OVAC Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 to be inducted Saturday in Wheeling

By Jeff Harrison

  The Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 is set to be inducted. 

The OVAC Hall of Fame Committee has once again selected deserving individuals who excelled in athletics in the conference which dates back to 1943. This year’s honorees will be feted at the 21^st OVAC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony slated Saturday, August 16^th at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, W. Va.  

The Class of ’25 includes another star-studded list – Steve Wojcik in the OVAC ‘Family category; Mike Del Re in the OVAC ‘Contributor’ category; Buckeye Local’s Ron Pobolish and Magnolia’s Craig Schneid as Coaches; Dan Delande and Joe Hissom as Officials; Wheeling Central’s Pat Korsnick and Wheeling High’s Gerald Schultze from the 1960s; Bishop Donahue’s Gary Fonner and Wintersville’s Ernie Andria from the 1970s; Linsly’s Heath Haynes and St. Clairsville’s Ann Osborne from the 1980s; Bellaire’s Richie Mamie and Buckeye Local’s Chet Pobolish from the 1990s; Martins Ferry’s Clay Tucker and Beaver Local’s Derek Wolfe from the 2000s; and Wheeling Park’s Errin Baynes and Indian Creek’s Alex Young from the 2010s. 

Five “Legends of the OVAC’ will also be honored – Jim Fryfogle of Shenandoah, Larry Handschumacher of Salem-Liberty (pre-Fort Frye), Paul Jackson of Parkersburg South, Jim Kelley of University High and Jim Kouski of Bridgeport. 

The J.B. Chambers I-470 Complex in Elm Grove, W. Va. and its workers will be recognized with the Dennis Magruder Distinguished Service Award.    

Here are the bios of all of the inductees:

2025 OVAC Hall of Fame

  Steve Wojcik (Wheeling Central Catholic High School, Class of 1969) - When you’ve been around the sport of baseball as a player, coach and commissioner for more than six decades, it’s likely that your resume will be impressive and that’s certainly the case with Wojcik.

  In addition to being a standout on the diamond in high school and college with a four-year stint in the minor leagues and a lengthy resume in coaching, Wojcik served the conference for the better part of four decades, first as a member of the OVAC Baseball Committee from 1980-1998 and as the OVAC Baseball Commissioner from 2002-2017.

 Known for running the sport with an “iron fist” during his tenure, “Woj” coordinated many aspects including the playoffs, all-star game and all-conference selections. He was also among those responsible for the OVAC Baseball College Showcase which took place for several years at the I-470 Complex in Elm Grove, W. Va.

  He began playing the game he loves as an eight-year old and blossomed into a talented player at Wheeling Central where he earned three letters as a left-handed pitcher and first baseman. Wojcik posted a three-year record of 22-6 on the mound, including 4-2 as a sophomore, 8-3 as a junior and 10-1 as a senior. He also batted .390 as a senior and was named first team All-West Virginia (one class), co-captain of the All-Valley squad and to the All-West Virginia Catholic Tournament Team. The Maroon Knights won two W. Va. Catholic State Championships during his three seasons.

 Wojcik took his talents to the collegiate level where, as freshman at Davis & Elkins, he went 7-2 and earned all-conference honorable mention. He transferred to West Liberty State College and after sitting out a year, he sparkled for three seasons with a 30-6 career pitching record.

  That included a 7-0 record as a sophomore, gaining all-WVIAC honors; 8-1 as a junior, repeating as an all-conference selection and helping the Hilltoppers win the WVIAC Championship; and 8-3 as a senior with an overall ERA of 1.00 which ranked sixth nationally in the NAIA. He led WLSC to another conference title and an NAIA Regional berth and was the WVIAC “Pitcher of the Year and an honorable mention NAIA All-American selection. He was a West Liberty Hall of Fame selection in 1997.

  Wojcik was signed as a free agent by the New York Mets in 1974 and spent four seasons in the minor leagues (Class A and AA), posting a combined 27-22 record with a 3.74 ERA

  He joined the coaching ranks in 1980 as the head coach at Bridgeport High, serving in that role until 1996. He then spent two seasons as the pitching coach at Wheeling Park (1997-98), pitching coach at West Liberty (1999-2006) and finally returning to Bridgeport for three more seasons (2007-09).

  Michael F. Del Re (Moundsville High School, Class of 1965) – His contributions to Ohio Valley Athletic Conference in girls’ basketball go beyond court success. Del Re was also actively involved in establishing the first OVAC Girls Basketball Championships in 1976 while serving as a member of the OVAC Girls Basketball Committee.

  Del Re not only started the girls’ hoop program at Madonna High School in 1973, he led the Lady Blue Dons to the top of the mountain in 1978 when the Lady Blue Dons captured the West Virginia Class AA State Championship with a spotless 25-0 record, defeating University High by a 65-55 score in the title contest. The team averaged an impressive 85 points per game in the era before the three-point goal was established, and the state championship marked the first-ever (Ohio or West Virginia) for an OVAC team in girls’ hoops and the first WVSSAC championship for Madonna in any sport.

  Madonna captured OVAC titles under Del Re in 1977, 1978 and 1979. He coached in the OVAC Samuel A. Mumley All-Star Basketball Game twice (1978, 2002).

