Sports
Wahama Continues to Restructure
By: Kelsi Steele
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Wahama remembers the feeling like it was yesterday: winning the 2012 Class A West Virginia State Championship.
Three years ago, the White Falcons held the hardware high in the air after outshining Madonna 43-42 in an overtime thriller.
Today, the team across the river in Mason, West Virginia continues its rebuilding process.
“We don’t have the depth we have (had) in the past few years, so we have to stay healthy,” head coach Dave Barr said. “If we stay healthy we have a chance to be pretty good. That’s why the offseason is so important.”
That off-season was used to adjust to life without eight impact seniors. Last year’s senior class guided the team not only to a second-place finish in the Hocking, but it helped to extend Wahama’s playoff appearance streak to six years.
But the past just paves a way for the future, as Barr noted.
“I think we will be competitive again. It’s going to come down to how hard we work and what other people have,” Barr said.
Starting fullback Billy McDermitt exemplifies this type of dedication. Barr considered him the hardest worker in the offseason and a key factor for the team.
“Billy is showing good chemistry with the quarterbacks. We are trying to make defenses spend more time addressing his run game,” Barr said.
The quarterback competition is still underway and Barr has options. Senior Phillip Hoffman, junior Bryton Grate and freshman Brady Bumgarner are all in contention for the starting position.
Wahama’s season opener will come against a familiar foe: rival Ravenswood on Aug. 29. Due to the historic rivalry between these two schools, Barr placed an extra emphasis on starting quickly.
However, Wahama’s most intriguing matchup will come six weeks later when Trimble comes to town. The match-up has had a major influence on the top of the standings in years past, and it is shaking out to do the same this season.