Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
Student athletes take high school to the next level by managing to focus on their academics as well as participate in their favorite sports. Pocahontas County High School honored its student athletes at the annual Athletic Banquet May 25.
Athletic director Kristy Tritapoe, coaches and scholarship donors presented senior athletes with scholarships and special awards.
The newly founded Shafer/Kincaid Memorial Scholarship was founded to honor the memory of two PCHS alumni who supported the athletic program.
Track coach Abe Rittenhouse presented the award to one female and one male athlete who participated in three sports their senior year.
“[It] is a $250 scholarship presented to two deserving athletes,” he said. “This scholarship is in honor of two wonderful men who were taken from us much too soon. Thomas David Shafer – loving husband, father and friend, and outstanding athlete, and Richard David Kincaid, also an outstanding athlete and a wonderful friend, who supported Pocahontas athletic programs.”
The 2016 recipients were Kayleigh Arbogast and Conlin Halterman.
The June Riley Math Award is presented to one male and one female athlete who have outstanding grades in mathematics.
“One of those recipients has received an overall cumulative GPA of 3.8 in her math classes and she has participated in soccer and softball,” math teacher and track coach Laurel Dilley said. “Our other recipient has earned an overall cumulative GPA of 3.7 in his math classes and he has participated in football and track.”
Dilley presented the awards to Emily Boothe and Tyler Owens.
The William Dilley Track Scholarship is given in memory of Dilley, who was a track star at PCHS, as well as an avid supporter of the athletic program. The award, presented by Mali Minter and 2010 recipient Abe Rittenhouse, went to Melissa Murphy.
The Coalfield Conference Athletes of the year were Melissa Murphy and J.D. Hensler. Murphy also received the Impact Player of the Year award.
The Arch Wooddell Sportsmanship award was presented to Michelle Murphy and Conlin Halterman.
WVSSAC Sportsmanship Award was presented to Megan Galford, Tyler Owens and Dalton Irvine.
The WVSSAC Award of Excellence is presented to a member of the community who displays exemplary sportsmanship, ethics and integrity. Receiving the 2016 award was Andrew Rider who is the clock runner for basketball and football games.
Coaches for each sport gave a summary of the 2015-2016 season and honored students who excelled on the court and field.
Football coach Doug Burns announced several students who broke or set school records.
Junior Wyatt Workman passed the most yards in one game with 300 yards against Moorefield High School. Workman is tied with alum Curtis Dunbrack with four touchdown passes in a single ballgame.
Senior J.D. Hensler has the second highest single season receiving yards total with 818 this season. Dalton Irvine is fifth in all-time single season receiving yards with 495. Hensler and Irvine are second and third respectively in single season touchdown receptions.
Potomac Valley Conference: First team – Danny Kimble, defensive line and offensive line; Cade Walker, defensive back; Logan Davis, full back; J.D. Hensler, wide receiver and punter; Dalton Irvine, offensive utility; and Wyatt Workman, quarterback.
Second team – J.D. Hensler, defensive end; Wyatt Workman, defensive back; Mark Jordan, offensive line; Morgan Mason, running back; and Logan Davis, linebacker.
Honorable mention – Brady Jones, defensive end; and Morgan Mason, linebacker.
Coalfield Conference, Class A, East Division: First team offense – Dalton Irvine, J.D. Hensler and Wyatt Workman. Second team offense – Danny Kimble, Logan Davis, Brady Jones and Morgan Mason. First team defense – Cade Walker, Danny Kimble and Logan Davis. Second team defense – J.D. Hensler.
All-State, Class A: First team – J.D. Hensler, kicker and utility player. Second team – Dalton Irvine, running back; and Wyatt Workman, offensive utility. Honorable mention – Cade Walker, Logan Davis and Danny Kimble.
Girls basketball coach Mike Kane honored members of the Lady Warriors. The team had a successful year which ended after sectionals and regionals. Kane recognized Sarah Ryder, who set the rebounding record with 27 rebounds.
Coalfield Conference: First team – Michelle Murphy and Melissa Murphy. Second team – Sarah Ryder and Mary Kelly.
All-State: Third team – Sarah Ryder. Honorable Mention – Melissa Murphy.
Potomac Valley Conference: First team – Sarah Ryder and Melissa Murphy.
Boys basketball coach Tim McClung presented several awards to players who set records. J.D. Hensler scored 1,033 in his basketball career at PCHS, earning him a spot among some of the top athletes to pass through the school.
At the Doddridge County Tournament, J.D. Hensler, Drake Warder and Ryan Dilley made the All-Tournament team. Chad Friel and J.D. Hensler made the All-Tournament team at the Webster County Tournament.
Potomac Valley Conference: Ryan Dilley.
All-State: Third team – J.D. Hensler. Honorable mention – Ryan Dilley.
Track coaches Laurel Dilley, Abe Rittenhouse and Aaron Pugh recognized the stellar members of the boys and girls track team. Coach Eric Rose was unable to attend the event.
The girls 4×800 team, consisting of Megan Galford, Michelle Murphy, Melissa Murphy and Cora Hedrick, broke the school record for the event with a final time of 10:16. Cora Hedrick broke the school record – twice – for the two mile run. Her final time was 12:16.
Potomac Valley Conference: First place – girls 4×800 team – Megan Galford, Michelle Murphy, Melissa Murphy, Cora Hedrick; girls 4×200 team – Bryce Kranc, Sarah Ryder, Samantha Collins and Brittney Sharp; boys 4×800 team – Kyle Lester, Tyler Owens, Jacob Jones and Conner Pyles; boys 4×400 team – Kyle Lester, Jacob Jones, Kyle Cohenour and Conner Pyles; boys 4×200 team – Logan Davis, Kyle Lester, Morgan Baldwin and Logan Dilley; girls 3200 meter run, Cora Hedrick; girls 800 meter run, Cora Hedrick; boys 800 meter run, Conner Pyles; and girls discus, Bridget Carroll.
Regional track meet: First place – girls 4×800 team, boys 4×800 team, and Cora Hedrick won in the girls 3200, girls 1600 and girls 800; Conner Pyles in the boys 800.
Rittenhouse explained 19 students participated in the state track meet and the team came home with 14 medals. Winning at the state track meet were the girls 4×800, girls 4×400, girls 4×200, boys 4×800, boys 4×400, boys 4×200, boys shuttle, Bridget Carroll in discus, Ryan Irvine in discus, Cora Hedrick in the 3200, 1600 and 800, Conner Pyles in the 400 and 800, and Kyle Lester in the 800.
The track teams have a 50 point club, 75 point club and 100 point club. At each meet students earn points depending on the place they achieved.
Fifty point club members: Sarah Ryder, 67; Megan Galford, 59; Ryan Irvine, 55; and Tyler Owens, 55.
Seventy-five point club members: Melissa Murphy, 75.5 and Kyle Lester, 80.
One hundred point club members: Conner Pyles, 106 and Cora Hedrick, 165.
Softball coach Rick Hartzell honored the players for a good season and announced Kayleigh Arbogast made the Potomac Valley Conference team.
Baseball coach Randy Irvine thanked the team for a good season and recognized the members for their efforts.
