Coaches shared light-hearted stories about players and the past season and thanked their coaching staff, parents and volunteers at the annual Pocahontas County Atheltic Banquet last week in the school's gymnasium.

Soccer coach Steve White thanked everyone who helped organize the soccer program.

"That would be Bob Anderson, Bob Simmons, Chuck Beverage- who ran the clock, Cully McCurdy- who lined the fields and refereed several games, Heather Simmons, and Morgan and Kim McCombs for fundraising, Cindy Pritt for being the soccer coordinator, also Makinsey Cochran- she was our scorekeeper and traveled some long bus rides."

White talked about the teams' accolades this season.

"The Coalfield Conference selection for girls for first team was Erin White and Sam Walton," said White. "Second team was Jessica Hamilton, Olivia Workman and Erica Rebinski and honorable mention was Lorena Rose, Rachel McComb and Kristen Beverage. For the men's team the first team selection was Parker White and Curtis Pyles. Second team, Bill Kelley, Ethan Pew. Honorable mention was Will Sasser and Alex Kinnison.

Golf coach Phillip Anderson talked about the golf team and their accomplishments.

"Garret Clark was a member of the PVC all-tournament team and member of the Coalfield Conference Team. Curtis Pyles, always in a good mood - a member of the PVC all-tournament team. Steven Meck - he improved his game the most out of all his team members, from where he started to where he finished at. Cody Hill, when Cody steps on the golf course, he means business. Andrew Morrison was named the PVC all-tournament team and probably has the best golf swing on the team. He continued to get better as the season went along and I have high hopes for Andrew next year. Steven Simmons has as much potential as anyone on the team. He's a good athlete and I look forward to him returning next year."

Kay Wiley, volleyball coach at PCHS, thanked the team for the opportunity to coach this year.

"I'd like to thank the ladies for believing in themselves and allowing me to step up and take over this new venture in coaching this past season," Wiley said.

Wiley thanked Ruth Bland, fans, parents, principal Tom Sanders and the board of education for their support. Wiley shared the team's motto with attendees.

"PCHS volleyball is a mind game, I hope you don't mind losing," Wiley joked.

Wiley ended her speech with some sage advice to the team.

"Win or lose, it's how you play the game and as you leave the court you hold your head up high and be thankful for the chance to play the game."

Cheerleading squad coaches Melody Knisely and Darlene Arbogast talked about the dedication of the 2011 squad.

"This has been a wonderful year and I can safely say that cheerleading definitely has the longest season of any sport here at PCHS," said Arbogast. "Most of these girls worked from the beginning of August to the middle of March. There was a lot of time and hard work."

The cheerleading coaches thanked the girls for their hard work and Sanders, Mali Minter, and Wiley for being their biggest supporters.

The awards banquet took an intermission for dinner after a prayer from track team coach Delmas Barb.

New head football coach Chris Sutton spoke after dinner about the past season.

"The team came through with seven wins and three losses with a play off spot. In the playoffs, our proud Warriors, held number-two ranked Wahama to 31 points, a team that had averaged 60 points per game during the season. Pocahontas also posted 20 points of their own against a very tough Wahama defense- quite an accomplishment," Sutton remarked.

Sutton congratulated the team and bid farewell to the graduating seniors.

"I wish you all the luck in the world and I commend you for a job well done," said Sutton. "If you guys work as hard to accomplish the goals in your life as you did on the football field, you will surely succeed."

Lady Warrior basketball coach Tim McClung thanked his assistant coach Kenny Lehman, parents, players, the NRAO, his statisticians, and volunteers. McClung said the team was 21-5 this year and listed some of the Lady Warrior achievements before thanking the seniors.

"They had a great run for four years, and I wish them the best of luck," said McClung.

Basketball coach Bob Sheets said he thought the Warrior squad had a good year.

"We started out by winning the Allegheny Mountain Radio Tournament," said Sheets. "We went through a real tough stretch in January when we lost six really close and competitive basketball games. I'm happy to say we rebounded from that. We were a threat against everyone we played."

Sheets shared a quote from basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain, summarizing his 30 year career at PCHS.

"He said something that's been running through my head the last few weeks, 'The problem with doing nothing is that you never know when you're done.' Well, I'm done, and I guess it means I've done something," Sheets said.

Rick Hartzell, softball coach for PCHS, thanked the team, Varner Construction, Murphy's Body Shop, Trent's, Henry's, Sheets GMC, the H and C Country Mart, and Linda Barb for her fundraising efforts.
"We won't talk about the record, but we won one," joked Hartzell. "It is what it is. I had a good group of seniors that helped me this first year, and I thank you."

Baseball coach Jim McCoy spoke about his appreciation for the team's determination.

