Parkersburg South’s Navi Hewitt (1) practices ball handling before a boys basketball game against Spring Mills at Rod Oldham Athletic Center earlier this season. (Photo: Jay W. Bennett)
Parkersburg – The Mountain State Athletic Conference welcomed Parkersburg to the family south with arms crossed.
According to Maria Francisco, principal of Parkersburg South High School, MSAC administrators voted for the school last Wednesday (February 19) and voted at a meeting at the South Charleston Little Creek Golf Park Eagles Nest Conference Centre.
“100%, it was a smooth process.” Francis said. “Whether it’s between the principals and the athletic director, the people at MSAC are delighted that we’re coming. They know the South’s journey well, and they’re known for having more fans in away games than their home teams.
“We’ve already played all the teams at MSAC. They’re excited to have us. At last week’s meeting, we received a very warm welcome. Many times we heard they’re happy they’ve got us back.”
Minami is a founding member of MSAC. The school left in the spring of 1999.
“I think South was trying to get independent and build a sport back then. When I went to OVAC, I was able to play a good person, so that was a good decision. It was a point that I had to change for multiple reasons.
“Part of that was a financial decision with travel expenses. I’m in MSAC, so I’m saving money on the bus. (Soccer coach Nathan Tanner) is really excited. He had problems trying to get people to play us. Now he doesn’t have to search the game and do four-hour trekking across the state.
“Our boys basketball team was closer to Canada than home-play games in the Great Lakes region. (Boys basketball coach Mike Fallon) After playing a game in South Charleston, I was texted.
South will be an active member of MSAC from 2025-26. Golf and perhaps cross-country programs are about to take part in the league championship in the fall.
With the athletic schedule being implemented in large part of tennis, soccer and football, South will work on the MSAC schedule as soon as it becomes feasible and continue as a member of the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference.
Starting with winter sports season, the South will fully leave the OVAC and begin competing in MSAC for all athletics.
Southern officials left the required one-year notice to the OVAC and avoided the exit fine.
“The discussion about participating in MSAC began with the coach.” Francis said. “Both the basketball coach and our soccer coach led the charges, suggesting that they would make changes for a number of reasons. (South Athletic Director Jenny Nur) and I listened to all the coaches. I met (MSAC Commissioner) Jim Hamrick and he laid out all the ways MSAC works. I asked why I wanted to switch meetings.
“MS. Null and I had a Zoom meeting with at least one representative from each league school. Our discussion included unlicensed sports such as the Southern Bells, bowling and bowling.”
When the votes became official last week, various South Coach received positive feedback from league members. As an example, Coach Fallon and his wife were presented with passes to attend the MSAC Night of Champions.
“I’m happy it’s a completed transaction.” Francis said. “This was not my driving, it was driven by our coach, who wants this the longest for everyone involved. We think we need to hear and trust those who are creating our schedules.
Sports like Tennis and Track are no longer needed to travel multiple times over several days for the OVAC Championship. Francisco always looked at how the truck fell on prom nights.
“We still need to travel for the tournament, but we’re really happy to see how costs will come back next year.” Francis said.
Please contact Kery Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com
