Last week I wrote a column title “What A Spring,” and it appears I may have written that too soon because in the ensuing week the athletes of Lewis County High School have managed to elevate it to an even higher level. This week saw some history made for Lewis County Tennis, a stellar Regional Track performance from several athletes, and a sectional championship for Minuteman Baseball.
Lewis County Tennis got it’s first ever state championship when Emily Lybarger battled back to claim the Class AA State Tennis Championship in Charleston this past weekend. Lybarger and doubles partner Kennedy Willison were also runners up in doubles. Add in the fact that the boys qualified as a team for the State Tournament and you can see how big this was for this program.
Congratulations to Emily, who is a great athlete and an even better human being. The amount of work she has put in on her own toward reaching this goal is truly amazing. Her name will be added to the State Champions banners in the LCHS gym, which is a very fitting place honor.
On a side note, I love those banners in the gym. Anyone talented and committed enough to win an individual state championship deserves to have a lasting remembrance of their accomplishments. It’s a point of pride for members of our community, and serves to inspire future LCHS Student-Athletes to aspire to great things. Communities thrive when the past is used to inspire the future.
LC Track Team had an impressive performance at Regionals last Friday, qualifying 12 athletes for states in 15 events. The boys and girls track teams are each led by Seniors who have put together impressive careers at LCHS.
Slate Swiger put in a lot of work on the day winning the 1600m, 3200m, 800m and placing second in the 4x400m relay. The 1600 is just shy of mile, the 3200 meter is just shy of 2 miles.
Jamen is a sprinter and claimed the 100 meter Regional Championship and second place in the 200 meter while also qualifying as part of the 4x200 meter relay team.
LC Track also had some strong performances from underclassmen at Regionals with Autumn Donnellan, a Freshman winning, the Long Jump, and another ninth grader Carder Holden qualifying for states with a 4th place in the 400 meter.
Congratulations and best of luck at States. I’m hoping we can add another State Championship Banner to the wall. Adding more than one in a year would be a real accomplishment.
Minuteman baseball picked up a Sectional Championship this week with two dominant performances over Herbert Hoover. The Huskies beat the Minutemen during the regular season, and picked up the top seed in the section. A closer look at that game revealed that the Minutemen still picked up ten hits in that game, they just couldn’t string them together in the fashion that they did come playoff time.
Trenton Hunt had a great Sectional Playoffs, and killed the Huskies with 11 RBIs in the two games that the teams played. Brayden Carder also had a notable stat line against the Huskies. Carder came to the plate 9 times in two games against the Huskies and wasn’t credited with a single at bat. Carder was walked five times and was hit by pitches four times in those two games. Not often you see zero at bats and five runs scored on a stat line not belonging to a designated runner.
This team is dangerous, and you will have another chance to see them next Monday, May 22 when they host game one of the best-of-three Regional Championship against Robert C. Byrd. Game three, if necessary would be at home on Wednesday, May 24.
Best of luck boys, remember what I said when I handed you the Sectional Title plaque Monday. You got this.
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