"I want to thank all these young men for the effort and hard work they put in this season," said McCoy. "We ended up with a record of 15-12 and another sectional championship, and a lot of new school records."

McCoy took a moment to acknowledge the folks who helped him his first season coaching.

"Mr. Anderson and Mrs. Wiley for the hard work they put in for things I didn't know how to do.
Parents and fans for their support. Assistant coaches Mike Callison, Toney Minter and Shannon Arbogast, if it wasn't for them we wouldn't have got where we were this year," McCoy said.

Assistant coach Toney Minter said the team broke 22 school records this year.

"That's an amazing thing these kids did," said Minter.

Track coach Kay Wiley said the Lady Warriors placed second in the Fayetteville Lions Club, second in the Coalfield Conference and second at the regional track meet.

"I'd like to thank these young ladies for a great season," Wiley said. "Many thanks to the parents, the fans, the administration, a special thanks to my right-hand-man, Coach Barb."

Barb expressed his appreciation for having the chance to coach this year.

"It's been a pleasure for me, and a privilege to come back to Pocahontas County High School to work with the track team this spring," said Barb. "I've enjoyed it immensely, I thank Mr. Sanders for giving me the opportunity to come back."

Barb shared some thoughts about hard work.

"Dedication is what it takes when it comes to track," Barb said. "You're a track team, but lots of times it's individual sports. If you want to conquer and get to where you want to go, you'll have to work as hard as you can, day in, day out. It doesn't matter what the weather is."

Wiley presented the Coalfield Conference Athlete of the Year plaque to seniors Chloe Bland and Curtis Pyles.

"One female and one male athlete are chosen from the respective school to be honored at the Coalfield Conference Awards ceremony in Beckley, West Virginia," said Wiley.

Wiley then presented the Arch Wooddell Sportsmanship award to Erin White and Curtis Pyles.

"During the 1970's and 80's Pocahontas County High School was blessed to have a coach who left a legacy to many athletes, that was Mr. Arch Wooddell," Wiley said. "He served as a school teacher and a wonderful coach. Over the past several years, the coaches here at Pocahontas County High School select one female and one male athlete to receive the Arch Wooddell Sportmanship plaque."
Coach Chris Sutton said he felt honored to present the June Riley Mathematics Award to Caleb Walkup and Erin White.

"The June Riley Award is given each year to the most outstanding athlete who is also an accomplished math student," said Sutton. "I'm honored to be presenting the June Riley Award because not only am I a coach and math teacher, but June Riley is also my great uncle. June Riley was a math teacher who at one time coached basketball and football. Throughout the years, there have been 28 June Riley Awards presented, and tonight we're going to make two excellent additions to that list."

Mali Minter and Brenda Dilley talked to about the history behind the William Dilley Track Scholarship.

"In the fall of 2008, we lost a friend, neighbor and father, and a very longtime supporter of Pocahontas County High School track," said Minter. "William Dilley was an extremely talented track athlete here at the high school. His four-by-four relay team had the best in 1978 with 3:30:83 seconds. William recorded the second best time in the state with 50:33 seconds in the 400. William continued his track career at Glenville State. He was a strong supporter of the Pocahontas County track program and helped support many student athletes over the years."

Minter said the scholarship honors not only Dilley's accomplishments in track, but the kind of man that Dilley was. She presented a plaque to Lindsey Kinder and Curtis Pyles and said there are three traits on the plaque - dedication, sportsmanship and teamwork.

"The male and female athletes we have chosen to receive this scholarship, exemplify these three traits," said Minter. "Both of these senior track members have been dedicated to doing their very best and have worked at it over the years. They have demonstrated good sportsmanship to other athletes and are truly team players. They both help the younger athletes and their teammates throughout the season."

Principal Tom Sanders presented a West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission award to Skylar Knisely and Makinsey Cochran.

"Each school is given an opportunity to select two athletes and one community person who exemplifies sportsmanship, ethics, integrity and good citizenship," Sanders said.

Sanders said it was a difficult decision.

"We have several students that showed good sportsmanship throughout their seasons but the following were selected and deservingly so," said Sanders. "The community person we would like to recognize has faithfully supported athletics and come to different types of ball games throughout the year -Eugene Simmons."

Sanders presented a plaque to Bob Sheets on behalf of PCHS.

"Mr. Sheets as you know, or you may not know, has been the boys varsity coach here for thirty years, that's a long time," joked Sanders.

Sheets and Sanders bantered about Sheets other coaching positions over the years in baseball, soccer, and girls basketball, and Sanders thanked him for his contributions to PCHS athletics.

"We're sorry to see you leave, we're proud that you were here that many years and good luck to you," said Sanders.

A reminder to parents, sports physicals will be conducted from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on June 6 at PCHS. Any athlete who will be participating in summers sports or camps will need a physical.

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