The world of the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference (OVAC) joined together last night at the
WesBanco Arena in Wheeling to celebrate its 38th annual Banquet of Champions. In front of an
estimated 400 people in attendance, the conference recognized sports champions, presented
thousands of dollars in scholarships to student-athletes, and announced its 2023 winner of the
OVAC Bill Van Horne Coach of the Year Award
Kaye Sechrest, volleyball head coach at Union Local High School, was selected by committee as
the recipient of the OVAC Bill Van Horne Coach of the Year Award, named in memory of long-time local sports editor Van Horne. Sechrest led the Jets to the Ohio D2 state semifinals. Other area coaches nominated for the award were: B.J. Depew, Linsly football head coach; Holly Pettit, Cameron girls basketball head coach; Jayson Stephen, Barnesville wrestling head coach; and Dave Tallman, Morgantown boys basketball head coach.
OVAC Executive Director Dirk DeCoy opened the evening with a welcome message that
highlighted women in sports as he recognized the 50 th anniversary of Title IX, which required
equal opportunities for women in athletics. He recognized four women officials who
participated in OVAC championship games this season, and he recognized Assistant Executive
Director Barbara Sleek and Dr. Dianna Vargo, a WV member of the OVAC Executive Board, for
their contributions to the OVAC. Sechrest’s victory seemed a fitting piece to the evening of
celebration of women in OVAC sports.
Scott Nolte served as the Master of Ceremonies, highlighting his involvement with OVAC
athletics and role with the banquet of champions for more than two decades. Other speakers
included OVAC President Bill Beattie, DeCoy, and Luke Parsons, Varsity Board Director. The
Varsity Board is a program offered to a student from each member school that provides
leadership programming and development.
Sponsor comments were provided by Matthew Belcher, Enrollment Services Advisor at Belmont
College, and Kim Powell, Business Banking Market Manager of Huntington Bank. DeCoy also
presented the OverTime Award, given to a person going above and beyond in their service to
the OVAC, to George Frazier, 20-year director of OVAC tennis.
Nolte continued the evening by recognizing school OVAC award winners and OVAC scholarship
recipients. The Student-Athlete Achievement Award presented by Belmont College went to the
following schools:
1A Madonna High School
2A Shadyside High School
3A The Linsly School
4A St. Clairsville High School
5A Wheeling Park High School
Overall champions, determined by a points system totaled by top five finishes within the conference within each
sport, were:
1A Connotton Valley High School
2A Shadyside High School
3A The Linsly School
4A St. Clairsville High School
5A Morgantown High School.
The OVAC awarded 36 scholarships totaling more than $40,000 to graduating seniors who
participated and excelled in OVAC sponsored sports. Each scholarship and the winner/winners
are listed below.
OVAC Tennis Scholarship: Josh Dominquez, John Marshall High School, and Sundance Lewis,
Parkersburg South High School.
Bordas & Bordas Football Scholarship: Marshal Sayre, Caldwell High School.
Jean Fox Huff Memorial Scholarship: Abigail Starkey, Indian Creek High School.
OVAC Soccer Scholarship: Jordan Palmer, Beaver Local High School, and Anthony Persohn,
Beaver Local High School.
Ohio University-Eastern Scholarship: Kynlie Cline & Kaylee Graham, Barnesville High School;
Jason Aubrey & Caden Jackson of Bridgeport High School; and Cabot Arbaugh & Madelyn Butler
of Harrison Central High School.
OVAC Presidents’ Scholarship: Benjamin Hamm, Dover High School.
Amanda Rosepapa Memorial Softball Scholarship: Chloe Stuber, Connotton Valley High School.
OVAC Swimming Scholarship: Kasy Ruegsegger, Dover High School, and Sharon Botache, The
Linsly School.
Bob Battista Memorial Basketball Scholarship: Brennan Sobutka, John Marshall High School.
Bette Ponzo Memorial Basketball Scholarship: WV, Sophie Abraham, Wheeling Park High
School, and Ohio, Megan Malin, St. Clairsville High School.
Ray Ponzo Memorial Basketball Scholarship: WV, Kohlton St. Clair, Clay-Battelle High School,
and Ohio, Ty Long, River High School.
Pam Ammirante Memorial Basketball Scholarship: Brett Phillips, Wheeling Park High School.
Susan Kay Stanko Memorial Basketball Scholarship: Mia Henkins, Morgantown High School.
Richard Saffield Memorial Basketball Scholarship: DJ Butts, Union Local High School.
Henry Lazasz Memorial Basketball Scholarship: WV, Eden Gibson, University High School, and
Ohio, Maddy Butler, Caldwell High School.
Richard Potts Memorial Basketball Scholarship: WV, Luke Amaismeier, Madonna High School,
and Ohio, Bede Lori, Caldwell High School.
George Kovalick Memorial Wrestling Scholarship: Quinton Velas, Wheeling Park High School.
James “Dead-Eye” Morris Memorial Wrestling Scholarship: Marshal Bier, River High School.
Lucas D. Sedgmer Memorial Wrestling Scholarship: Dylan Ward, Martins Ferry High School.
Clare Kapral Memorial Track & Field Scholarship: Tre Rex, Harrison Central High School, and
Anthony Earley, Weir High School.
OVAC Cheering Scholarship: Kenzy Beckett, Shadyside High School, and Sophia Porter, Bellaire
High School.
OVAC Commissioners’ Scholarship: Preston Dawson, East Liverpool High School.
Douglas S. Pilney Memorial Golf Scholarship: Gavin Goodrich, Wheeling Park High School.
OVAC Cross Country Scholarship: Siera Taylor, John Marshall High School, and Lee McKitrick,
Shadyside High School.
Samuel A. Mumley Memorial Scholarship: Emalee Laswell, Caldwell High School.
Teall Properties Group Scholarship: Ava Bolen, Brooke High School.
Stephen E. Hannig Memorial Soccer Scholarship: Carson Barr, Oak Glen High School.
Mike Rose Memorial Athletic Scholarship: Will Robinson, Shadyside High School, and Lillian
Masters, Martins Ferry High School.
WesBanco Scholarship: William McGinnis, Paden City High School.
Todd Peyton Memorial Scholarship: Anthony Gross, Madonna High School.
Pegi Bannan Volleyball Officials’ Scholarship: Tori Kildow, Union Local High School.
Jim Kovalo Memorial Shot Put Scholarship: Leah Delaney, Hundred High School, and Brock
Burkhard, Barnesville High School.
OVAC Bowling Scholarship: Mikel Henderson, Wheeling Park High School, and Chey DeLong,
The Linsly School.
Ron Mauck Memorial Wrestling Scholarship: Dominic Paterra, Indian Creek High School.
Daniel M. Burke Memorial Wrestling Scholarship: Charles J. Spencer, Indian Creek High School,
and Eric Williams, East Liverpool High School.
Article compliments of Howard Karnell
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