Published: November 08, 2009 12:08 am      

School spirit on display

Twelve spirited Woodrow Wilson High School seniors bounced into the YMCA Youth Sports Complex Saturday ready for a win.

“We painted ourselves in the parking lot and went to bed early so we would be able to be up this morning,” 17-year-old Rachael Swartz said. “We’re here to support several of our best friends who are playing today, and I’ll be just as excited as they are if they win.”

Exceptional November weather just heightened the excitement at the championship matches of the 2009 state high school soccer tournament.

At 10:30 a.m., Woodrow Wilson took on the Parkersburg Big Reds for the Class AAA boys championship. The Flying Eagles were defeated 2-0.

West Virginia University student Joel Thacker, 22, came back to watch his old high school compete for another state championship.

“We won in 2004 when I played for Woodrow,” Thacker said. “It feels good to come back out here and watch them play the same team that we beat when we won states.”

Valerie Elder, a junior at Parkersburg High School, also traveled to Beckley with a connection to the team.

“I’m here watching my boyfriend David Gebhardt, but I was here last spring because I play soccer, too,” Elder said.

“I am just really excited and proud of everybody,” she added, “because we didn’t get to make it here this year and we really wanted this. We’re just really glad that the boys team made it.”

Another Woodrow graduate, Megan Legursky, came from Pittsburgh to support her brother, Ryan Kissinger, in Saturday’s game. She is the wife of Beckley product and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Doug Legursky.

“This year’s team is a great group of boys who have worked hard and played hard together,” Legursky said.

“To get as far as they did is a huge achievement, and best of luck to them to do just as good next year — if not better.”

While the fans were thrilled to be at the complex this weekend, the Beckley-Raleigh County YMCA was happy to have them.

Jason Reger, senior program director for the YMCA, says the tournament gives the Y a chance to show off what the southern part of West Virginia has to offer.

“This is the only complex in the state of this quality that can host an event like this with two stadium fields,” Reger said. “It’s a good community event as well because it benefits local businesses and boosts Beckley tourism.”

In addition to great food at the concessions, Tim Cochran of Zides Sports Shop was set up selling memorabilia and souvenirs.

“We work in conjunction with the WVSSAC,” Cochran said. “We sell T-shirts, sweatshirts and long-sleeve shirts, and we do a transfer print right here.

“I’ve been at all of the games,” he continued, “and it’s been going really well. The weather has been great, the crowd has been good and so have our sales.”

The AAA girls teams watched the boys in concentration as they prepared for their game at 1 p.m.

University High School sophomore Kaylynn Petrisin was getting set to play Hurricane in the girls final.

“It’s exciting coming to the tournament because you get to stay in a hotel room, be with your team and spend quality time,” Petrisin said.

“But the feeling of winning also just takes your breath away. You never know when you’re going to get back here, so you have to savor the moment while it lasts.”

— E-mail: cclark@register-herald.com