  He served two years as the head women’s basketball coach at the College of Steubenville (now Franciscan University) before returning to Madonna in 2002, leading the Blue Dons to the W. Va. Class A State Semifinals. He finished with a final record of 131-36 as head coach of the Blue Dons.

 Del Re also has been involved in athletics in a variety of other roles - starting the volleyball program at Madonna, coaching tennis at Weir, serving as a girls’ basketball assistant for five years at Madonna and as finally as the Director of Athletics at Weir for six years and, although “retiring” in 2017, he’s still heavily involved in the Red Riders’ athletic program.

 For his contributions as well as coaching success, Del Re received the Rich Saffield Girls Coach Award at the OVAC Samuel A. Mumley Basketball Classic in 2021.

 The Moundsville High graduate earned his bachelor’s degree in education from West Liberty State College (1969) and his master’s in education from West Virginia University (1973).

  Ron Pobolish (Dillonvale High School, Class of 1966). This legendary football coach put together a 144-102-1 record over 24 seasons as a head coach at several area schools with a combined five OHSAA playoff appearances, four OVAC championships and three unbeaten teams.

  After two years as an assistant at Martins Ferry after college, Pobolish began his head coaching career at Cadiz High (1973-76, 29-10-1 record), including 9-0-1 and 9-1 seasons in his final two years and an OVAC Class 2A championship in 1975. He then coached at John Marshall for three years (1977-79, 9-21 record).

  Following a seven-year break, he returned to the sidelines at Buckeye South for two years (1986-87, 9-11 record) and two years at Buckeye SouthWest (1988-89, 14-6 record).

  Then, after the final district consolidation, he guided Buckeye Local for six seasons (1990-95, 53-13 record), including the memorable 1994 campaign when the Panthers reached the OHSAA Division II State Championship game, where they dropped a 17-6 decision to Chardon to finish as the runner-up with a sparkling 13-1 record. To get to the title game, Buckeye Local defeated Uniontown Lake (25-7), Columbus Bishop Watterson (26-7) and Piqua (21-14).

  After a second seven-year hiatus from the prep ranks which included a couple of years as an assistant at West Liberty State College, he took the reins at Harrison Central for two years (2003-04, 9-11 record), helping a struggling program get untracked.

 Finally, he returned to Buckeye Local for a second stint, this time for five years (2005-09, 21-27), reaching the playoffs in 2008 and ’09 before retiring for good.

  Under Pobolish, the Panthers won three OVAC Class 4A championships (1991, 1994 and 2009), five River Valley League titles and one Buckeye 8 crown. He coached in the OVAC Rudy Mumley All-Star Football Game four times (1976, 1978, 1988 and 2010).

  A three-time Eastern District ‘Coach of the Year’ and the Ohio Valley Football Coach of the Year in 1975, he was previously inducted into the Ohio Valley Football Coaches Hall of Fame (2000) and the Buckeye Local Wall of Honor (2024).

  As an athlete, Pobolish was a three-sport standout at Dillonvale High School (football, baseball, basketball), earning third team All-Ohio Class A honors in football and all-Eastern Ohio in football and basketball. He went on to be a three-year football starter at West Virginia University – one year at running back and two years as a defensive back. He was also the starting second baseman on the Mountaineers’ baseball team as a sophomore.

  Pobolish passed away in 2024 at the age of 76.

  Craig Schneid (St. John Central High School, Class of 1973). He enjoyed a tremendous career as a boys’ track coach that spanned nearly four decades, including coaching teams to 10 state championships – tied for the most in the history of West Virginia boys’ track with Russ Parsons (Stonewall Jackson/Parkersburg).

  Schneid-coached teams won nine state titles at Magnolia in Class A-AA (1991, ’92, ’93, ’95, ’96, ’99, 2000, ’01, ’02) and one at Wheeling Central in Class A (2008). He guided the Maroon Knights for five years before stepping back to an assistant’s role before finally calling it a career in 2019.

  He also had three state runner-up teams and led Magnolia to three OVAC Class 3A championships (1995, ’96 and ’97).

  During his career, Schneid coached 42 individual and 28 relay state champions; eight high point scorers at the state meet and eight state meet record-holders. His athletes won every event at the state meet at some point except the pole vault.

 Schneid was selected West Virginia Track Coach of the Year five times; Ohio Valley Track Coach of the Year four times; the OVAC All-Sport Coach of the Year in 2002; the Dapper Dan Co-Man of the Year in 2002 along with another OVAC Hall of Famer – Oak Glen wrestling coach Larry Shaw; a finalist for the West Virginia All-Sport Coach of the Year in 1996 and 2002; and he was inducted into the West Virginia Schools Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.

 In addition to coaching track, Schneid was also an assistant football coach for two years and an assistant wrestling coach for one year at Magnolia and one year as golf coach at Paden City.

  The St. John Central product received his bachelor’s degree from Wet Liberty State College (1977) and his master’s degree from West Virginia University.

  Dan Delande (Bridgeport High School, Class of 1965). Delande was a long-time official in two sports – as a basketball referee for 22 years and as a softball umpire for 27 years with games in the OVAC, Inter-Valley Conference, Pioneer Valley Conference and Federal League as well as 12 years umpiring Division II and III college contests.

