In light of the recent “wrongdoings” that have occurred with schools around the valley in the past couple months, I decided to go into the memory banks to bring you a story about a school that defied the odds. A place that no one outside of it thought had a chance of surviving or competing, but thanks to the hardworking and dedicated staff and parents, the school not only survived, but it is thriving.
In 2002, Bishop Donahue High School was struggling. Enrollment was down and the athletic performances showed. It got so bad that they were almost forced to close their doors and merge with rival Wheeling Central Catholic, but the faculty, staff, and students never gave up and eventually things got better.
I was a freshman at Donahue in 2002. As a sports lover, I wanted to play every sport possible. Fortunately for me, the school was so low on enrollment that I was able to participate in just about every sport I wanted. I ended up playing four sports throughout my four years at Donahue but they didn’t come easy.
Football was the most surprising of them because I hadn’t expected to join the team. Only after head coach, John Durdines came to me a couple games into the season did I finally give in and play. You see, by that time the squad had dwindled to twelve players, due to injury, and they were in dire need of anyone that could play (and I mean anyone because I was a skinny, no-muscled equipment manager at the time). They were also on a 23 game losing streak going into the season which didn’t help things out.
To the ones that did play during that season (we finished 0 – 10), did it for two reasons: 1) We did it because we got to play football every Friday night. 2) We did it because we wanted to keep the program going so it could be rebuilt back into a team that was respected, not treated as the Homecoming opponent. For all of you that don’t know, coaches like to schedule easier opponents for the Homecoming game to assure a victory going into the weekends festivities.
It would be the same way with basketball and baseball, small numbers but better records. Basketball had seven players (including me who had the worst shot this side of the Mississippi) but had a lot of talent and finished around a .500 record. Coach, Tom Wise is able to turn any player into a good defender and was even able to teach me how to hit a shot or two by the end of my high school career. Baseball would be the same with about twelve players that had talent and another .500 season. We knew we weren’t close to being the #1 team in the state but we went out there day in and day out and represented our small school to the best of our abilities.
What I didn’t realize at the time was our school was on the decline. Enrollment was down which doesn’t help when it comes time to paying the bills and doesn’t look good in the eyes of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, which oversees the school due to it being a Catholic institution of learning. Because BDHS is a private Catholic school they don’t get state funding. It comes from tuition, grants, Diocese funding, etc. The great thing about being in such a small school, though, was that everyone knew everyone. From teachers to coaches to students to parents, they all knew each other and they kept that un fact out of our minds so we could have the best experience that we could.
The next year things got better; Football’s numbers were up and they won four games that season, Basketball numbers were up as well which helped us to a Sectional Championship birth before injuries forced our demise. The baseball team even won a few more games than the previous year which raised some eyebrows around the valley. Things were starting to look up and hard work was starting to pay off.
The Girls side of athletics dominated the 2004 – 2005 year as the volleyball team made it to the Sectional Championship final before losing in a tiebreaker. The basketball team was state ranked and came close to pulling off an upset to send them to states. The crowning achievement, though, would be with the softball team. They were led by Sr. pitcher, Jo Beth Gross and Second Basemen, Danielle Block (Both were also keystones in the Volleyball and Basketball success). Gross was one of the best pitchers in the OVAC, logging countless no-hitters in her career. Block was a stellar performer herself in the field and at the plate. They both were awarded OVAC All-Star Game spots for their hard work during the season. Tragically, they were both taken from us, along with Danielle’s father, Courtney Block, in a plane crash before they could play in that game. It hit us all really hard, but the community of McMechen, along with everyone involved with the school stuck together and got through this hard time together.
Since the ’05 – ’06 school year, Donahue has continued to grow. We went 5 – 5 in football to become the first team to reach .500 since the playoff squads of the late ‘90’s. The Boys Basketball team finished in the upper half of the conference, and Baseball made it to the OVAC and Sectional semifinals (The farthest it has reached either in years). People were finally recognizing the school as someone that could compete and compete they did, and this helped bring more kids in, but there was still the lingering thought of the school closing. Things were getting better but were still a ways from getting to where we needed to be.
Let’s fast forward to 2009. Enrollment had risen substantially but there were still talks of the Bishop closing the school down and merging it with rival, Wheeling Central. This is where the Donahue community made their greatest commitment. They started a fund named, simply, the “We Believe” fund that got yearly donations from alumni, businesses, friends, etc. to help pay for regular costs for the school. It would be an idea that turned things around for the school.
The fall of 2010 would be one of the biggest semesters the school had seen in a very long time. The football team completed its long comeback by going 10 – 0 in the regular season which clinched an OVAC Title. They would fall, although, in the State Quarterfinals to Wheeling Central in one of the greatest football games to occur in many years in the area. There were three scores in the final minutes of the contest that saw the Maroon Knights slip out victors. A big reason for the success of this team would be head coach, John Durdines. Durdines stepped in during the summer of 2002 right after the previous coach resigned surprisingly. He, right away, brought the mindset of turning things around. We all knew it wouldn’t be right away but what he has done over the last 10 years has been phenomenal and we applaud him for that.
What also occurred that week was a statement by the Bishop of the Diocese stating that the school would remain open after a diligent effort by members of the “We Believe” fund. With the help from such a close group of people that were involved with the school in one way or another, Donahue was able to remain open.
Donahue hasn’t taken this second chance for granted as they have become one of the most successful schools in OVAC “A” and the state of WV. The football team followed up their undefeated season with another quarterfinal appearance in 2011. The Boys Basketball team reached the “A” State Championship in 2007 with a final record of 25 – 3. They would also play in 2 OVAC “A” Championship games (1 – 1) in 2009 & 2010. The Girls Basketball team would reach the OVAC and Regional Championship games in 2009 with a final record of 23 – 2. Baseball would win back-to-back OVAC Titles in 2011 & 2012. Even Cheerleading, which has been solid throughout, won an OVAC title last year and they look solid again this year.
Bishop Donahue continues to grow as enrollment still rises. They have become one of the first schools in the valley to use IPads as textbooks, and the Athletic program continues to be one of the top small school programs in the valley.
Everyone knows the support that schools like Steubenville, St. Clairsville, Wheeling Central get. Their gyms amd bleachers are packed night in and night out, and the fellowship would never diminish no matter how bad they did. Well, the same could be said for Donahue as well.
Even through our losing seasons, there were large amounts of alumni, community members and parents that would travel to the southern-most part of the state if they had to just to watch us play. The student section was also a big player. They are one of the most unique in the valley and give any opposing team a feeling that they were playing on Coach K court. If you don’t believe me, just head on down to McMechen for a boys game this winter. You will be in for a treat.
The Basketball team is currently on top of the OVAC standings with a 12 – 5 record and one of the most fast paced offences in “A”. They are led by Bryce Jones, who is a very big threat from behind the arc. Look out for them to be in the hunt at the end of the season.
We all know about the “big schools” in the valley, but if you look into some of the other smaller ones you will find an appreciation that they have for their school and their teams. From up in the hills in Hundred, to by the steel mill in Weirton, you will find stories like this that will make you appreciate what all of this is TRULY about.
OVAC Accolades in the New Millennium
Baseball
2011 & 2012 – OVAC Champions
Boys Basketball
2009- OVAC Champions
2010 – OVAC Runners-up
Girls Basketball
2009 – OVAC Runners-up
Cheerleading
2012 & 2013 – OVAC Champion
Football
2010 – OVAC Champions
Softball
2010 – OVAC Champions
