State championships.
That's the goal of every high school team in every sport, no matter how realistic that goal might be.
This sports year we have witnessed Parkersburg South's wrestling team win its fourth straight Class AAA state title as well as the 200th state championship in the history of the city. Joining the Patriots on the list of state champions are the golf team from Ritchie County and the volleyball team from Wirt County.
That short list for the rather large Mid-Ohio Valley tells us just how difficult it is to win a state title.
But the school year -and the sports year -isn't over. We still have spring sports championships to be decided and there's a distinct possibility the number of titles for area teams may double before the last champion is crowned.
Coaches will tell you there is no such thing as a lock to win a state title but if any school other than Williamstown wins the Class A girls state track championship, it will be considered a monumental upset. The Yellowjackets are so deep and so talented, they can give Class AAA favorite Buckhannon-Upshur a run for its money. Coach Zach Hall's team is on the verge of claiming back-to-back state titles.
Speaking of back-to-back titles, the Ritchie County softball team is looking strong in defense of the Class AA state championship it won a year ago at Jackson Park.
Yet, it is going to face a strong regional challenge from Magnolia, which is 22-3 and has a pair of outstanding pitchers. Plus, whoever wins the regional will face a strong southern representative at the state tournament with both Chapmanville and Wayne capable of going all the way.
The last team at Parkersburg High School to win a state championship was the Big Red girls tennis team in 2010.
If PHS doesn't win a spring sports title, it will have gone two years without a state championship in any sport.
Don't look now but the last team to win may also be the next team to win. Coach Pam Reeves' girls tennis squad not only is undefeated, but it also passed a major test on Friday when it scored a 4-3 win over defending state champion Huntington.
The Big Reds and Huntington keep taking turns at winning the state title as PHS won in 2008 and 2010 and Huntington captured the big school championship in 2009 and 2011.
All of the coaches of this year's state champions as well as those who captured titles last spring have been invited to attend next Sunday's 66th annual Victory Awards Dinner at the Dils Banquet Center, where they will be recognized for their accomplishment.
No matter in what sport a team is competing, winning a state championship is a challenge. Even if you clearly are the superior team, no one is going to hand you the title. You must do it the old-fashioned way -earn it!
Contact Dave Poe at dpoe@newsandsentinel.com