  He worked sectional, district, regional and state level tournaments in both Ohio and West Virginia including 15 Ohio regionals, nine Ohio state tournaments, four West Virginia state softball finals and one West Virginia state basketball final.

  Delande served as an officer and executive committee member of the Ohio Valley Board of Softball Umpires, was an officials’ assigner and a member of the OVAC All-Star Basketball Committee.

  He was inducted into the Ohio High School Athletic Association Officials Hall of Fame in 2025.

  Delande also served as director of the adult softball league and umpire assigner for the Wheeling Recreation Department and was co-director of the Wheeling Basketball Shootout for many years.

  Delande played baseball and basketball at Bridgeport, earning All-Ohio recognition as a first baseman as a senior, and later became an avid softball player and golfer. He was inducted into the Bridgeport Hall of Fame in 2024.

  He received his bachelor’s degree from Ohio University in 1971 and his master’s degree from the University of Dayton in 1977. He served as a teacher and principal at Bridgeport, Martins Ferry and St. Joseph’s Catholic School and also as a substitute teacher at Shadyside after he retired.  Delande, who served in the U.S. Navy, passed away in 2024 at age 77.

  Joe Hissom (Barnesville High School, Class of 1975). A registered basketball official for 39 years, Hissom hung up his whistle following the 2020-2021 season.

  During his career, he worked six OHSAA State Tournament games; 42 regional tournament games; 54 district championship games; 25 OVAC Basketball Tournament championship games and nine Buckeye 8 Tournament title games.

  Hissom officiated games in the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference, East Central Ohio League, Muskingum Valley League, Inter-Valley Conference, Buckeye 8 Athletic League and Pioneer Valley Conference and countless non-conference games throughout the East District during his career.

 He was named District 5 Basketball Coaches Association Official of the Year three times (2002, 2003, 2007); the District 12 Basketball Coaches Association Official of the Year in 2002; the Ohio Valley Board Official of the Year (2004); and the OVAC Robert Dawson Officials Award in 2022.

  Hissom, whose son Matt carries on the family tradition of officiating, was a member of the Ohio Valley Board of Basketball Officials and the East Central Ohio Board of Basketball Officials.

  Pat Korsnick (Wheeling Central High School, Class of 1968). One of the most honored football/baseball athletes in Maroon Knight history, the 5-foot-10, 180-pounder earned a Division I football scholarship and played both football and baseball in college after being drafted for pro baseball out of high school.

  The three-year regular quarterback-defensive back-punter-placekicker led Central to records of 9-0-1, 8-2-1 and the school’s first perfect season (10-0) as a senior. He earned every available honor his final year — 1st team All-State, repeat 1st team “Big School” All-Valley and selected captain, and All-OVAC Class AAA for an OVAC championship-winning team. The unbeaten Knights were acclaimed state Catholic Schools champion for a third straight year without a playoff because of a dominant, spotless season (8 shutouts, outscoring its opponents by 285-21). In his junior season, Central defeated Madonna, 46-6, in the state Catholic title game.

  As a senior, he completed 64 passes for 1,096 yards and 8 TDs and rushed 78 times for 403 yards and 20 TDs. He also kicked 11 PATs. As a junior, he passed for 790 yards and 11 TDs with no interceptions and rushed 66 times for 473 yards. In the title game vs. Madonna, he was 8-for-8 passing for 165 yards and two TDs.

  In baseball, Korsnick earned 1st team, one class All-State honors both as a junior and senior outfielder. He batted .480 as a junior and .458 as a senior. He was selected co-captain of the 1st All-Valley, all-class selections as a senior.

  Korsnick was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds after his senior season but instead opted for a football scholarship to Purdue University. He attended Purdue for a year before transferring to North Carolina State where he played football for three years as a quarterback-punter and baseball as an outfielder.

  Gerald Schultze (Wheeling High School, Class of 1969). He was an All-Valley and All-State player in three sports and became an All-American football center at West Virginia University.

  At Wheeling High, he was a 6-foot, 200-pound football center-linebacker, a heavyweight wrestler and track shot-putter.

  In football, as a senior, he earned 1st Team All-Valley “Big School” center, 1st Team All-OVAC Class AAA, and 2nd Team All-State Class AAA.

  In wrestling, the Wildcats won the W.Va. one-class state title his senior year as he placed fourth in the heavyweight division after being runner-up in the OVAC Tournament.

  In track, his best shot put was 54-5 3/4 to win the Brooke Relays, just shy of the Ohio Valley record of 55-4. He placed second in the OVAC meet and the state Class AAA meet with a 52-2 toss. He earned All-Valley honors in track.

  Schultze received a football grant-in-aid to West Virginia University. After starting at linebacker on the WVU freshman team (frosh weren’t eligible for varsity at the time), he was switched to center and lettered three years – the last two as a starter – for the Mountaineers.

  He was selected 3rd Team All-American as a senior center by The Associated Press and also was awarded the Meisel Award for top academic WVU senior football player. He played on three teams coached by College Football Hall of Famer Bobby Bowden with records of 8-3, 7-4 and 8-4.

  Ernie Andria (Wintersville High School, Class of 1975). Andria was a three-sport standout - wrestling, track and football - for the Golden Warriors. Not only did he earn letters in each sport all three years, but he also was named captain for each as a senior. 

