Champion’s Day at Jawbone Park!
CITY OF BUCKHANNON – MAYOR’S REMARKS AT
BUCKHANNON-UPSHUR STUDENT-ATHLETE DAY – May 28, 2020 – 2:00 P.M.
CHAMPIONS’ DAY AT JAWBONE PARK
It’s my great pleasure to welcome everyone to what is really the first day of its kind here- our celebration of BUHS student-athlete Champions’ Day this afternoon. This event was spawned by our inability to recognize accomplishments of our BUHS student-athletes from late winter & early spring when the pandemic quarantine began, & our Council meetings became less available to the public. So- to atone for our covid-19 limitations- today is our community’s opportunity to do what we would have traditionally done back in March & April one champion at a time per meeting, but today altogether on Champions’ Day.
Our City’s partnership with our Upshur County school system has never been stronger, & we’ve steadfastly recognized the academic, co-curricular, & athletic excellence of our youth in recent years. Our kids are in fact our tomorrow; they are our future, & their accomplishments need to be featured. Such recognition is a vital element to our community’s success. We are so blessed to work so closely together with schools’ superintendent, Dr. Sara Stankus, assistant super Dr. Debra Harrison, & our excellent Board of Education members. We also welcome our high school principal, Eddie Vincent, & our athletic director, Rick Reynolds.
We are all greatly invested in our community, & I can tell you everyone here has bought into that ole line that “we’re all in it together.” I have to recognize County Commissioner Sam Nolte who was so instrumental in realizing our new wrestling complex adjacent to our high school just a few years ago. Sam- thank you! That facility is helping to bring us champions, & facilities matter.
I’ll be ably assisted today by City Recorder Randy Sanders. Randy’s served as our City Recorder for nearly a year now, & has taken to the job like a fish to water. Before we get into the student-athlete presentations, I’ll ask Dr. Stankus to bring us greetings from our school system.
[Dr. Sara Stankus]
The month of February was an outstanding one for our BUHS athletic squads. For three consecutive weekends in February, our high school students came home champions. On February 15, our Air Rifle squad traveled to Morgantown, sending two teams to compete for a championship. The two teams couldn’t both win the championship, but they came close- finishing first & fourth in the State! Coach Russ Warner & your team please join us up front.
[Air Rifle Team Championship Proclamation]
MAYOR’S PROCLAMATION
Whereas, the Buckhannon-Upshur High School 4-H Air Rifle Team has been participating in regional & State competitions for 10 years now under head coach, Russ Warner, assisted by coach Dave Riffle & coach Craig Presar; &
Whereas, during the 2020 West Virginia High School Championship held at the WVU Rifle Range in Morgantown on Saturday, February 15, our B-U first senior team finished first winning the State title, while our B-U second senior team finished fourth in the annual competition; &
Whereas, the first senior team consisted of Clinton Crites, Olivia Caynor, & Ryan Bosley (Ryan Bosley ranked first in State in standing position), and the second senior team consisted of Breanna Morgan, Sam Canter, & Dani Hovis; &
Whereas, all six of the two senior team members finished in the top 20 in the State Championship, Olivia Caynor in fourth, Clinton Crites in sixth, Ryan Bosley in eighth, Dani Hovis in 15th, Sam Canter in 16th, & Breanna Morgan in 17th place; &
Whereas, Senior Olivia Caynor qualified for the national championship event that had been scheduled for this June in Nebraska, becoming the first B-U air rifle team member ever to qualify for the national championship competition; &
Whereas, other junior & senior members of the B-U, 4-H Air Rifle Team include Owen Caynor, Heather Hayes, & Madolyn Long; &
Whereas, the future of our B-U, 4-H Air Rifle Team is very bright & promising; &
Whereas, our City now desires to recognize the entire B-U, 4-H Air Rifle Team for their many achievements, awards, & especially their State Championship in 2020.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DAVID W. McCAULEY, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BUCKHANNON, pursuant to the power & authority duly vested in me, do hereby proclaim Thursday, May 28, 2020 to be “B-U 4-H AIR RIFLE TEAM DAY” throughout our City of Buckhannon.
I further urge all of our residents to greet our City’s most honored State Champions, along with their families, & Coach Russ Warner, their friends & me, together with all members of our City government family during their most special day.
Given under my hand & the official seal of
The City of Buckhannon, this 28th day of May, 2020
David W. McCauley, Mayor
On February 20 & 21, our BUHS swim team headed to Morgantown to the new Aquatic Center at Mylan Park. The girls’ 200 meter freestyle relay unit took first place in the State. Coach Will Squires & ladies, please join us up front.
