ALBRIGHT: Plenty to look forward to in the 2019-20 prep sports season

June 9, 2019

Melancholia often sets in as the calendar flips from May to June. Unavoidable as it is, the end of the high school sports season always stings a little bit. Seniors graduate, special teams break up, and several good byes are uttered for the last time after year(s) of kinship. Releases of the all-state lists for prep softball and baseball, along with each’s player of the year, provide a celebratory wrap-up off the field. Then, the North-South softball, baseball, football and basketball games along with the Battle Against Cystic Fibroris gridiron contest gives closure on the field. The ...

South names new hoops coaches

May 16, 2019

It’s not too often a pair of prep basketball head coaching jobs come open at the same time. However, that was the case at Parkersburg South as the Patriots had both Mike Fallon (boys) and Ed Davis (girls) step away. On Tuesday night, the Patriots officially filled both of their vacancies with solid choices in 1981 Parkersburg South graduate Rick Dobson (girls) and 2003 Ravenswood graduate Brett Rector (boys). I’ve known Rector and his family since his playing days for the Red Devils of head coach Mick Price. Dobson has been a staple in the Mid-Ohio Valley. His son Ty played ...

ALBRIGHT: Patience pays off for Ravenswood tennis player Maximus Hilton

May 13, 2019

Ravenswood Red Devil Maximus (Max) Hilton entered the end game of his prep sports career at 8 a.m. Saturday on Court 2 of the Charleston YMCA. He arrived exactly at the desired destination for his final representation on any athletic playing surface for the Class A red and black. After ...

ALBRIGHT: Patriots’ Mike Fallon more than a coach

April 17, 2019

Mike Fallon dealt with an array of topics as the head coach of the Parkersburg South boys’ basketball program this past season. He struggled with the loss of his brother James and friend Keith Barker, battled with his team to a state-tournament first round exit, and dealt with changes in his life drawing him to a hard conclusion Monday evening. After 148 victories (second most at the school) and seven straight trips to the state tournament (including a loss in the 2013 state championship game), the right time had come to step down as the Patriots’ leader on the hardwood. ...

ALBRIGHT: Patriots’ Ed Davis steps down

April 14, 2019

Ed Davis never came close to standing as tall as Scott Stephens. His voice didn’t have quite the same boom either. The often soft-spoken Davis did though bring with him the same amount of excitement and optimism to coaching as his long-time friend and predecessor. Davis needed both of these traits as Stephens had constructed a Parkersburg South powerhouse (three state titles and numerous trips to the state tournament) during his time at the school. One the fanbase hoped would continue under new leadership upon Stephens’ departure to assist daughter Kim at Glenville State ...

Wrestlers had big weekend

April 4, 2019

The beat seems to just keep going for Parkersburg South head coach Shaun Smith’s wrestling program. Aside from winning a record fifth straight Class AAA state team crown this past winter, the Patriot grapplers continue to prosper in the “offseason.” At last week’s 30th annual National High School Coaches Association championships in Virginia Beach, PSHS had its fair share of success. Brayden Roberts, who competed in the 145-pound junior division, earned All-American honors after going 6-2 and placing fourth. It was the best effort from any local prep grappler. Patriot ...