#wheelinguniversity

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Storch: How to Save Wheeling University?

It’s going to take a village, or at least solid alumni support, to resurrect Wheeling University. The last administration, at best, has had a fragile relationship with so many loyal, check-writing alums, up-and-coming grads, and new graduates. With many, it is non-existent, plain and simple. Sadly, they have moved their support – and their dollars – elsewhere. This columnist is a proud alumnus of both Wheeling Jesuit College and Wheeling Jesuit University and is now optimistic for the future. Strolls through campus were enjoyed, when they were permitted. Walks around the track and earlier walks around the inside track were also enjoyed when local residents were allowed on the track and alums were permitted in the McDonough Center. Several opportunities have been had to host events, bringing exposure to the quaint campus and her delightful atmosphere, just blocks away from Interstate 70, when they were permitted. With her manicured lawns, beautiful field in all its glory, and the charming chapel, what could be a more perfect college setting?  Too bad no one has been permitted to see it for several years. Alums need to be engaged in the rejuvenation of Wheeling University. They need to be involved in bringing it back to life. They need to be a part of the comeback of a college/university where they once spent a lot of time and have fond memories. This is the group that walked to class in Donohue Hall, to the B room in Swint, or to the Rat. These are the people who studied in the library, lived in the apartments, T Moore, Campion, McHugh and Sara Tracy. Newer alums may have been residents of Kirby or Iggy/Ignatius (or New Dorm when I was finishing my Master’s Degree) or studied in Acker.    These are the people who lived, studied, and learned on the campus with more than a thousand other students. Numbers published recently have been all over the board. The only hope to get close to the classes of the school’s heyday is with alumni involvement. To engage those who proudly displayed the Wheeling College, then Wheeling Jesuit College, then Wheeling Jesuit University window clings in their vehicles. Remember driving on Washington Avenue or anywhere in town, seeing these vehicles with so many different license plates from all over the East Coast? What better way to keep alums involved in their alma mater than by letting them come on campus to pick up new Cardinal apparel they can proudly wear locally or wherever they are currently living. Hopefully, the alumni base has not been so disenfranchised they are not willing to write checks. Wheeling is blessed with so many options for a community this size, which is wonderful and all are very necessary. Confidently, the next administration will work to rebuild the many damaged relationships. Optimistically, the alumni group will see the efforts made to be inclusive and will remember their time at Wheeling (whatever it was during their time there) and will bring their support in whatever ways they see fit. Read the full article

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Town Hall Aim to Spark Dialogue

University held its first of what figures to be many virtual presidential town halls. Andrew Lewis, the Vice President and Chief Student Services Officer, joined President Ginny Favede for an hour-long Q&S session Thursday evening. In keeping with social distancing guidelines, a few students were allowed into the meeting room, with the majority watching virtually via YouTube. You can find the replay of the first meeting here. The main topics of discussion dealt with the university’s return to school policies in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as touching on some of the changes and the rules. The main premise, however, is to keep an open dialogue between university leadership, its faculty, and its students. That’s why the show will air weekly, starting next week on Wednesday at 6 p.m. and continuing throughout each Wednesday. “We wanted to talk a bit about our reopening plan, how we’ve implemented it and what our plans are moving forward,” Lewis said. “ “We want to insure we keep an open dialogue with our campus community,” Favede added. Central Theme Much of the topic of conversation centered on the importance of getting the students back on campus and learning in person. How was that plan accomplished? What challenges were overcome to get to and through move-in day three weeks ago? Everything is geared toward the students and ensuring they have a positive, in-person experience. Read the full article

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Brianna Grimes: One Journey Ends, Another Begins

