Wheeling Central’s Nico Kusic (left) and Max Olejasz (proper) have a good time a landing in the course of the Maroon Knights’ playoff victory over Tolsia. Central will face Pendleton County on Friday in a Class A state semifinal recreation.
CHARLESTON — The Wheeling Central Maroon Knights opted to remain on the town till the very day of the state championship.
“We’ll be going down on Friday around 11 or so,” Wheeling Central head coach Mike Young stated.
“The new committee of championship weekend is in Charleston now. And, you know, we’re used to going across the river for three miles and now we gotta go down the interstate to Charleston, which is a little bit different. But it is an opportunity for us to bond on that bus ride down, it’s an opportunity for us to continue to know each other and take advantage of the quality time together.”
When they do depart for Laidley Field in Charleston, to tackle Clay-Battelle in a 7 p.m. Class A championship showdown, they’ll be leaving within the rearview a wealthy historical past of success, and hoping to carry again a brand new piece of historical past of their very own.
Wheeling Central has gained 12 WVSSAC state championships, most not too long ago coming in 2019 inside Wheeling Island Stadium, and courting all the way in which again to 1979 in Charleston.
Central additionally gained titles in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2017 and 2018.
In his 21 years as head coach, Mike Young has stewarded Wheeling Central to 11 of these championships.
His assistants aren’t any much less skilled– Young spoke extremely of his employees which incorporates Jason Rine, Shannon Kuchinski, Mario DiBias, Phil Pest, Jim Wolfe, John Tankovits, Dylan Baker and John Burkhalter, whereas his staff ready for the CeeBees in what would be the first-ever assembly between the 2 packages.
“Well, I definitely have a veteran staff that’s been there before,” Young stated. “I’ve been there since ’97 and from 2000 to now we have played in 12 state championship finals, that in itself is a pretty high plateau of success. But we’re Wheeling Central. We say and have a motto of ‘that’s where championships lives begin.’”
Young, a Wheeling Central graduate and participant on the 1967 state Catholic championship staff, is aware of too properly the pleasure of being a Maroon Knight.
“You see it on the walls in the gym. There’s a lot of truth to that in terms of championship lives. Because those trophies are great, but we want championship families and we hope that that carries over to have successful lives and go on and have great careers and wonderful families.”
With a staff wanting to safe fortunate quantity 13 for Wheeling Central, the Maroon Knights could quickly have extra championship lives on their arms.