by Greg Talkington
SPORTS WRITER
(August 26) An already outstanding program just got bigger and better.
The One Valley Bank/Clarksburg Exponent-Telegram Sports Awards program just grew by five, and female athletics is the main beneficiary.
Those five include Female Athlete of the Week, All-Harrison County Volleyball, All-Harrison County Softball, Female Cross Country Athlete of the Year and Male Cross Country Athlete of the Year.
This adds to the already extensive program, which includes football, golf, boys soccer athlete of the year, girls soccer athlete of the year, volleyball athlete of the year, girls basketball, boys basketball, wrestling athlete of the year, boys and girls track athletes of the year, boys and girls tennis athletes of the year, baseball and softball athlete of the year.
"We are glad to be able to add these new features to this outstanding program," said Larry Mazza, President of One Valley Bank.
"The female side of athletics has definitely grown and deserves added recognition and encouragement."
In addition, there will be two changes to the program.
Coaches will be encouraged to fax nominations to us at 624-4188 by 3 p.m. Monday. Again, this is for coaches only.
Also, student-athletes will now be able to win the award more than once per sport.
"We believe this improves what already is recognized as one of the top awards program in the state," said John Miller, Assistant Managing Editor/Sports Editor. "It's great that One Valley Bank has readily agreed to support our efforts to expand the program to include more female athletes."
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South Harrison will field its first soccer team this fall.
The team will compete against Junior Varsity squads of schools with more-established programs.
"We started out with nine and are now up to 15," said South Harrison principal Jerry McKeen. "We will have a mixed squad of boys and girls and they will play against JV competition."
The Hawks will play 11 matches. The results won't count against the records of their opposition.
"We really started too late to have a full-blown program this year," McKeen said. "We want to develop the program looking to next year to have one ready on a full-time basis."
The Hawks will have three home matches and will play most of their matches on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
"We just tried to work into the other schools' schedules, wherever they could put us," McKeen said.
Frank Bowers will coach the squad.
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PREP NOTES:
· At Bridgeport, Ian McAra will take over the boys soccer team from Dave Cluphf.
· Around the state: Nitro quarterback J.R. House has made another preseason All-American team.
The record-setting quarterback was chosen to the first CHO-PAT Preseason All-American High School Football Team.
The team is chosen by Scholastic Coach & A.D. magazine, the administrators of the program.
Also chosen from the state was highly regarded St. Albans tight end Jason Rader.