Saturday marked the end of a journey for Brianna Grimes and the start of a new one. There, on the artificial surface at Bishop Schmitt in Wheeling, did Grimes receive her degree and cap an exciting yet arduous four years at Wheeling (Jesuit) University. It’s a journey that tested her physically, mentally, and even spiritually. But it’s that Jesuit spirit that led Grimes to Wheeling and ultimately helped her decision to stay, despite the mass of uncertainty swirling about campus in 2018-19. That was a campus-wide issue. Grimes also faced a more specific issue with her softball teammates—those that remained. In 2018, the Cardinals finished runner-up in the MEC, falling a run-shy in innings against West Virginia State. The next season wasn’t as successful and as rumors swirled and fields of study were dropped at campus, so too did the team’s roster. The 2019 team had 22 players, five of which were seniors. When the 2020 team took the field this spring, it had just 12, including five freshmen. Only eight of the potentially 17 returning players came back. The team itself was without a head coach until late in the game when WU hired Tiffany Buckmaster to come in and get the ship back on course. That she did. WU started the season 5-5 after a successful trip to Florida. Grimes herself started strong, leading the team in a number of offensive categories. But then, as with seemingly all things 2020 related—COVID. Read the full article

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Wheeling University Sets Live Graduation

Wheeling University is prepping to step to the forefront and be the commencement guinea pig for the other seven local institutions of higher learning. President Ginny Favede announced this week that Wheeling is holding in-person commencement exercises on July 25. The ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. with the annual Baccalaureate celebration slated for 7 p.m. the night before. West Liberty and Bethany both held digital conferences of degrees last weekend with hopes of an in-person ceremony in the future. Belmont College and Ohio University Eastern indefinitely postponed their ceremonies until conditions allowed. Franciscan University moved its exercises to August 14-15 and tonight, West Virginia Northern will air a tribute to the 2020 commencement whilst students wait for the right time to gather in person. Eastern Gateway Community College’s May 23 exercises are postponed and a virtual ceremony is still in the planning stages. Wheeling too had postponed, opting for a December 2020 in-person commencement ceremony, but Favede never wavered from the fact her seniors and graduate students were getting a live graduation. They’d worked too hard not to; endured too much not to. The university’s seniors had battled through exams and late-night study sessions, but also exigency declarations, the dropping of academic programs and the uncertainty if their beloved university would even remain open.  Then throw the pandemic upheaval on top of that. “We’re excited to make this decision and that commitment to them,” Favede said. “They’ve been through a lot. Everyone knows that. But it was personally harmful to our students. We lost a significant amount of enrollment and these students stayed through the good, the bad and the indifferent. This school means something to them, and they mean something to the school.”

The graduation ceremony will be July 25 at 10:30 a.m. The Baccalaureate ceremony will be held the night before at 7.

Coordinating the Details in the COVID-19 Age

When the WU ceremony begins, faculty, distinguished alumni, Jesuit priests and other dignitaries will be seated on the stage in the middle of Bishop Schmitt Field. Yes, that’s another first for Wheeling as the ceremony is being moved outdoors from the usual McDonough Center location. The students will be seated—and properly socially distanced from one another—in the infield, while family and friends will be located in the bleachers.  Families may sit together, but social distancing guidelines will be in place to increase safety. “We have a relatively small class, 124 students, but people are going to need to learn to live like this for a while and give each other space,” Favede said. The Baccalaureate celebration for July 24 also takes place at the field, with the Most Rev. Mark Brennan, Bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, offering the blessing. Favede said members of all faiths are invited to attend. Those uncomfortable being in a potentially sizable crowd of people will be able to watch the events livestreamed.

This will be Wheeling University's first outdoor graduation on Bishop Schmitt Field

Student Assistance in Planning

Favede has worked closely with members of the student body to help plan the events. She’s communicated daily on a virtual basis with members of the Student Government Association. “I want the kids to be actively involved in this,” Favede said. “It’s very important to them.” The president expressed her excitement in having Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott as commencement speaker. Elliott is a law school graduate from Georgetown University, a Jesuit-institution. He’s also worked closely with Favede and knows the importance of WU to the city. “He has a Jesuit education and Glenn has been a friend to this university,” Favede noted. “He understands its importance to the city. This school is working to come back, just like the city. We have a partnership and a friendship.” Favede noted during the ceremony, no one on stage, whether faculty, alum, or student, will be required to wear a face covering. People may, but it’s not a must-have. There will also be two lines for photographs for students. They can either stand directly by the president when receiving their degree for a photo, or, a second line will be social distanced but still give the optical illusion of being next to the president. “From the front it will appear we are standing side-by-side,” she said. Favede does have a confirmed number yet, but she’s working to help bring back as many international students as possible to participate in commencement. The main issue, aside from travel, is lodging. “With Governor (Jim) Justice opening the state back up, we saw it as a window of opportunity,” Favede said. “The with the potential of a second wave of coronavirus in late winter, we didn’t want to have to postpone our commencement again. I don’t want that to happen to these families.” Read the full article