[200 meter freestyle relay proclamation]
MAYOR’S PROCLAMATION
Whereas, the Buckhannon-Upshur High School swim team has long been a perennial power in the State of West Virginia having amassed many team & individual honors, awards, & championships over decades of greatness; &
Whereas, during the 2020 West Virginia High School Swim Championship held on February 20-21 at the Aquatic Center at Mylan Park in Morgantown, a number of our B-U swimmers participated while proudly representing our B-U community, acquitting themselves exceptionally well under the very capable leadership of Coach Will Squires, Big 10 Conference Coach of the year, the girls’ squad finishing fourth in the State championship; &
Whereas, the Girls’ 200-meter freestyle relay team comprised of freshman CADENCE VINCENT, sophomore CAMERON ZULIANI, junior McKENZIE REYNOLDS, & freshman ALAYNA WHITEHAIR won their event at the State Championship with an outstanding time of 1:42:39; &
Whereas, our City is very proud of our State Champion Girls’ relay team whose members have brought much positive acclaim to our Buckhannon-Upshur community as a result of their hard work, dedication, & athletic accomplishments; &
Whereas, the future of our B-U Swim team is very bright & promising; &
Whereas, our City now desires to recognize CADENCE VINCENT, CAMERON ZULIANI, McKENZIE REYNOLDS, & ALAYNA WHITEHAIR for their many achievements, awards, & especially their State Championship in the 200-meter freestyle event.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DAVID W. McCAULEY, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BUCKHANNON, pursuant to the power & authority duly vested in me, do hereby proclaim Thursday, May 28, 2020 to be “B-U LADIES’ 200-METER FREESTYLE DAY” throughout our City of Buckhannon.
I further urge all of our residents to greet our City’s most honored State Champions, CADENCE VINCENT, CAMERON ZULIANI, McKENZIE REYNOLDS, & ALAYNA WHITEHAIR, along with their families, & Coach Coach Will Squires, their friends & me, together with all members of our City government family during their most special day.
Given under my hand & the official seal of
The City of Buckhannon, this 28th day of May, 2020
David W. McCauley, Mayor
Cadence Vincent & Coach Squires, if we could keep you here for a bit longer. Ladies & gentlemen, the fastest high school female swimmer in the history of West Virginia is right here with us today. Cadence recorded a State record, 23.69 seconds in the 50-meter freestyle, & nearly won the 100 meter freestyle, finishing second. Ms. Vincent is a freshman!
[Cadence Vincent proclamation]
MAYOR’S PROCLAMATION
Whereas, the Buckhannon-Upshur High School swim team has long been a perennial power in the State of West Virginia having amassed many team & individual honors, awards, & championships over decades of greatness; &
Whereas, during the 2020 West Virginia High School Swim Championship held on February 20-21 at the Aquatic Center at Mylan Park in Morgantown, a number of our B-U swimmers participated while proudly representing our B-U community, acquitting themselves exceptionally well, the girls’ squad finishing fourth at the State Meet; &
Whereas, one B-U swimmer in particular, freshman CADENCE VINCENT, excelled during the State Championship Meet, not only winning the 50 meter freestyle event, but setting a new State record in the event of 23.69 seconds; &
Whereas, CADENCE VINCENT further narrowly missed out on winning her second State title finishing runner-up in the 100 meter freestyle event; &
Whereas, MS. VINCENT further anchored the girls’ 200 meter freestyle relay team, which also won the State championship for the event with a time of 1;42.39; &
Whereas, CADENCE VINCENT was named the Big 10 Conference Girls’ Swimmer of the Year for 2019-20; &
Whereas, our City is very proud of our State Champion CADENCE VINCENT who has brought much positive acclaim to our Buckhannon-Upshur community as a result of her hard work, dedication, & accomplishments in the pool; &
Whereas, our City now desires to recognize CADENCE VINCENT for her many achievements, awards, & especially her State Championship in the 50 meter freestyle & 200-meter freestyle relay events.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DAVID W. McCAULEY, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BUCKHANNON, pursuant to the power & authority duly vested in me, hereby proclaim Thursday, May 28, 2020 to be “CADENCE VINCENT DAY” throughout Buckhannon.
I further urge all of our residents to greet our City’s most honored State Champion, CADENCE VINCENT, along with her family, & Coach Will Squires, her friends & me, together with all members of our City government family during her most special day.
Given under my hand & the official seal of
The City of Buckhannon, this 28th day of May, 2020
David W. McCauley, Mayor
On February 28 & 29, some of our BUHS Wrestling squad headed to Huntington. Two of our grapplers especially excelled. Jacob Smithson, Julius Hobbs, & Coach Jacob Orr, please join us up front.
