Monongah Middle at the top in so many ways

Carrying on Monongah High’s tradition of excellence

Monongah Middle School’s superb performances in the Marion County Middle School Track Championships remind us that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Monongah Middle, coached by Ashley Reed, has won 3 boys Mason-Dixon championships in the last 4 years and one Marion County and 3 girls Mason-Dixon championships and one Marion County. Plus cross-country championship in girls this year and boys last year.

Aubrey Payton got the most Monongah Middle points by winning the shot put and finishing second in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes.

Grant Ramsey

Autumn Llaneza won the 3,200-meter run, was 2^nd in the 75-meter hurdles and 5^th in the 200-meter hurdles.

Avery Kyer took 3^rd in the 1,600 meters, 4^th in the 400-meter dash and 5^th in the 800 meters.

Grant Ramsey won the shot put and was 2^nd in the discus throw.

Damarian Jones won the 75-meter hurdles, giving Monongah Middle a 1-2 finish, and was 3^rd in the long jump and 3^rd in the 200-meter hurdles.

Aubrey also broke the Mason-Dixon record for shot put. Her parents are Jennifer Aldridge Payton and German native Mike Payton. Jennifer is Barbra Eller-Hanning’s daughter, which makes Aubrey her granddaughter and Cecilia Shamrock Eller’s enniHHEller’s great-granddaughter. Jennifer’s great-aunt, Chris Shamrock Hennig, Class of 1967, has reservations to attend the 2017 Monongah High Alumni Reunion May 27 at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Marylou Retton Drive in Fairmont. Chris is in one of the honor classes for the 2017 Reunion. Chris lives in Abilene, Texas with her husband, Charles Hennig, a retired college professor.

Aubrey also was on the Monongah Middle cheerleading team that won the Beckley-Stratton Middle School BEST cheer competition title.

1989 North Marion grad Sharon Martin Kerns replied: “I believe Autumn's stepdad is Shawn Banker, who grew up in Worthington.” 1986 North Marion grad Shawn and Amber Banker are married and, indeed, live in Worthington. Shawn’s parents were the late James “Bud” Banker and Karen Tetrick Banker, both Class of 1956. Shawn’s sister, 1980 North Marion grad Michele Banker Kroll, lives in Clarksburg with husband Paul Kroll.

Middle School team’s grandparents Barbra Eller-Hanning, Joe Megna, Tom Shelosky and Dave Serian are all Monongah High alumni. Joe is Sidney Megna's grandfather.

Kiley Haney, Caleb Haney, Brevon Westfall, Ethan Raines and Ally Raines are all the great-grandchildren of the late Frank Michalski, Class of 1948, once an outstanding Monongah High football player. That’s through Frank and Ramona Fullen Michalski’s daughter, Marcia Michalski Westfall, who drives home learning at Monongah Middle School when she isn’t touring America with husband Dave Westfall on their Harley Electra-Glide motorcycle.

Kiley was high point winner and holds Mason Dixon records for the 100, 200 and 400 dasjes. Her parents are Brandie Haney (Monongah) and Kiley Paul Haney.

The Monongah Lions won the A-Ball baseball title, too although the team combined Monongah and Mannington players.

Monongah Middle excels beyond sports, too.

The U.S. Department of Education labeled Monongah Middle a Blue Ribbon school for its academic excellence.

Monongah Middle School received a Superior rating, the highest possible, at the Regional 10 Band Festival this year in Bridgeport. 50 bands competed.

Monongah Middle has raised the most money for the United Way in five of the last six years. Monongah Middle and quality are synonymous is so many ways.

Monongah Middle is carrying on the tradition of athletic excellence set by Monongah High, which won five state football titles (1952, 1955, 1968, 1969 and 1973) and a state baseball championship (1955, with the late Frank DeMoss the star pitcher on that team).

Steven Malnick has been Monongah Middle principal for a decade.

Monongah Middle is in the old Monongah High School building where yours truly once roamed till my graduation in 1950. A lot of us in those long-ago days did pretty well for themselves, too. And I’m not talking about me.

1952 play from Julie to Dennis to Larry brought Monongah High the first of its five football titles.

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.

Monongah Lions still winning championships

The Monongah Lions have won six state championships, five in football (1952, 1955, 1968, 1969 and 1973) and one in baseballe (1955).

Well, even though Monongah High ceased to exist in 1979, the Monongah Lions are champions again, this time in A-Ball.

To be fair, Monongah and Mannington combined for the players on this team, but the Lions name is on the uniforms.

In the photo (always left to right) are:

FRONT ROW

Raeann Ice, Breanna Shelosky, Reagan Ice.

ROW TWO

Robbie Smith, Ryan Fluharty, Christian Fluharty, Jakob Hunt.

ROW THREE

Matthew Pruitte, Boo Davis, Jayce Rinehart, Brock Troy.

ROW FOUR

Coach Scott Rinehart, Lane Raber, Coach Rob Smith, Manager Sheldon Raber, Caleb Morris, Coach Rob Ice.

Raegan and Raeann Ice are the daughters of Rob and Mandi Ice and granddaughters of Judy Ice and the late Bob Ice, all of Monongah.

Caleb Morris is Chris Morris’ son and Barb Morris’ grandson.

Barbara Jean Morris writes:

“Caeleb Morris' great, great-grandfather was killed in the 1907 Monongah mine disaster. I think his name was Clarence. Caeleb's family has lived in Traction Park in Monongah since at least the 1880's and still do.”

In 1907, as everyone who lives in Monongah knows, was when more than 500 coal miners were killed when No. 6 and No. 8 mines both exploded, still the worst coal mining disaster in American history. Consol officially said 362 died, but Father Everett Briggs’ research and the statements of the gravediggers said the total was more than 500.

 
Lane Raber, son of Andrea and Sheldon Raber, is Patty St. Clair’s grandson.

Brianna Shelosky is a daughter of Brian and Angie Shelosky.

Matthew Pruitte, Amy Carpenter’s son, is a grandson of the late Bill and Iris Delore Martin Carpenter, Class of 1950.
My thanks to Kathy Parker for identifying the heroes on this team. And for others who provided information about ties to Monongah High relatives.

And my congratulations to the players who added another championship for the Monongah Lions. Keep roaring with pride.

And Chad Davidson reminds me that

Monongah Middle School has continued that tradition, winning several Mason-Dixon basketball, track and its first ever cross-country title last year.

Monongah and champions go together like chocolate and peanut butter. Both are sweet concoctions.