Upshur County school board honors spring athletes for standout achievements

Beth Christian Broschart
June 26, 2022

TENNERTON – As members of the Upshur County Board of Education met on Tuesday, they first took time to recognize those students, teachers, service personnel and volunteers who work to make Upshur County Schools great.

Upshur County Schools technology systems/digital communication specialist Kayla Yocum welcomed those gathered and said the BOE would be recognizing student-athletes for not only their athletic ability but also for their superior academics.

“It is with great pleasure that I introduce two All-State Softball Players,” Yocum read. “They attend Buckhannon-Upshur High School and are Brooklyn Robinson and Shelby McDaniels.”

Upshur County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sara Lewis Stankus presented the All-State Softball Player with an Upshur Star.

Shelby McDaniels was also the Softball Conference Player of the Year.

Next, Yocum introduced the Big 10 Conference Track Coach of the Year Patty Wager, who also received an Upshur Star from Stankus.

“I just need an hour of your time please,” Wager said jokingly as she began talking about the Buckhannon-Upshur High School Track Team. “We had 38 guys on this track team and at the end of the season, we had 35 left. That speaks volumes.”

The B-UHS Track & Field Team members receive Upshur Stars at the BOE’s recent meeting. / Photo by Beth Christian Broschart

Wager introduced assistant coach Roberta Hatcher as the assistant track coach and Roy Wager as the volunteer coach, along with Jeremiah McCourt, who helped with the throwers.

“This team won every one of their meets except for one,” Wager said. “We were in Charleston and they came in second place with 21 high schools. They had one meet where they were two points out of first.”

Wager introduced the Track State qualifiers including Savion Farmer, long jump; Landen Zirkle, pole vault; Reese Leonard, 4 x 800, shuttles; Zade Woody, shuttles; Carter Zuliani, 100 HH and shuttles; Chase Hackett, shuttles; Camden Snyder, 4 x 100 and 4 x 200; Taiwo Thropp, 200 m, 4 x 100 and 4 x 200; Julien Larcher, 4 x 800 and 4 x 400; Jack Waggy, 4 x 800; Jordan Gillum, 4 x 800 and 4 x 400; Sterlin Thropp, 4 x 400, 4 x 100, 4 x 200 and 400; Shawn Blandino, 400, 4 x 100, 4 x 200 and 4 x 400; and Brycen Allen, alternate 4 x 800 and alternate shuttles.

“At the state, we [qualified] in 12 different events out of 18, and we had 13 different athletes representing our school,” Wager said. “Reese Leonard won the Big 10 in the 300. That is how good he was. Jordan Gillum tied the state record and he has been invited to the Adidas National in Greensboro, North Carolina.”

Each member of the B-UHS Track Team received an Upshur Star for their outstanding performance throughout the year. Upshur County BOE members offered their congratulations for a job well done to the student-athletes.