Watch On Demand
Thunder in the Mountains women’s collegiate tennis.
Featuring WVU, Marshall, Villanova, St. Francis U., Radford U. and WVSU.
Feature stream of courts 1 & 2 along with live interviews of coaches, players and dignitaries.
Played 9/26/21 in Charleston, WV.
Each year across West Virginia there are an almost certain set of tragedies that become part of our communities as young lives are lost even before their prime. Through various situations, young people and entire schools are forced to deal with the grief of losing a classmate and teammate. From Roane County to Beckley to Capital and Tyler County in recent months.
Most Recently the loss of Herbert Hoover graduating seniors Khloe Barker and Frank Early just days apart after receiving their diplomas on the previous Monday. See WCHSTV story here
How the schools and their communities deal with it is important. How the family perceives that support is even more important. Enter the life and tragedy of Colt Adams and Wayne, WV.
At 6’5” and 205 lbs, Wayne Pioneer’s Colt Adams #8 was a daunting image for opposing players to go against in the fall of 2018. The sophomore phoneme had come into his own (tight end and linebacker) and was helping lead the resurgent Pioneers back to the class AA playoffs where they were used to being.
Colt Adams.
Wayne High School
Wayne is like many West Virginia small communities where everyone knows everyone and Friday nights are as much a social event as a sporting one. The community comes together around the success and struggles of the football team. “There’s nothing like the love and heartbeat of a small town and football binds it together.” – Rhonda Adams.
When the Pioneers and the family of Colt Adams finished their playoff run in November of 2018, no one could have imagined what lie ahead. Life is like that. God spares us from what we don’t want to imagine. Basketball season came and Colt Adams played his big man role for the Pioneers. He maintained a 4.0 GPA He celebrated Christmas and a New Year with his family and the community. “You’d see him loading up his X-box and even the TV in the car and heading to a friend’s house to play,” his mother, Rhonda Adams said. His father, George Adams told RSN, “He loved to razz his friends and have a good time. He also had a big heart and that was exemplified by the many friends he had.”
In many ways Colt Adams represented the poster athlete of any West Virginia high school football team. Tall, strong, talented, personable and giving. That’s what fans love to see in their hometown heroes. For the Adams family and the Wayne Pioneer community that persona came to a tragic halt in May 2019. “It was a normal day. The day after Memorial Day and finishing up the school year.
I was off work that day and Colt got up and agreed to drop his 9 year old sister off on the way to school. He told me how much he was excited about the upcoming football season and they were going back to states. He then told me he loved me and kissed me goodbye,” his mother told RSN Sports.
Ten minutes later Rhonda Adams got the call no parent ever wants. The children had been involved in a tragic accident. “That day was a whirlwind. I arrived at the scene and they wouldn’t let me near the vehicle. The next thing I’m at Cabell Huntington Hospital and surrounded by what seemed the entire community… coaches, players, fans, everybody was there. That’s how I kept going.” Rhonda Adams said. That is Wayne, WV. That is any given community in West Virginia.
Colt’s father George added, “When I say Colt was from Wayne, he was where he was supposed to be. When I witnessed the thousands that turned out for his funeral it was clear.” What makes that statement even more profound is that the Adams are from Grayson, KY. They have no extended family in Wayne, WV.
The heat of summer came and the pain of never having a normal day set in for his parents and siblings sisters Peyton, Maelynn and Shelby . “That’s the thing I want people to realize is that I crave normal. No special holidays. Just a normal day with Colt in it,” his mother told us.
Colt’s younger sister, Peyton, suffered severe injuries in the crash and continued to undergo surgeries to heal. Like many families suffering the same fate before them, healing is an elusive thing. As with many high school communities that have suffered similar tragedies, the 2019 and 2020 football seasons came at Wayne and it was clear that the community would never be normal again. Fundraisers and ceremonies were conducted and the team has done much to hold onto a leader that was cut short of his prime.
Teammates and peers still get together for his birthday and important dates. At least two scholarships have been set up in Colt Adams’ name. “Eight the Great. You see it everywhere now when you’re around town,” George Adams pointed out. His mother added, “My biggest fear is that he becomes forgotten.” Her fear isn’t alone. Across West Virginia and many small towns in our nation, there are parents that hold onto the same cherished memories and the comfort that their child made a difference. That they do. Their spirit lives on in the lives of those they touched.
For 16 year old Colt Adams, he brought together an entire community. Then it manifested good in opposing teams. Now the towering 8 The Great from small Wayne is known across West Virginia and the Mid Atlantic. Colt’s mother stated, “He loved life. Every second of it.” This week was Colt Adams’ turn to graduate high school but Eight the Great will be looking down from heaven with a smile as he watches his classmates carry his legacy outward from Wayne, WV and into the world at large.