  At 6-3, 250 pounds, he actually ran speed events in track. In fact, he participated in the 220 and 440 relay and even anchored the 880 relay team in invitational meets.

  Wrestling was another successful endeavor as he competed as a heavyweight and won numerous titles. His senior record was 26-4 and included a fourth place finish in the OVAC Wrestling Tournament. Although sustaining an injury in his junior season, he accumulated more than 50 varsity wins at WHS.

  Football was his meal ticket, however, as he excelled for OVAC Hall of Fame Coach Robert Kettlewell at Wintersville.

  Andria was a dominant interior lineman and a starter from day one of his sophomore season. He really entered the big stage in his junior season, however. In a game against Dayton Patterson, he dominated Ohio State senior recruit and future All-American lineman and NFL player Chris Ward, and this performance caused a recruiting boom for Andria's services.

  His Golden Warrior accomplishments and awards are staggering.

They include: 1974 Ohio Class AAA All-State 1st Team offensive guard selection; 1974 Associated Press All-Eastern District Class AAA 1st Team/Lineman of the Year; 1974 All-OVAC 1st Team; 1974 All-Valley 1st Team/Co-Captain; 1974 High School All-American named by Scholastic Magazine -The Schoolboy Top 100 Players; 1975 OVAC All-Star Game Selection/Ohio Team Captain; 1975 Ohio North-South All-Star Game selection; 1975 Wintersville H.S. Top Athlete Award; 1975 Upper Ohio Valley Dapper Dan High School Special Honoree.

  He had multiple Division I scholarship offers and picked The Ohio State University over WVU and others. 

  At Ohio State, he was a four-year letterman and a two-year starter at guard. As a senior, Andria earned second team UPI All-Big Ten honors while OSU went 11-0 in the 1979 regular season to win the Big Ten Conference and bowed to USC, 17-16, in the 1980 Rose Bowl.

  Andria was part of an infamous play in OSU history as he was the messenger guard who brought in the final play that ended the career of Coach Woody Hayes. The play led to the altercation with Hayes hitting Clemson nose guard Charlie Bauman in the 1978 Gator Bowl. 

  Andria's fine college career enabled him to ink a free agent contract with the Houston Oilers. Unfortunately, an injury on the first day of training camp ended his professional hopes. He is now retired from the Worthington (Ohio) Public Schools.

Gary Fonner (Bishop Donahue High School, Class of 1978). Fonnner was perhaps the most gifted and entertaining athlete to ever grace the halls of Bishop Donahue.

  As a wide receiver/defensive back in football, Fonner earned All-OVAC first team honors and duplicated that feat with similar honors in baseball as a centerfielder/pitcher. He had speed and strength rarely seen in a player 5-11 and 160 pounds. 

  It was in basketball, however, that Fonner really turned heads.

  Playing over the rim and often times on the edge of reality, Fonner scored 1,172 career points in two years, averaging 33.4 ppg as a senior, along with 13 rebounds, five assists and four steals. He scored 55 points in one game, still a Marshall County high school scoring record, and had 49 points in a memorable match against Sistersville at the Wheeling Civic Center, still the record for that building.

  He was named All-OVAC captain, All-Valley ‘Small School’ captain, and first-team All-West Virginia Class A captain. He was also named the OVAC Athlete of the Year in 1978.

  Moreover, Fonner was selected by The Intelligencer as one of the OVAC’s Top 100 Athletes of the 20th Century, the only Bishop Donahue athlete selected. He earned a basketball scholarship to Wheeling Jesuit University.

  Fonner, a resident of McMechen, is also an accomplished golfer. He has won several local amateur golf tournaments.

   Heath Haynes (The Linsly School, Class of 1987). Haynes enjoyed a remarkable pitching career both on the high school and collegiate levels, including scripting a brilliant resume with the Cadets that included a 26-4 career pitching record with 287 strikeouts.

   As a junior, Haynes was named Class A All-State by the West Virginia Sports Writers. He went 12-1 for the Cadets that spring with a miniscule ERA of 1.55. He hurled a pair of no-hitters, including one in an OVAC championship game, and struck out 150 batters while fanning at least 10 hitters in every game he pitched. He was subsequently selected as the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Player of the Year and an All-Valley co-captain.

  His impressive mound craftsmanship didn’t end that spring. Haynes was named MVP of the West Virginia American Legion State Tournament while helping Wheeling Post 1 capture the state title that summer with an 8-2 mound mark.

   Haynes was every bit as impressive during his senior campaign at Linsly when the Cadets won a third straight OVAC championship behind Haynes’ two-hitter in the title contest.

   He was named Class A All-State captain by the WV Sports Writers after going a sparkling 9-1 with a 1.59 E.R.A. and 133 Ks in 70 1/3 innings. Haynes was again named the OVAC Player of the Year along with being selected captain of the All-Valley team.

   The talented right-hander was tabbed West Virginia Legion Player of the Year, posting a 15-0 record for Post 1.

   After graduating from the Leatherwood-based school, Haynes took his immense mound package to Western Kentucky University where he was a four-year standout for the Hilltoppers.

   Haynes remains in the top 10 of numerous pitching categories at WKU. His career totals included: 74 appearances, 49 games started, 325 innings pitched, 24 wins, 253 strikeouts and 12 complete games.