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Wheeling University Unveils Summer of Progress

Wheeling University’s summer course offerings had never been what you call robust. There were a few classes held each summer term, but nothing compared to the more varied and ample selection offered at other local institutions of higher learning. Note the emphasis on the past tense. The preceding statement no longer applies to Wheeling University and earlier today it officially began a far more extensive collection of summer courses for current and incoming students to select from. Summer Session I kicked off today and runs through June 26 for current and incoming students with signups still being accepted through May 20. The classes are discounted, with the percentage off increasing with six or more credit hours taken. It’s all part of what President Ginny Favede has coined the university’s “Summer of Purpose.” “This is more than just something to do for the summer,” Favede said. “What are you doing to invest in yourself and your future? Do you want to accomplish something that helps put you ahead? We wanted to provide that to our students, and I think it’s exciting.” This isn’t just being provided to current or incoming Wheeling University students. For the first time, the institution is offering all rising high school seniors the opportunity to take collegiate level courses. “In these times of uncertainty, this is allowing the high school seniors an opportunity to take a class or two during the summer that will earn them credits toward a college degree down the road.” Current high school students will be able to take more core-style classes like General Psychology that can be passed and used at any institution.

While there won't be any students on campus learning during these summer sessions, education is still happening at Wheeling University during the pandemic.

Coronavirus as the Catalyst

Wheeling University’s spring break came at a different time than other area colleges and universities. So, when students and faculty returned to campus this Spring, decisions needed to be made—and fast—about how to continue with the students’ education in a safe environment. The administration and faculty rallied together quickly, forming an all-online model on the fly, and having it ready within 72 hours. On-campus housing eventually was closed, and students returned to their respective hometowns. Learning, however, continued safely and virtually, allowing the students to close out the semester. “Our Wheeling University dedicated faculty, they’ve gone above and beyond,” Favede said.  “They put together in 72 hours what might have taken a year to do so normally.” The university no longer lags behind in online offerings. Why not take additional advantage of the newly established learning versatility? “You want to talk about silver linings; God certainly provided one,” Favede said of the move. From that move, the “Summer of Purpose” was born.

Rising Seniors

The first summer session for high school seniors starts May 26 and runs through June 26. The main class offered is a three-hour course in general psychology. Others will be listed as the term nears, including 20th Century History. Students can take the classes for the discounted rate of $185 per credit hour. Given that Wheeling still is a Catholic institution, there is a agreement worked out that diocesan students pay $85 per credit hour. What’s better is that for seniors taking at least nine hours of credits and earning a 3.0 grade point average or higher, they will be granted early admission to the university. Favede obviously would like to retain as many of those students as possible and welcome them into the WU family, but she knows some have other plans. That is why these classes will be core only to increase transferability. “We know how hard it is to graduate with a four-year degree in four years,” Favede said. “This will give them the opportunity to get some core classes out of the way.”

The class listings available this summer for the current students and incoming freshman at Wheeling University

Current and Incoming Students

The course offerings are more diverse for these students, including some 200 and 300-level classes. All classes are discounted, with the first three hours receiving a 10 percent discount and six hours or more taken will receive a 25 percent discount. Much like with Xfinity, bundling leads to increased savings. Favede is not just the lead administrator for the university, she is also a mother. Her daughter just graduated from medical school at The Ohio State University while her son is still earning his undergrad. She knows what he had planned for his summer, and what will be available in terms of both educational and employment opportunities are vastly different. But it doesn’t have to be a lost summer. She knows there are many students and families in similar situations. Why not take that time and further your education? It’s also a good time to get that one class you may be dreading or struggling with out of the way. It’s far easier to work through, say, college algebra when you are only taking three or six hours of courses as opposed to 15 or 18. “This is an opportunity to get ahead and to take a couple extra credits that will help down the road and enable you to graduate early from college,” Favede said. “What a wonderful investment for your time.” The president believes this is only the beginning as Wheeling University’s allotment of undergrad-level classes online will continue to expand, not only during the “new” normal of the pandemic, but beyond. “We have to address the changing needs of all of our consumers,” Favede said. Read the full article

