2009 year in sports

The sports seasons came and went in Tyler County in 2009 with not a lot of fanfare, not an overwhelming amount of wins, yet the teams played hard and saw success both on and off the fields and courts.
Highlights of the year include the following:
Tyler Consolidated Senior wrestler, Cullen Grover, wrestling in the 215 class was only the fifth Knight in history to place first at the annual Cameron wrestling tournament.
Junior Brody Northcraft became the first Knight grappler to place three years in a row at the Winner’s Choice tournament in Fairmont, taking seventh; while Grover wrestled to a second place finish.
Paden City’s Ricky Wright scored a career-high 1,000 points on Feb. 3 in the Wildcats game with Clay-Battelle at home.

Tyler Consolidated hosted their first Regional wrestling tournament ever, on Feb. 21. Grover, who came into the tournament seeded third in the Region, earned a first place Regional trophy before the day was done, and was awarded as the tournament’s outstanding wrestler award. Knight junior Nate Taylor secured a third place finish, sending both wrestlers to the state tournament in Huntington representing Consolidated.
Overall, the Knights finished ninth overall at the Regional as a team.
The only head coach the wrestling program at Tyler Consolidated has ever known, Larry Richie, announced that this would be his last year at the helm, so it was fitting that he end his career with an exciting state tournament, and go out with a state champion .
Cullen Grover became the second Knight in the history of the wrestling program at Tyler Consolidated to bring home a State Championship trophy to the school. Grover, 215, wrestled his way to the top step of the podium by way of a pin, a fall and two decisions.
Nate Taylor, wrestling at 140, had a major decision and two decisions before being decisioned himself for the runner prize at the tournament.

The Lady Knight basketball team ended their season at the Sectional semi-finals with a loss to Oak Glen. The Silver Knight boys basketball team fell to Magnolia in the Sections and the Paden City boys ended their 13-10 season with a loss to St. Marys in their Sectional.
The Tyler County Speedway held their 2008 banquet awarding champions: Jeff Fornash, Jacob Lash, Brian Probst; Mitch Eddy, Paul Wilmoth and Steven West.
On March 21 the Middle Island Longbeard chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation held their 11th Anniversary Hunter Heritage Superfund Banquet in Bens Run.
High school baseball, softball and track seasons began in earnest in the area and BDS Racing Promotions began the racing season at the Tyler County Speedway.
Paden City’s Ricky Wright and Tyler Consolidated’s Zach Perkey participated in the OVAC basketball all-star game.

Steve Shaver wins 15th annual Topless 50 race at Tyler County Speedway.
The Lady Knight varsity softball team finished the ’08 season with 13 wins and placed second in the LKC. Tyler Consolidated’s baseball team ended their season with a 6-16 season record.
The ninth annual Hooked on Fishing Day was held on May 2 at Conaway Lake.
Tyler Consolidated’s Cullen Grover hurdled his way to two more state championships at the WV State High School Track Meet in Charleston on May 23. Grover earned the 300 meter hurdle award as well as the 110’s. Nate Taylor also brought home for the track team in the 200 yard dash. Both athletes finished in the top five for high point honors at the meet. Lady Knight Jackie Clark placed third overall in the pole vault with a vault of 8′.
Paden City High School’s track team members placed in the top five of several events: Amanda Sellers finished second in the 100 hurdles and third in the 300.
West Virginia University athletic director Ed Pastilong was the featured guest speaker at Paden City’s Wildcat athletic banquet.
The BACF Football Classic was held in Parkersburg with Paden City head football coach, Brent Croasmun chosen to led the West Virginia squad. Five local players were selected to play in the game: Aaron Matthews, Keith Kline, Cullen Grover, Wes Cosper, Nate Zills and Ronnie Blatt. Zills was named the Most Valuable Players for the WV squad after rushing for 51 yards and intercepting a pass.
Tyler Consolidated’s Kaitlyn Goudy and Paden City’s Vicki Yurisko represented WV in the OVAC all-star softball game.
The Sistersville Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 6327 held their ninth annual scholarship golf scramble at the Sistersville Country Club on July. 11. Team WesBanco took the first place trophy at the event. Nate Zills represented Tyler Consolidated at the OVAC All-Star football game.
Zach Dohm of Cross Lanes, WV was the winner of the 22nd Earl Hill Memorial at the Tyler County Speedway on Aug. 2. Josh Weekley was the winner of the 18th annual Jug Handle 5k on Aug. 2 in Middlebourne.
Paden City and Tyler Consolidated High School football teams both opened the ’09 season with losses. The Knights fell to Williamstown, 45-14, and the Wildcats took it on the chin to Van, 49-38. However, a week later, the PC loss would be overturned due to an ineligible player on the Bulldog roster.
The 41st Hillbilly Hundred weekend was hosted at the Tyler County Speedway.
The Silver Knight boys soccer team secured the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference regular season championship about mid-way through the season.
Paden City’s varsity golf team finished the season at the Regional’s in Ravenswood where they placed ninth overall. Tyler Consolidated’s golf team placed seventh in their Regional tournament.
On Oct. 19 former WVU head football coach Don Nehlen and former Marshall University head football coach, Bob Pruett spoke at Paden City High School as part of the Legends of West Virginia Football program.
The Silver Knight boys soccer team ended regular season play with 12 wins and captured the programs first ever Sectional title at home. The team defeated Morgantown Trinity, 3-0 to get the win and send them to the Regionals.
The Lady Knight soccer team and new head coach Cliff Warner ended their season with only one win, and said good-bye to three seniors.
Knight senior Aaron Estep finished third at the Regional Cross Country meet in order to qualify for a spot in the State Meet.
The boys soccer team at Tyler Consolidated played against Weir at the Region I Regional soccer game, but fell short of the win, 3-0. The soccer team met several goals during the season and made history for the program every time they turned around. This season was the most successful season for the soccer program at the school to date: They collected the most wins in a season, with 13; gained more shut-outs; scored more goals total and more goals in a single game and won their 50th game as a program.
The Knights Aaron Estep competed at the WV State Cross Country meet and finished 25th overall.
The Lady Wildcat varsity volleyball team earned the Mason Dixon Conference championship and ended their regular season at 29-9. The Lady Knight netters ended their season with a record of 21-13.
The Paden City Wildcat football team ended their season with a 15-6 loss to Valley.
The Silver Knight football team also ended their ’09 season with a 40-10 win over Weir, putting them at 5-5 on the year.
Senior Nate Taylor highlighted the season by gaining 1,788 yards on 203 carries and scored 23 rushing touchdowns.
High School and middle school boys and girls basketball and wrestling began in December and all teams are working towards a successfull 2010.