   He was named first-team All-Sun Belt Conference as a senior after posting a 10-5 record with a 2.90 E.R.A.

   After his stellar collegiate diamond career, Haynes signed as a free agent with the Montreal Expos in 1991. Haynes briefly appeared in the majors in 1994 for the Expos while also playing in the minor leagues for the Oakland A’s, California Angels, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, Florida Marlins and Houston Astros. Haynes also played for the Valley Vipers of the Western Baseball League and the Wei Chuan Dragons of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.

  Ann Osborne (St. Clairsville High School, Class of 1984). Osborne, a multi-talented guard, poured in a whopping 1,697 points during her four years at St. Clairsville, a mark that still stands as the school record today.

    Osborne earned a host of accolades for her performance on the prep hardwood, including being named a four-time all-Ohio Valley Athletic Conference selection (second team as a freshman and first team the other three years). She was also a two-time first team All-Eastern District and All-District 12 selection.

    At the state level, she received All-Ohio special mention as a junior and then was named second team All-Ohio as a senior after averaging 20.5 points per game.

    A St. Clairsville Athletic Hall of Fame (2006) and District 12 Basketball Hall of Fame (2013) inductee, Osborne’s talents also extended to the tennis court where she was a three-time OVAC champion in singles.

    Osborne continued her superb hoop play at the collegiate level, becoming a four-year letterwinner at Ohio Wesleyan University.

     At Ohio Wesleyan, Osborne was a four-time All-North Coast Athletic Conference pick in women’s basketball. She set OWU’s career assists record. A first-team All-NCAC selection as a senior, she ranked eighth in the league in scoring (13.8/game), fourth in assists (4.0/game) and fifth in free-throw percentage (.704). 

   She finished her career as OWU’s all-time leader in assists (402) and free throws (427) and ranked third on the career scoring (1398) and rebounding (518) lists. 

    Osborne also lettered three years in tennis and was a third-team GTE Academic All-America selection as a senior. She was inducted into the OWU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993.

   She spent 14 years in coaching at the college level, with stops at Fairfield (Conn.) and Marshall as an assistant; as head coach at Kenyon College; and as an assistant at Ohio Wesleyan and San Francisco State.

  Rich Mamie (Bellaire High School, Class of 1996). One of the all-time greats in the long and storied history of Bellaire High athletics, Mamie was a force to be reckoned with on the football field and baseball diamond during the mid-1990s.

   A 3-year football letterman and 2-time All-Ohio, All-OVAC and All-Valley honoree, Mamie excelled on both sides of the ball for some legendary Big Reds powerhouses. He helped lead Bellaire to three straight OVAC titles and a 30-5 record during his three varsity seasons, highlighted by the Big Reds’ first-ever unbeaten (10-0) regular season as a senior in 1995. That 1995 team advanced all the way to the Ohio Division IV state championship game before dropping a heartbreaking 50-44 double-overtime decision to Versailles.

  Mamie’s name is all over the Big Reds’ football record book. Offensively, he set a school record with 282 career points, scoring 36 touchdowns while averaging 6.3 yards a carry from his fullback spot. Defensively, Mamie is the school’s all-time tackle leader with 515 career stops – over 100 more than any other Bellaire gridder! He also ranks No. 1 on the school’s single-game (29) and single-season (196) tackle lists.

  A multi-sport athlete, Mamie was also an outstanding pitcher and shortstop for the Big Reds’ baseball team. He was a first-team All-OVAC Class AAA honoree as a junior and senior in addition to first-team All-Eastern District honors.

  After graduating from Bellaire, Mamie took his talents to Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio where he earned a combined six letters in football and baseball. He played both sports in his first two seasons at Walsh before focusing on baseball for his last two years. He was a two-time All-Conference selection in the diamond sport, where he also served as the Cavaliers’ team captain. Mamie was inducted to the Bellaire High School Athletic Wall of Fame in 2006.

  Chet Pobolish (Buckeye Local High School, Class of 1995). Pobolish earned All-Ohio honors as a two-way standout while playing for his father, Ron Pobolish, at Buckeye Local High School before going on to enjoy an outstanding playing and coaching career at the collegiate level.

   A fleet-footed running back and defensive back, Chet Pobolish capped off a stellar high school career in style by helping lead Buckeye Local to an undefeated regular season and deep post-season run as a senior in 1994.

   After rolling to OVAC Class AAAA and River Valley League titles, the Panthers – ranked No. 4 in the state – began carving a path through the Ohio Division II state playoffs. Three big wins set up a meeting of the unbeaten between the Panthers and Chardon. Buckeye Local’s dream season came up one win shy as Chardon muscled out a 17-6 win to end a great run.

  Pobolish swept nearly every post-season honor, earning All-Ohio Division II, All-Eastern District and All-OVAC Class AAAA honors for the second straight year and being selected as an offensive captain for the All-Valley team.

  After graduating from Buckeye Local, Pobolish headed west to NCAA Division II Emporia State (Kan.). A 4-year letterman and 3-year captain, Pobolish was a 4-time All-MIAA selection and finished his career ranked among the school’s Top 5 in receiving yards (2,595) and all-purpose yards (4,655).

  Pobolish stayed at Emporia State as an assistant coach from 1999-2006. He moved to Delta State (Miss.) as an assistant in 2007 and helped lead the Statesmen to four Gulf South titles and NCAA playoff appearances in five seasons.