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Wheeling University: Pressing Forward Through it All

Tumultuous times have reigned at Wheeling University for the last 13 months, and in reality, since 2017 when the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston took ownership of the physical campus, leasing it back to the University whilst agreeing to pay off more than $30 million in bond debt. Two years later, the declaration of financial exigency in March of 2019 put the status of the school, then still called Wheeling Jesuit, into question. Course offerings were trimmed considerably, as was the staff. The lack of pathways of study in history, philosophy and theology cost the University its official Jesuit affiliation, necessitating the name change to the current Wheeling University. But a combination of new leadership, a strong show of support from students and faculty to the community itself, and the willingness to innovate have things looking positive for the state’s only Catholic institution of higher learning. That was BEFORE the coronavirus pandemic took the country, and the world, by storm. Difficult changes were needed, and made, by the university. But it hasn’t done anything to dampen the spirit of the university or the upward path that it continues to march.

New President Inherits Difficult Task

Ominous or not, Ginny Favede became the school’s 13th president since its inception in 1954 and did so during one of the darkest times in its history.  Not only did Favede need to find a way to help generate renewed interest, and students, for the university, but it had to be done with a trimmed course offering list, a name change and numerous questions surrounding the viability as a university. It’s hard to recruit a student to attend a school they aren’t sure was going to be around for the next four years. Favede, who had a successful career in both local and county government along with the careers in the private sector, had recently joined the university’s board of trustees and was named chair in July of 2019. A few months later, she received a request, and an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. “Word got home before I did and the first thing my husband asked me was why,” Favede recalled. “I told him, ‘It was the Archbishop. I’m Catholic. It never occurred to me to say no.” Favede’s background in local government aided her immensely in the transition. She did several mid-year budget reviews, seeing where money was being spent, and where it didn’t need to be. Remaining faculty and staff joined her in helping to find dollars. Soon the dollars started to make sense and she was able to hire a vice president on enrollment management and start to work on rebuilding the school’s student base, as well as its reputation with its students. “When you operate a city or county budget, it’s not like a federal budget, you have employees, and a set amount of money and you have to manage them. When I was with Belmont (County as a commissioner) back in 2009, we were just going into the recession and we were able to weather the situation. That background has helped tremendously.” Favede admits she now understands what it means to have a calling. For a woman who never put less than her best effort forward, this is truly her labor of love. “I love it. I love the kids, love the business aspect of it, love the challenge,” Favede said. “Seeing what our hard work is able to create has been amazing.”

Despite criticism of cost and need, Wheeling University pushed on with the debut season of its football team, once that Favede believes will only help the university in battling back.

Seeing is Believing

Heading into the 2019-2020 season, the Wheeling University softball team was a microcosm of the school’s issues. When things went bad, coaches and players bailed, understandably so, for more stable pastures. The incoming squad had three seniors, no coaching staff and barely enough players to field a roster. Not the ideal situation to lure a coach to. But Tiffany Buckmaster, then an assistant coach at NAIA Lourdes University in Sylvania was convinced this was the place for her. It’s a decision she hasn’t regretted. “Truthfully, everything they’ve told me has held true,” Buckmaster said. “President Favede is the right person with the job. She’s a transparent, honest, fantastic person who believes in this university. She told us to believe in one another and believe in the program, even when no one else would. That’s her technique, she believes.” After the coronavirus necessitated the cancellation of the spring sports season by the NCAA, Buckmaster looked back pleased on a positive season, however short it was. Now, like the other sports’ teams and the university itself, she’s off to work building back up the numbers. The coach feels her own tale of coming to WU can be used as a selling point. “Honestly, it’s been a little bit easier for me because of the fact that I chose to say yes,” Buckmaster said. “That gives them the confidence to do so too. I came here, despite all that was going on, because I believe in Wheeling University.” Favede knows the important of collegiate athletics, especially at a school like Wheeling. They help to generate excitement and provide an identity. No sport has a greater impact in that area, especially in the Ohio Valley, quite like football. So, despite the school’s financial troubles, the overall cost of football and the fact Wheeling was set to play only its first official season, Favede and the university decide to press forward with football. It’s a decision she never wavered on, despite hearing a good deal of criticism. She knows the dedication that head coach Zac Bruney and his staff, along with the Bruney family at large have put into the program already. She knows it will pay off and success looms right now the road, not only for the program, but for the school at large. “If you had been here on campus for any of the home games, the excitement and energy that football brought to campus; it will make a significant difference in our ability to turn this university around,” Favede said. “People want to go where that excitement and energy is.”

