(Letter to the Editor - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

I want to begin by saying, as a former Parkersburg News sportswriter, I have great respect for Kerry Patrick of the newspapers’ sports staff. Additionally, I appreciate his recent story on the Parkersburg Catholic Crusaderettes, who, because of diminished numbers, will not field a girls basketball team since the initial squad of 1972-73.

Girls basketball at PCHS has been a mainstay of the sports at the Fairview Avenue school. The program has been blessed with great coaches and great players.

But now, the rest of the story! In 1972, at the behest of several girls at PCHS, the late Doug Hoselton was approached with the request to create and coach a girls basketball team. That request was honored and the Crusaderette basketball team went into the history books. Eventually, as the season concluded, this collection of young ladies won the first-ever Catholic state girls basketball tournament, which was held on the Crusaderette hardwood.

The fact is, PCHS and several other Catholic schools had girls programs before schools in the West Virginia public school system and even many colleges. That program, according to Patrick’s article, is described as a program with “a proud and rich tradition.”

In February 2023, that team was recognized as the inaugural Crusaderette team. However, that’s where the plaudits ended. Comments, indicating that this title was not worthy of similar championship teams, because they did not have to go through sectionals and regionals as the modern teams, are somewhat disconcerting. Remember, the initial start of any project seldom resembles the modern edition.

At least two indications of this are obvious. First, there is no banner in the gym recognizing the 1972-73 championship accomplishment. And secondly, Mary Lopez, a member of that team, went on to play and start at Marshall University, was the first female recipient of the Cam Henderson Award, is a member of the Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame and an Olympic tryouts invitee. Unlike others, however, her picture is not in the hall where other great PCHS standouts are memorialized.

This commentary is in no way meant to detract from the outstanding players that have been produced at PCHS. Three of those standouts include Mary Ostrowski, MaryBeth Eaton and Judy Eaton. I was fortunate and blessed to have watched and reported their career accomplishments.

For those who feel that this 1972-73 team didn’t have to go through the same rigors that the modern player must endure, take note they played on Saturday mornings, had no uniforms and played by differing sets of rules based on game location.

I find it noteworthy that each year in the WVSSAC state basketball programs, victorious teams are listed dating back to the early 1900s. Needless to say, these championship teams, too, had differing routes to a state title. Still, they are recognized as champions.

That is an example of a “proud and rich tradition.”

Ken Davis

Parkersburg