  A successful 5-year run at Southeastern Louisiana followed with Pobolish serving as offensive coordinator and assistant head coach on back-to-back Southland Conference championship squads. He spent the 2017 season as offensive coordinator at Missouri Western State before a 4-year stint as head coach at Southwestern Oklahoma State.

  He spent the 2022 season as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Reinhardt (Ga.) University, helping lead the Eagles to an 8-2 record, before leaving to accept the head coaching position at Arkansas City (Kan.) High School.

  Clay Tucker (Martins Ferry High School, Class of 2005). The Purple Rider wrestling program has produced numerous standout performers over the course of time. Tucker is certainly among the best with a resume that includes basically everything an Ohio Valley prep wrestler can attain.

  Tucker was a four-year letterman for the Purple Riders and finished his vaunted career with an impressive 169-10 career record. Tucker never had a season in which he won fewer than 38 matches. He set the school record for single season wins as a junior with 46. He broke onto the scene with a 42-win freshman campaign and followed that with 43 as a sophomore.

  At the time of his graduation, that was the school record for the most wins. He also established school records for technical falls in a career (47) and single season (18).

  Tucker joined an illustrious company in the Ohio Valley wrestling world by winning four championships in the OVAC Tournament. He won the coveted Bierkortte Award, which is given to the OVAC Tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler as a senior.

  He was also a four-time All-Ohioan, including a state championship at 130 pounds in 2004. He was runner-up in 2003 at 125 pounds. Those trips to the title bouts were surrounded by a fourth-place finish as a freshman and a sixth-place effort as a senior.

  En route to the state tournament, Tucker also won four sectional and district championships.

  With his resume, accolades followed in bunches. Tucker competed in the Eastern Ohio All-Star Meet, earned all-OVAC four times and was the Wheeling News Register’s Ohio Wrestler of the Year as a senior. After his senior season, he took part in the NHSCA Senior Nationals, finishing second at 140. By doing so, he became the first Purple Rider to earn All-American status.

  Tucker also shined in football for the Purple Riders, earning three letters as a wide receiver and defensive back. He earned First Team All-OVAC as a senior with more than 500 yards receiving and five touchdowns. He was part of a Purple Rider squad which won the regional championship and played in the state semifinals. He played in the OVAC Rudy Mumley All-Star Football Game in 2005.

  After graduation, Tucker continued his wrestling career at Ohio University, lettering four times and compiling a career record of 71-66. He was fourth and third in the Mid-American Conference Tournament during his career including a 25-14 record as a senior.

  He entered the coaching ranks and served as head coach at Wheeling Park for three seasons from 2015-17. He had been an assistant for three seasons and then returned to the assistant’s role after stepping down as the head coach.

  Derek Wolfe (Beaver Local High School, Class of 2008). This eventual Super Bowl champion defensive lineman was a multi-sport star for the Beavers during his prep career.

  On the football field at Beaver, Wolfe caused all sorts of problems for opposing offenses from his defensive line position. During his senior season, he recorded 78 tackles and seven sacks en route to All-Ohio Division III, All-OVAC Class 4A and All-Eastern District Division III accolades. He finished his prep career with 205 tackles.

  Wolfe was also dominant on the wrestling mat for the Beavers. He had a brilliant senior season, finishing with a 33-4 record. He placed fifth in both the OVAC Ron Mauck Wrestling Championships and the OHSAA Division II State Tournament.

  Wolfe opted to pursue football at the collegiate level, and it was a decision that paid off.

  He was a four-year regular for the Cincinnati Bearcats. As a senior, he was named Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year and was listed on an astounding five All-America teams. He ranked fifth in FBS with 1.65 tackles for loss per game. All told, he posted 21.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. In his career with the Bearcats, Wolfe logged 162 total tackles, 37 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks.

  Wolfe was drafted in the second round in 2012 with the 36^th overall pick by the Denver Broncos. He played 10 seasons in the NFL, including eight with the Broncos and two with the Baltimore Ravens. He recorded 350 career tackles, 34 sacks, three fumble recoveries and an interception. He was a member of the Super Bowl 50 winning Broncos’ team. Unfortunately, injuries forced his retirement in 2022.

 Wolfe has been honored by the Lou Holtz Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame in 2016. He and former high school teammate Jamin Pastore donated $1M to Beaver Local High School for upgrades to the school’s football stadium facilities.

  Errin Baynes (Wheeling Park High School, Class of 2012). Whether it was on the soccer field, basketball court or track, this former Patriot shined.

  It was in track and field, however, where Baynes made his biggest impact for the Patriots. A standout in the high jump, Baynes was just the third OVAC athlete to clear the coveted 7-foot barrier as a prep athlete.

  His monumental jump occurred during his senior season at a meet in Mars, Pa. when he soared over 7-foot, one-quarter inch. He finished that season, as well as his junior campaign, undefeated in his specialty, consistently clearing 6-foot-8 and higher, which allowed him to win the W. Va. State Class AAA and OVAC Championships. He finished his senior season ranked second, nationally, in the high jump.

  Actually, he was a multiple-time champion at both of those meets. He won three state championships in the high jump and the same number at the conference meet. He wasn’t afraid to challenge himself as proven by the fact that he competed in the New Balance High School Nationals after his junior season, placing third with a 6-8 clearance.