Pandemic Problems and a Familial-Feel Response

Wheeling University’s seniors have battled through quite the ordeal, showing tremendous faith in staying the course and making it to their final semester. That’s why the adjustments the university has made in response to the coronavirus have been so tough for Favede to make, no matter the need. “It’s been heartbreaking,” Favede said. “Things were going so well for us here. The kids were happy, which was our first and primary objective. We are giving the students a great, quality education, but we also wanted to make these the best four years of their lives. I vowed to myself never to let these kids get hurt again, so it was very hard to make the decisions that we’ve had to make.” The university’s spring break came earlier than other local institutions, so the students were out whilst the first major adjustments to daily life were being experienced. Favede credits her staff for being able to shift on the fly and basically get an online education plan and program off the ground in less than 72 hours. It started March 16. Three days later, and three before West Virginia Governor Jim Justice’s official stay-at-home order, Wheeling U decided to send its students home. It was a sad time for both faculty and staff but one that the university worked to minimize the immediate impact on its students. Favede noted that the school obtained many moving boxes from Lowe’s in Wheeling and had staff members help students box up and remove their belongings from the dorms. Some students who lived clear across the country were unable to transport all their belongings home. To assist, the university rented a moving van to help these students transfer their things to storage lockers located at The Highlands for safe keeping until the next semester begins. The president recalls sitting and talking with several students that waited until the last minute to vacate as they simply didn’t want to leave. This had become their home and they wished to take in all they could. That’s part of the reason Favede opted to delay spring graduation until Winter 2020. She wants the students to be able to officially walk across and receive their degrees they’ve worked so hard for, and she wants to be there to hand it to them. The university and its alumni association has developed a president’s emergency fund to help offset the costs both the students and faculty are dealing with. A part of that will go toward helping any of the graduating international students who otherwise might not be able to afford to come back and receive their degrees in person. If they wish to return, Favede said, the university is going to help find a way to make that happen.

While the Jesuit name and affiliation on longer are associated with the school, the state's lone Catholic institution of higher learning still has its members involved in campus ministry and other activities. The Theology major is also making a return for Fall 2020.

Moving Forward

There is good news going forward for the university. Favede noted the school already has its 100th deposit for the 2020-2021 school year for incoming freshman, a number that exceeds the previous two years collectively at this time. There are roughly 400 undergraduate students with another near 200 in graduate programs. New students are showing interest, as other student athletes. A quick scan of the athletic department’s Twitter account at @WUCardinals shows a number of athletes across various sports committing to play for the Cardinals. “Our coaches and our school are recruiting virtually. We’re being innovative and learning new ways to do things and, in the end, it will make us a better university.” Favede also mentioned that starting in 2020-21, all the school’s general education classes will be available online. The Theology major is also making a comeback, and with it, a pastoral ministry certificate. She also noted that while plans are still being finalized, they are looking at a certificate of hotel management and creating a school of construction management.  Another moved aimed at bolstering enrollment in the face of the pandemic’s disruption of the academic world is the school is temporarily waiving the SAT/ACT score entrance requirements for next year. While this doesn’t apply to student athletes needing NCAA Clearinghouse eligibility, it will help the general student population. SAT and ACT testing has been suspending because of the pandemic and Favede felt it was the right thing to do, taking away one less stressor for incoming students. “The University’s flexibility at this crucial time will ensure prospective students aiming for Wheeling University get a full and fair shot—no matter their current challenges. We encourage any students who have questions to contact our Admissions Office.” It’s a trying time, both for the university and the nation. But steps have been taken to ensure that Wheeling University, like America, will recover and press onward. Read the full article

