The Monongah track team that won its third straight boys and second straight girls Mason-Dixon championship at Blacksville was coached by Ashley Reed, who grew up in Barrackville but lives in Fairmont, and Chad Davidson, 1988 North Marion grad, who grew up in Monongah and played football and basketball for 4 years and baseball for 3 years.

Chad Davidson

Davidson and Monongah athletic success are imbued in history.
Chad’s parents are Monongah residents Richard Bryan Davidson, Class of 1966, and Vickie Davidson, 1966 Fairmont East High grad.

Richard and Vickie’s neighbor is Irene Fazio Preolitti, Class of 1965, daughter of Renzy Fazio and Frances Olesky Fazio, my father’s younger sister who ran Fazio’s Grocery on Jackson Street in Monongah.

Other Davidsons in Monongah High history:

 

Merlin Davidson, Class of 1957, and Patty Timms Davidson, Class of 1958. Merlin was quarterback of the 1955 Monongah High state champ football team and the 1956 state runnerup team. And was on the basketball and baseball teams for 4 years, including the 1955 team that won Monongah’s only state baseball title. Merlin had a hip replacement in January.

Sue Greynolds Davidson, Class of 1955, widow of Melvin “Whitie” Davidson, Class of  1954. 

Patti Davidson Arnold, Class of 1958.

Terry Davidson Dalton, Class of 1963.

The track meet was at Clay-Battelle High School in Blacksville, where I traveled as manager of the Monongah High football team to several football games.

Eight years ago, Monongah didn’t have a track team. Now they have 5 Mason-Dixon titles in 3 years.

Quite an accomplishment.

By the way, one-third of the eligible Monongah students – 62 -- participate in track.