[Jacob Smithson proclamation]
MAYOR’S PROCLAMATION
Whereas, JACOB SMITHSON is a native son of Buckhannon who grew up in our B-U community & is a proud alumnus of Buckhannon-Upshur High School having just completed his senior year & thus his high school wresting career; and,
Whereas, after finishing sixth in the State Tournament during his freshman year, & fourth in the State Tournament during his sophomore year, MR. SMITHSON finished runner-up during both his junior & senior seasons just barely missing out on two state championships, wrestling in the 170 pound weight class in 2020, & being one of the most decorated wrestlers in the history of our B-U wrestling program; and,
Whereas, JACOB SMITHSON amassed a sensational match record of 162-31 during his four year BUHS wrestling career; and,
Whereas, JACOB SMITHSON’s spectacular wrestling accomplishments have brought much positive notoriety to both his high school alma mater & our entire Buckhannon-Upshur community; and,
Whereas, our City is very proud of one of its most accomplished native sons who steadfastly epitomizes hard work, dedication, & athletic accomplishment while serving as an exceptional role model for the youth of our B-U community; and,
Whereas, our City now desires to recognize JACOB SMITHSON for his many achievements, awards, & contributions to our community & particularly as one of our greatest student-athletes ever to don the blue & white of Buckhannon-Upshur High School while wishing him the very best in all of his future endeavors.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DAVID W. McCAULEY, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BUCKHANNON, pursuant to the power & authority duly vested in me, do hereby proclaim Thursday, May 28, 2020 to be “JACOB SMITHSON DAY” throughout our City of Buckhannon.
I further urge all of our residents to greet our City’s most honored native son, JACOB SMITHSON, along with his family, & his head coach, Jacob Orr, his friends & me, together with all members of our City government family during his most special day.
Given under my hand & the official seal of
The City of Buckhannon, this 28th day of May, 2020
David W. McCauley, Mayor
On February 29, one young man came home as the eighth State wrestling champion in
B-U history. By the way, Julius has another year to grapple for BUHS, so we’re penciling in another State championship for 2020!
[Julius Hobbs proclamation]
MAYOR’S PROCLAMATION
Whereas, JULIUS HOBBS is a native son of Buckhannon who grew up in our
B-U community & is a proud alumnus of Buckhannon-Upshur High School having just completed his junior year; and,
Whereas, after finishing fourth in the State Tournament during his freshman year wrestling in the 113 pound weight class, & third in the State Tournament during his sophomore year wrestling in the 120 pound weight class, MR. HOBBS won his first West Virginia AAA wrestling championship on February 29, 2020, winning in the 126 pound weight class, bringing back to Buckhannon only the eighth individual state championship in the history of our B-U wrestling program; and,
Whereas, JULIUS HOBBS amassed sensational match record of 44-5 during 2020, while eclipsing the 100 match victory mark as only a junior; and,
Whereas, JULIUS HOBBS’ spectacular wrestling accomplishments have brought much positive notoriety to both his high school alma mater & our entire Buckhannon-Upshur community; and,
Whereas, our City is very proud of one of its most accomplished native sons who steadfastly epitomizes hard work, dedication, & athletic accomplishment while serving as an exceptional role model for the youth of our B-U community; and,
Whereas, our City now desires to recognize JULIUS HOBBS for his many achievements, awards, & contributions to our community & particularly as one of our greatest student-athletes ever to don the blue & white of Buckhannon-Upshur High School while wishing him the very best next year during his senior year at B-U.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DAVID W. McCAULEY, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BUCKHANNON, pursuant to the power & authority duly vested in me, do hereby proclaim Thursday, May 28, 2020 to be “JULIUS HOBBS DAY” throughout our City of Buckhannon.
I further urge all of our residents to greet our City’s most honored native son, JULIUS HOBBS, along with his family, & his head coach, Jacob Orr, his friends & me, together with all members of our City government family during his most special day.
Given under my hand & the official seal of
The City of Buckhannon, this 28th day of May, 2020
David W. McCauley, Mayor
Ladies & gentlemen, we thank you all for attending today. It’s important that we pause from the grind & recognize accomplishments & excellence such as those realized by some of our fine, young residents of our B-U community such as those here today. Thanks you students, you’ve made us all proud! Please plan on joining us on Friday, June 5 at 4:00 p.m. as we dedicate the newly completed Gallery at your Colonial Theatre & feature our Youth Art Exhibition representing the artistic talents from every school in our terrific school system!
Media: Callie Cronin Sams, callie.csams@buckhannonwv.org, (304) 472-1651