From the family and friends of Colt Adams…
Colt Adams Memorial Bluegrass Festival
CAM FEST 1st weekend of August every year. This year it will be Aug. 4–Aug. 7th at Mandolin Farms Campground in Flemingsburg, KYWebsite is www.coltadamsmemorial.com
If anyone would like to help support the memorial fund to honor Colt’s memory and help others, tax-deductible donations can be sent to:
Colt Thomas Adams Memorial Fund C/O Sheila Porter 61 Porter Road Grayson, KY 41143
The money raised from the festival and donations to the memorial fund is used to help so many families in need. Colt had such a kind and giving heart and always wanted to help others. So to honor him, we provide 4 scholarships every year to high school students. We have been blessed to be able to donate money to help families with children who have cancer and childhood illnesses. We have made donations to the Cystic Fibrosis and Autism Foundations to honor some family and friends. We have also provided food, clothing, and Christmas gifts to families in need of some extra help and support.
Par Mar Presents…
Monday, April 12, 2021, 7PM Tip
Parkersburg South at GW (boys)
At GWHS
Friday, March 12, 2021 7:30PM Tip
Tuesday, March 9, 2021 7PM Tipoff
Live stream TV at RSN Sports
Dutch Miller Auto Mountain State Athletic Conference
Night of Champions
Presented by…
Presented by
Par Mar Stores WV Coal Association Dutch Miller Auto Thomas Health System
HD Media Teays Physical Therapy Morris Insurance Charleston Chiropractic Mara Ellis Realtor
Army Recruiting of WV Webb Law Centre
SATURDAY, April 10, 2021
11 AM – Girls Runner-up Game – Huntington vs. Capital
1:30 PM – Boys Runner-up Game – Parkersburg vs. Cabell Midland
4 PM – Girls Championship Game – Cabell Midland vs. GW
7:30 PM – Boys Championship – GW vs. Huntington
Saturday, February 16, 2019
10AM Skills Competitions Begin
2PM Girls 3rd – 4th Place Game, #3 GW vs. #4 Huntington
4PM Boys 3rd – 4th Place Game, #3 Cabell Midland vs. #4 Capital
6PM Girls Championship Game, #1 Parkersburg vs. #2 Woodrow Wilson
Monday, October 12, 2020
George Washington at Sissonville
https://www.facebook.com/videostreamWV/posts/3551205894918255
Lewis County at Braxton County Boys Sectional Play
March 5, 2020 7PM Live stream via “Braxton Live”
Logan @ Chapmanville boys Sectional Play 7PM
Friday, March 6, 2020 produced by Video Productions on RSN
Herbert Hoover at Braxton County Boys Sectional
March 3, 2020 7PM
Class AA Regional Championships
Nitro at Chapmanville, Wednesday, March 6, 2019 7PM tip
R.C. Byrd at Nicholas County, Wednesday, March 6, 2019 7PM tip
Logan at Poca , Wednesday, March 6, 2019, 7PM tip
Bridgeport vs. Lewis County, Wednesday, March 6, 2019 7PM tip
Chapmanville vs. Logan Rivalry! Friday, February 8, 2019, 7:30PM Tip
Tug Valley vs. Nicholas County, Friday, February 8, 2019, 7PM tip
> Legends Building Legends, Randy Moss and Carl Lee, partnering with Zybek, the same equipment and timing company used in the NFL Combine, presents the 2020 WV Combine. Your athlete, in grades 3 – 12, will participate in the Standardized Athlete Test (SAT) and see how they rank among their peers.
>
> May 30th at The Rock (Little Creek Park) in South Charleston.
>
> Making appearances that weekend are:
>
> Carl Lee
> Randy Moss
> Jason Williams
> Kevin Jones
> Major Harris
> Da’Sean Butler
> Darryl Talley
> Vencie Glenn
> . . . and more!
>
> Each athlete will be tested and ranked in the following areas:
>
> 40 Yard Dash
> 5-10-5 (Pro Agility)
> 3 Cone
> Broad Jump
> Vertical Jump
>
>
> Four weekend registrations will be held at the South Charleston Community Center on the following dates and times:
>
> Saturday, March 7th – 11:00-5:00
> Sunday, March 8th – 1:00-6:00
>
> Saturday, March 14th – 11:00-5:00
> Sunday, March 15th – 1:00-6:00
>
> Saturday, April 18th – 11:00-5:00
> Sunday, April 19th – 1:00-6:00
>
> Saturday, April 25th – 11:00-5:00
> Sunday, April 26th – 1:00-6:00
>
> Spots are limited to the first 425 registrants and you must register in person. WV Combine fee of $60 is due at the time of registration and non-refundable.
>
> Also, each participating child gets a free ticket with a paid parent admission to the Stars vs. Stripes basketball game that night at the Charleston Coliseum. Randy Moss, Jason Williams, Da’Sean Butler, Kevin Jones, Stevie Browning, and Jon Elmore will be playing on the Stars team.
What are the odds a team will win a state title? That depends on what day and who you ask. Below is a list RSN Sports has compiled with each ranked team’s chances to win it all in Charleston.
Presented in part by…
As of Monday, February 10
Class AAA
Class AA
Class A
Latest SSAC Reclassifications Leave Questions
With the announcement by the WVSSAC that it will move seven West Virginia high schools from class AA up or down a class, there were as many questions created as there were answers provided.