  Baynes also shined in the long jump. He had a personal-best mark of 22-ft-3 ½ and won the state championship in both 2011 and 2012.

  Baynes shined on the soccer field for the Patriots. He was twice named First Team All-State and as a senior was named the state’s midfielder of the year. He was also a three-time All-OVAC selection and conference player of the year as a senior. He captained the All-Valley team that season as well.

  Those aforementioned jumping skills came in handy during the winter when Baynes was a standout on the basketball court. A three-year starter, Baynes helped lead Park to a pair of OVAC championships and multiple trips to the West Virginia State Tournament.

  As a senior, Baynes averaged 15 points per game and handed out five assists per contest. He scored a career-high of 38 points in a game during his senior season.

  After high school, Baynes elected to take his track and field talents to the University of Southern California. He competed for the Trojans for two seasons in the high jump before injuries derailed his career.

  Alex Young (Indian Creek High School, Class of 2013). Earning All-Ohio acclaim in one sport is quite impressive. Doing it in four sports – in one school year – is simply off the chart.

  That’s exactly what this former Redskin athlete did as a senior when he earned the state of Ohio’s top honor in football, basketball, baseball and track and field. Those honors put the finishing touches on one of the most brilliant careers of any male athlete in Indian Creek’s history.

  Young accumulated 12 letters during his prep career and while shining in multiple sports, it was on the baseball diamond where he left his biggest mark.

  During his career, Young hit .415, which ranks second in school history. He scored 96 runs, which is the most by any Redskin player. He finished with 100 hits, 78 singles, 11 triples (school record) and he swiped 62 bases (school record).

  He was twice named All-OVAC Class 5A in baseball and was All-Ohio as a senior. He also played in the Mizuno All-Ohio Series and OVAC All-Star Game.

  As a basketball player, Young put up impressive numbers despite missing half of his junior season with an injury. He ranks 10^th in school history in single-season scoring, third in single-season steals, 10^th in career rebounds with 264 and fifth in career steals. He was All-OVAC Class 5A as a senior and junior and received second team All-Eastern District and honorable mention All-Ohio Division II as a senior.

  On the football field, Young played early in his career at wide receiver before shifting to quarterback as a senior where he earned first team All-East District Division III and All-OVAC Class 5A and third team All-Ohio Division III honors.

  During his career, he scored 19 touchdowns, kicked 19 PATs and three field goals, and had a trio of two-point conversions. He scored TDs as a running back, receiver, kick returner, punt returner and defensive back. As a senior, he accounted for 192 of the Redskins’ 376 points. Young had a game, as a senior, in which he rushed and passed for more than 100 yards and also added more than 100 yards in the return game.  He was All-OVAC Class 5A and All-Eastern District Division III and was third team All-Ohio Division III at quarterback. Arguably Young’s greatest athletic achievement came during a three-week stretch in late May of 2013. After the Redskins were eliminated from the baseball postseason, Young decided to join the track team. He proceeded to win the district (50.98) and regional (49.91) titles in the 400-meter dash and finished fifth in the Division II state meet, posting an impressive time of 49.65.  Young elected to pursue baseball at the collegiate level. He played two seasons at Sinclair Junior College in Dayton before transferring to Grand Valley State in Michigan for his final two seasons of eligibility.

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‘Legends of the OVAC’

Jim Fryfogle (Shenandoah High School, Class of 1969). The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder collected 11 varsity letters and all-star honors in football, basketball and baseball for the Zeps.

  In football, the 3-year letterman and two-time team captain was an All-Pioneer Valley League defensive back as a junior and honored senior quarterback for a 7-3 record team. He also earned All-Southeastern Ohio honorable mention.

  In basketball, the three-year regular guard helped the Zeps to a 17-1 regular season record, and 1902 overall, as a junior on the Mid-Ohio Valle y League championship team which won the Class A sectional title. As a senior, he was All-MOVL and All-Southeastern Ohio plus honorable mention All-Ohio Class A.

  In baseball, the four-year letterman capped a stellar senior season with a 10-1 pitching record and batted .348 on a 12-5 record team which repeated as East Central Ohio League champ. He was All-ECOL.

  He played baseball four seasons at Marietta College and was a member of four Ohio Athletic Conference title teams. He was inducted into the Shenandoah Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.

  Larry Handschumacher (Salem-Liberty High School, Class of 1963). Playing for a school that was later consolidated into Fort Frye, he excelled as a four-year letterman in basketball and baseball.

  In basketball, he was the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,387 points after averaging 28.1 points a game as a junior and 27.6 points as a senior when he earned 2nd Team UPI All-Ohio Class A and honorable mention AP All-Ohio Class A. He was the Washington County Tournament MVP and leading scorer three straight years.

   In baseball, he capped a four-year career by batting .536 as a senior. He then played baseball for four years at Ohio University under coach Bob Wren.

 He was a teacher and head baseball coach and junior high and jayvee basketball coach at Fort Frye.

  A 2017 inductee into the Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame, he also was also honored in 2011 by the Dugout Softball Hall of Fame.

