SI article features PHS athletics
By JODY MURPHY
PARKERSBURG – There was never really any doubt Parkersburg High had the best high school athletic program in West Virginia.
According to this week’s Sports Illustrated, which hits newsstands today, the Big Reds rate the 13th best high school athletic program in the country.
“That’s amazing, “Parkersburg High principal Ralph Board said.
“Twenty million people read Sports Illustrated, so 20 million people are going to know about Parkersburg.
“It’s pretty amazing and humbling that SI would give PHS a look.”
Long Beach Poly was SI’s top choice, with Dematha (Hyattsville, Md.) and Saint Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) rounding out the top three.
The magazine highlighted the Big Reds wrestling and volleyball teams, pointing to the grapplers’ 19 state team titles and back-to-back crowns in 2003-04.
The Big Red volleyball team just won the its 10th state title on the way to an undefeated season last fall.
The Big Reds real bread and butter, according to SI, was football.
The publication noted Parkersburg High has the most football championships in the state and claims superstar athlete and coach Earle “Greasy “Neale, a three-sport star who led the Cincinnati Reds to the 1919 World Series and coached the Philadelphia Eagles to back-to-back NFL titles.
“They left out that we won over 700 (football) games and were ranked eighth in the nation (in all-time wins), “Board said.
The story, which misspelled Neale’s name, also omitted the Big Reds’ 126 state team titles in 15 different sports.
Still, Board was tickled to have PHS – the only West Virginia school selected – make the list.
Sports Illustrated officials contacted acting athletic director Jim Hamric several weeks ago requesting info about the school’s rich athletic history and numerous championships.
Board was also contacted and sent the magazine a copy of the school logo.
A few weeks ago, Hamric was told the Big Reds had been selected as one of the top 25 prep programs in the country.
“The traditions we’ve held on to and the athletes and coaches we’ve had; there’s no doubt, “Hamric said last week making the case for PHS.
Hamric thought school consolidation also would work in Parkersburg’s favor.
PHS athletics have existed for more than a century, whereas, other schools with a rich athletic history may have been swallowed up and are no longer in existence.
According the Hamric, newer schools may not have the longevity of success attached to Parkersburg High.
Parkersburg was one of only two northeast schools selected. Cleveland’s Saint Ignatius and Saint Xavier (in Louisville, Ky.) were the only other schools in the region to be honored.
Pennsylvania and Virginia both failed to have a school make the list.
“Those are some pretty big hitters in there, “Board said. “Just to make the Top 25 is pretty impressive.”
Contact Jody Murphy via e-mail at [email protected]
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