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Eligibility Granted: NCAA Grants One More Season

The NCAA Division II Compliance Department’s Twitter feed has been unusually busy this month. It’s by necessity, given the complete upheaval of the collegiate sports world since the word coronavirus became the dominant term in the English lexicon. From the moment the NCAA announced the cancellation of spring sports championship tournaments, and subsequent announcements of overall season cancellations, the ruling body has worked to limit the impact on athletes going forward. That resulted in several actions voted on and approved relating terms of eligibility, reinstatement, recruiting and finances. The first set was released on March 13. It was later amended on March 18, and again a week later. First of all, spring sports athletes would be granted an additional year of eligibility, then it was just the seniors. The final amendment on March 25 reverted back to the measure affecting all spring sports participants, provided they meet three criteria: The student-athlete used a season of competition in a spring sport during the 2019-20 academic year;The student-athlete was eligible for competition when he or she competed during the 2019-20 academic year; andThe student-athlete’s season was ultimately canceled for reasons related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Athletes who redshirted this spring will not receive an extra season of eligibility as they had not lost any because of the redshirt.

Wheeling's Ashley Ledbetter was one of three seniors, along with Morgan Hodge and Brianna Grimes who worked to keep the program solvent this season. None of the three are going to take the waiver and return however, electing to move forward with their lives after graduation.

Bridgeport's Bailey McGrath is one of a number of senior OVAC products on the Hilltoppers' baseball roster.

Effect on Recruiting?

The good news is that any athlete that had exhausted their eligibility, seniors or graduate-level students, that chooses to take the waiver and return, there scholarship will not count against the designated limit per team. That’s good for incoming 2020-21 freshmen as their scholarships might have been loss to veteran players. There’s also no guarantee each team’s full complement of seniors is going to take the waiver. Wheeling University coach Tiffany Buckmaster noted her three seniors have all decided to push forward with their lives and not return for the extra year. “All of mine had the next step in their lives set and were enjoying the final seasons,” Buckmaster said. “When conducting interviews, they were very grateful and appreciated the opportunity to return. They had thought about it as it was an intriguing path, but they know what their next steps are.” One of those seniors, Brianna Grimes, detailed the struggle for the Lady Cardinals just to make the season happen as part of the Mountain East Conference’s “Your Stories” section on its website. The uncertainty surrounding the University itself during the WJU to WU transition, along with losing the entire coaching staff left Wheeling with no coaches and just seven players. Buckmaster was hired, the roster was bumped to 12 and the Cardinals set out to make a go of it. Now with nine, Buckmaster has some spots to fill. The Cardinals have several signees already and the soon to be second-year coach is looking to significantly bump up the roster. “We’re planning to double our roster,” Buckmaster said. “Our goal is to be around 22-24. Playing with 12, you had pros and cons. There was great team chemistry and it was a family-type atmosphere. There were no playing time issues. But there also was no bench to go too and limited maneuverability.” The West Liberty softball team, the 2019 conference champions and Atlantic Region’s No. 1 team, had no seniors this season. Four juniors are graduating early and electing not to come back. But the remaining roster is still 30-some players deep and will only grow with another solid incoming class of recruits. Where things will get tricky for the Hilltoppers is the 2021 class that will hit campus in 2021-22. “This will throw everyone back two more years, minimum,” West Liberty coach Herb Minch said. “Some of them may be coming in thinking they are going to be fighting for a job as freshmen and by the second year be starting, and this will probably change the outlook a bit.” Minch noted had already has a few verbal commits from touted prospects from the 2021 class who may be seeing more competition than they were anticipating.  He’s hoping it ignites their competitive support to challenge for the jobs they are seeking. It’s a potential issue all schools will have to battle going forward.

The Cardinals Danielle Stewart is "90 percent sure" she's returning after having her track season cut short at the NCAA Division II national indoor meet.

Will Everyone Come Back?