  Paul Jackson (Parkersburg South High School, Class of 1973). After serving as an aide to South wrestling coach and OVAC Legends honoree Rod Oldham, Jackson took the head coaching reins in 1990 and in two stints (1990-97 and 2007-12) he would become the winningest largest Class AAA coach in state history with 9 state championships. He coached 26 individual state champions, 130 state placers, and was honored 7 times as W. Va. Class AAA Wrestling Coach of the Year.

  Overall, his dual meet record was 325-56, including 115 consecutive wins, plus 55 tournament titles. His 1995 Patriot team was ranked 20th nationally.

  After South joined the OVAC, his teams won the conference crown in his final three seasons (2010-12) as the Class 5A and overall champion. He won OVAC dual meet crowns in 2009 and 2010.

  Among other honors, Jackson was the state all-sports Coach of the Year in 2012 by the W.Va. Sports Writers Association -- only the second wrestling coach so honored. The other was National, state and OVAC Hall of Famer Larry Shaw of Oak Glen. He was a finalist three straight years (2010-12) for the all-sports Bill Van Horne/OVAC Coach of the Year; OVAC Wrestling Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2011; and selected National Wrestling Coach, Scholastic Division Coach of Year in 1996-97 and 2010-11.

  In 2015, he received the "Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award" from the W.Va. Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and also was inducted into the Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame. His alma mater awarded him the school Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.

  John Kelley (Oak Glen High School, Class of 1968). He retired in 2024 as the winningest football coach in Monongalia County history.

  The former Oak Glen High athlete spent 49 years as a prep football coach including the last 41 years at University High School - -the final 37 years as head coach (1987-2023). His first team was in the state Class AA playoffs and, overall, he guided 23 teams to post-season playoffs with every team from 1998-2005 earning playoff berths.

  Six teams advanced to state semifinals and the 1994 team was Class AAA runner-up to South Charleston. Three Hawk teams posted 10-0 unbeaten regular seasons. Overall, he won 254 games and had 28 winning seasons. Two of his teams won largest class OVAC titles.

  He coached 44 1st Team All-State players and eight who won conference player of the year honors. Four players went on to an NFL experience highlighted by OVAC Hall of Fame Legends' honoree Rich Braham, currently a Hawk assistant coach, who was an All-American at West Virginia U. before playing 13 years with the Cincinnati Bengals. Kelley also coached another OVAC Legends' selection, Jedd Gyorko, who went on to baseball All-America honors at WVU and had a nine-year major league baseball career.

   John Kouski (Bridgeport High School, Class of 1940). He was considered one of the finest all-round athletes in school history after being a rare four-year letterman in football and basketball and serving as team captain in both sports as a senior.

  In football, he played a variety of positions -- passer, runner and kicker, while being a fullback, halfback and defensive standout. He represented the Bulldogs in the inaugural Ohio/West Virginia All-Star Football Game.

  In basketball, he played both guard and center and was a key member of three Ohio state tournament teams coached by OVAC Legends’ honoree Floyd Baker. All three teams during his freshman, sophomore and junior years were eliminated by the eventual state champion.

  In 1939, the Bulldogs defeated Akron Buchtel in the state tourney as Kouski scored 15 points -- a high number in that era. Eventual champ Akron North ousted the Bulldogs in the quarterfinals.

  In 1938, the Bulldogs defeated Bowling Green and Akron St. Vincent before bowing to eventual champ Newark in the semis. In 1937, Bridgeport beat Salem before bowing to eventual champ Hamilton in the quarterfinals.

  Kouski earned an Ohio State football scholarship from Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown and played his freshman year before joining the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. He reportedly was offered a pro contract from the Pittsburgh Steelers upon leaving military service but decided to go to work for Wheeling Steel.

  He was inducted into the Bridgeport Wall of Fame in 2023.

---

J.B. Chambers I-470 Complex to receive

Magruder Distinguished Service Award

  For significant contributions to the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference since it opened, the J.B. Chambers I-470 Complex in Elm Grove, West Virginia has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Dennis Magruder Distinguished Service Award by the OVAC Hall of Fame Committee.

  Thanks to the tireless work of those who make things run like clockwork, the ballfields are abuzz throughout the spring, summer and even into the fall. Over the years, that has included countless OVAC softball and baseball tournament and all-star games as well as the OVAC Baseball College Showcase event, and it also serves as the home field for Wheeling Central Catholic baseball and softball contests. Throw in thousands of youth baseball and softball games and the six fields at the site, including a ‘Challenger Field’, have become a staple in the valley.

    Past recipients of the OVAC’s Distinguished Service Award include Denny Magruder (2010); Bob Robinson (2011); Carpenters Local #3 of Wheeling (2012); Judge Frank Fregiato (2013); WesBanco Arena Maintenance Staff (2014); Ohio University Eastern (2015); Oglebay Park (2016); Mickey Duffy (2017); Ron Miller (2018); Dave Schafer (2019); Ohio County Schools (2021); Brooke County Schools (2022); Todd Fullerton (2023), Tom Myers (2024).

  (NOTE: Also contributing to this story were OVAC Hall of Fame Committee members Seth Staskey, Don Clegg, Robert ‘Bubba’ Kapral and Doug Huff; other members of the committee include Dirk DeCoy, Barbara Sleek, Jeff Harrison, Bob Koch, Kelly Rine, Joe Dunlevy, Scott Nolte and Sonya Fedorko.)