVHSR.
Warren Burns was fifth in team roping, is a national qualifier and was named secretary of the WVHSR.
Hannah Burks was named the team roping, goat tying champion, won breakaway roping, first place in team roping and was awarded the Spirit of Rodeo buckle. She also qualified for nationals.
Lane Butcher won the bull riding championship and qualified for nationals.