The biggest issue with classification has been the shortage of AAA schools. With just 29 programs in the state’s largest class, first round football playoffs have featured teams with losing records and lopsided scores.
Including more schools in class AAA creates large disparities in enrollment with Cabell Midland showing 1971 students in grades 9-12 in the 2019-20 academic year. By contrast, Ripley has an enrollment of 936. At current, the state’s largest AAA school has double the enrollment of the smallest.
However, enrollments aren’t the only factor for competitiveness. There wouldn’t be much argument that some of the state’s top AA programs in football would be competitive in nearly every sport in class AAA. These schools include Bridgeport, Fairmont Senior, Bluefield, Mingo Central and Winfield.
What do the top AA schools have in common other than enrollment? The answer is location. With the exception of Mingo Central, those schools are located in growing or urban areas where facilities and off-season programs are more bountiful.
While the WVSSAC is still using a classification system that was applicable in 1970, the dynamics of sport has changed immensely in the past two decades. More and more athletes are forced to choose a sport and specialize. Those athletes must focus year-round on that sport and join off-season club programs which require resources like off campus facilities, transportation and sponsors. Those resources are readily available for urban and suburban schools but out of reach for those in rural areas.
This change in sport dynamics has created situations in West Virginia (and many other states) where some rural schools in each class have almost no chance of success at the state level. Simple enrollment numbers are no longer the gage for equality.
If the SSAC if to properly address the classification fairness issue it will have to adapt to a matrix that includes more than enrollment as a factor. Location of a particular school should be included. Urban/suburban equals more. Recent history could be another key factor. Has that school been overly successful in a particular class in the past five years? Is it time to move that school up? Has a school been woefully unsuccessful in it’s current class? Maybe that school gets moved down.
Instead of reclassifying every four years, a new representative board should make changes every two years. Could this create football scheduling issues? Maybe, but much of that could be eliminated by creating two annual variances for schools to play down a class without sacrificing ratings points. This would allow schools to play neighboring rivals without ratings penalties. Who doesn’t want to see Winfield and Poca play? Ravenswood and Ripley? Saint Albans vs. Nitro? Logan vs. Man? We could go on but you get the picture.
Allowing for class variances in football would also reduce travel and increase gate revenues.
The counter argument against a matrix is that it opens up more room for politics. The current system of enrollment is cut and dry except for where the lines will be drawn. For better words, it’s easy. A matrix requires a representative board to make tough decisions about who is rural or urban. Who’s having disproportionate success or failure? That’s a tough job and does the WVSSAC need more challenges?
So let’s look at the changes proposed by the WVSSAC for next year versus our suggestions.
The WVSSAC plans to move Bridgeport, Oak Hill and Lincoln County from AA to AAA. It also plans to move James Monroe, Man, River View and Petersburg down to class A.
We’ll tackle class A first. With the exception of maybe River View were any of the four schools having overwhelming failure at the AA level? That hardly seems to be the case. So why the move to an already crowded class A level? In the case of Petersburg, there could actually be more scheduling problems in football unless our “variance” strategy is implemented.
Now when we take a look at the AAA moves it gets really interesting. Hardly anyone could argue that Bridgeport won’t be very successful at the AAA level. In fact, if we were the Indians we would welcome the move. We say let’s see how we stack up against the big boys. If we can, then that AAA trophy means more than the others. It means we’re at the very top regardless of class. The move works for Bridgeport.
But does a move to AAA work for Lincoln County? Hardly. The rural countywide school boasts an enrollment this year of 855 in grades 9-12. That’s around 70 less than AAA Ripley. The Vikings are another story. Meanwhile the Panthers may barely have the enrollment but do they have the resources and caliber of athletes to be successful in AAA at a regular rate? Hardly. Lincoln County has been in AAA before and it wasn’t pretty.
By contrast, urban school Fairmont Senior with simply 50 less students than Lincoln County remains in class AA where they have dominated and will continue to dominate. Common sense says to move the Polar Bears up to AAA with Bridgeport. After all the two are rivals. The move would create a central quad of AAA schools that included Morgantown and University. Makes total sense in travel and gates.
We see no problem with Oak Hill (enrollment 1102) moving to AAA but let’s toss in Winfield (the 3rd largest AA school, enrollment 790). The Generals have been ultra successful in multiple sports in class AA. Winfield also has the advantage of suburban location allowing it access to facilities and club programs. Furthermore it can schedule easily within the triangle of Charleston, Huntington and Parkersburg.
Those are just a few examples of how things could be made somewhat fair. Plus the great thing about our matrix plan is that it can regularly be tweaked to encourage balance.
One thing is for sure is that sports have changed since 1970. For that matter West Virginia has changed in the past three to four decades. We have a network of highways that reduce travel. We have the internet. Club sports have invaded. We need to continue to evolve with a system that is more adaptive and has the agility to provide the most fair system of classifications.