Again, all athletes who exhausted their eligibility are being granted waivers to return, including any scholarship money they were receiving for their first four seasons.  They obviously will have to cover the difference in what their aid packages don’t cover.  It also must be a good fit academically for them.  The financial portion of it doesn’t apply if the student decides to transfer schools for the finals season. Edison’s Tanner Evans is a senior Criminal Justice major at Wheeling University. He’s also the Cardinals top pitcher this season, posting a 4-1 record in five appearances while being second on the team in strikeouts and limited opposing batters to a .224 average. He was a big reason for Wheeling’s promising start to the spring. Evans posted on Twitter that he wanted just one more chance to wear that Wheeling uniform. The opportunity is there, but it may not be the right fit. “I’m currently weighing my options,” Evans said. “As much as I want to come back again, I’m just not sure if it’s in my life’s best interest do so by delaying the start of my life by another year.” Evans noted the key will be what options are available for master’s level coursework. He wants to pursue a career with the FBI, and while a master’s in business administration looks great in the corporate world, it may not improve his chances of being accepted at Quantico. Like most of his teammates, Evans was devastated when he learned the news the season was being canceled. But if his last start in a WU uniform truly is his last, the result at least gives him a great memory to remember. “Coach Lewicki brought us together on the field and talked to us and explained the season was over,” Evans said. “I instantly started to cry, as did the other seniors. We just couldn’t believe that it was being taken away. But if I never put the uniform on again, I’m extremely happy to know that my final career start went down as a win and, on top of that, my final pitch was a strikeout.” Fellow Cardinals senior Danielle Stewart is surer in her decision and it looks like the pole vault specialist will be returning. Stewart was at the facility in Alabama, training to compete in the Division II indoor nationals when she found out about its cancellation.  That also meant no outdoor track season. “I’m about 90 percent sure I’ll be back,” Stewart said. “We’re just working on credits now.” Stewart admitted the had some unfinished business about truly earning Division II All-American status so the Strongsville, Ohio native and her family are doing their best to make it work. Read the full article

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The Human Side of No Sports

"Day 4 Without Sports: Looked over across the couch and noticed a strange woman sitting there. Apparently we’re related, along with these two kids running around. Strange. They seem nice though." It’s a variant of a constantly updated meme circulating throughout social media about what sports fans have been doing since athletic competitions from the professional level down to youth sports came to a grinding halt as the battle to contain the coronavirus wages across the country. Sure, they are funny, and for some, might be downright cathartic. But there’s a human element to the canceling of sports, and it’s not just the professional athletes it’s affecting. After all, nearly all of them will be back for another season, whenever sports resume. For high school and college amateur athletes, though, that next chance may never come. Some who are eagerly awaiting the prospect of starting back up spring sports are hoping against hope. Others had their championship dreams dashed right as they were about to reach them. LEDENews wanted to put a human face to this decision and asked four area athletes, three high school seniors and one collegiate athlete, just how they felt when they had a dream, a goal they’d worked for their entire careers suddenly ripped away.

She Was Right There

Danielle Stewart spent her first two collegiate seasons at Notre Dame College in Ohio. The first two seasons, she won the Mountain East Conference’s pole vault title. But following her sophomore season, NDC opted to drop its track program, necessitating a change of scenery for the Strongsville, Ohio native. She found Wheeling University, then still known as Wheeling Jesuit, and made the transfer. While she came up short in the conference meet her junior year, finishing second, Stewart returned atop the podium her senior season, setting multiple PR marks along the way. “It was definitely a change being this far from Strongsville, but I love it,” Stewart said. “It was the best move I could have ever made. I’ve PR’d by over a foot since coming here and I’ve got to experience so many new things. I love the school, my teammates and my coaches.” Another on that list is qualifying for the NCAA Division II Track & Field Indoor Championship Meet. Stewart’s mark of 3.93, her PR to date, at a meet in Youngstown earned her the qualifying mark. She equaled that mark later in capturing the MEC title. Stewart was pumped when she learned of her automatic qualification. After all, she and another athlete each finished with the same height, 20th best, last season. They took her and left Stewart at home.  “I had to hit a big height this year to guarantee my spot,” Stewart said. “Hitting 3.93 felt like a dream. Honestly, I was in shock. I could not stop smiling and hugging my teammates and coaches. Honestly, it was one of the best moments of my life.”

