Fort Frye’s Dalton, Archer commit to Wheeling University
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BEVERLY -- The connection between point guard Mackenzie Dalton and shooting guard Hannah Archer created its share of magic for the Fort Frye girls basketball program.
Since their chemistry worked so well for one team, the girls decided to take their act to Wheeling University as future teammates.
Earlier in the school year, Archer verbally committed to attend Wheeling U. For Dalton, she had a local college in mind before switching gears and deciding to play for the Cardinals next season. The lone two seniors from a Cadets team which won a district championship this past winter joined four other classmates as part of the high school's wide signing day last week.
"When I made my visit to Wheeling University, it felt like home," Archer said. "It's a good atmosphere to continue sports and academics. I liked the girls on the team, including some I knew before I even made my visit. Everyone told me how much they loved it there. It's a good location to go to college."
Archer plans to major in biology and pre-med. Dalton has elected to major in biology as well. There friendship extends beyond the basketball court and Dalton said there is a strong possibility the two girls will become college roommates.
"Hannah and I joked how cool it would be if we attended the same school, but we never said we would go to this school or that school, -- she had a lot of offers go her way and I had a lot of offers come my way," Dalton said. "Going to the same school where I know someone really well and how she plays will be a lot of fun."
Archer closed out her high school career as a first-team, All-Ohioan for a Fort Frye team which finished 20-5. Dalton was named District 12 Player of the Year. As the two captains for the Cadets, Archer and Dalton transitioned into a leadership role they learned from the three seniors who preceded them the year before.
"We lost those three seniors and we were a little unsure how this year would go -- we knew we would need the younger girls to step," Fort Frye coach Dan Liedtke said. "Hannah and Mackenzie did a super job pulling everything together. They had to step up and be leaders. And they were good leaders.
"They took the part seriously and helped the younger ones get their confidence up. They have played basketball together all through junior high and into high school. It's a unique situation they are playing at the same college. It has worked out very well."
Archer remembers as far back as fourth grade the idea of playing basketball at the collegiate level. Coach Liedtke has been a major influence for Archer through the years,
"One of my biggest accomplishments is getting to a scholarship to play basketball," Archer said.
Dalton originally targeted Marietta College. She liked what the school had to offer, but her official visit to Wheeling University altered the thought process.
"I was recruited by both schools -- I just like Wheeling University more," Dalton said.
Wheeling University closed out the 2021-22 campaign at 8-20 and 7-15 in the Mountain East Conference. First-year head coach Matt Schmidt departed after the end of the season, so currently the position remains vacant. According to Archer, 96 individuals applied. A short list of four candidates remains with a final decision to occur soon.
"The coach who left recruited me heavily and when I heard about him leaving about a month ago, I had to think about my decision a little bit," Archer admitted. "I talked with Mackenzie, and I talked with my family. If it was just about the head coach, that would be one thing, but I was going because of the team and the campus itself.
"No one on the team was leaving, so that says something about the college and how much they like it."
Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com