In Shock

One of the best moments that sadly, gave one to one of the worst. Stewart and head coach Patrick Stanton had been in Alabama two days when the decision was handed down. She had a good two days of practice and was ready to take on her competitors. “I honestly had just had the best vault practice of my life,” Stewart said. “The head coach and I were out to lunch when he got the email. I did not believe him at first. I had to call my pole vault coach and tell him not to get on the plane and fly down. I just sat there in shock but when my vault coach called, I bawled. After what happened last indoor season, I was so ready to prove myself.” Stewart had thought of the possibilities prior to the announcement, but already being there, she figured the meet would go on, just without spectators. Her parents were already told not to travel down.  She definitely has some unfinished business and goals to achieve. Fortunately, the NCAA has given spring sports athletes another season of eligibility. So, if the credits and financials work out, Stewart plans to be back. “I am happy I qualified for nationals, but I do not feel like I finished my goal of becoming an All-American,” Stewart said. “And my goal ever since I started vaulting was to clear four meters and so that is another reason I feel I am not finished. “We were allowed to take practice jumps at the facility (in Alabama) and I cleared a 4-meter bungee.”

Kiersten Kesselring (15) is Fort Frye's lone senior and is a four-year starter at center.

Lone Senior’s Last Chance

Getting to the final four in Ohio is a monumentally difficult task. The Fort Frye girls program, in all its storied history, had only done it once. That’s until this season, when the Cadets knocked off No. 2 Portsmouth Notre Dame in a Division IV regional final, 49-31, to advance to Columbus.  Always in the hunt, Fort Frye fell to Shadyside last season in the district finals as it was the Lady Tigers who advanced to the Final Four. The previous two seasons, the Cadets’ demise came in the district semifinal round. But not this season. Something about this season’s team clicked early. “The entire year felt like this was our year as a team” said Kiersten Kesselring, a four-year starter at center and the team’s lone senior. “Even from the beginning, this year felt different … We just play so well and strong together and are extremely close.” Kesselring would know. She’d been around for the previous years’ narrow losses in 2019 and 18, and the blowout loss to Hiland her freshman season. So that family feel she picked up early this fall during preseason camp gave her the feeling like this could be there year. “Our team is definitely a family,” Kesselring said. “We are all close and care about one another. None of us are selfish and we can all score.”

Should Have

The stats attest to that statement. Fort Frye had multiple players average double figures, but not even leading scorer Hannah Archer averaged better than 15. You won’t find any Cadets on the all-Ohio first or second team. But you will find them at St. John Arena. Or, that is to say, you would have … should have. “It was definitely a shock and no one was prepared for it,” Kesselring admitted when she and her teammates learned the game would be postponed. “We are still shook up about it and not knowing if we’ll ever get to play together again or not is hard. I’m devastated by the fact I could’ve played my last game as a Lady Cadet and didn’t even know it.” The OHSAA has a press conference scheduled for noon Thursday when the fate of the Cadets, and many teams like them in basketball and wrestling across Ohio, will likely be decided. Given the continued efforts to quarantine the public from one another in effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, the upcoming presser is ominous.  “This was our year to make history and have the opportunity right in front of us to make the finals; to do it for the community, our families and coaches,” Kesselring said. “These games meant so much to us and it’s a heartbreaking feeling to have them just taken away. My heart goes out to all the other teams and athletes going through the same feelings we are right now.”

Alex Vargo is pictured with head coach Michael Jebbia, receiving a plaque for breaking the school record for most points in a game with 53.

Ending a Lengthy Drought

Wheeling Park is one of the more tradition-rich boys’ basketball programs in the Ohio Valley, and in West Virginia with multiple state championships. Yet the school had hit a bit of a snag in state tournament appearances on the boys’ side, not having been to Charleston since the 20-plus win season of 2011-2012. That changed this season when senior all-state Alex Vargo canned a mid-range stepback in the waning seconds against Morgantown, followed by a steal from junior D.J. Saunders to seal the game and end the drought. Or at least it should have. “Winning the regional game was definitely the best moment in my four years as a Patriot,” Vargo said. “I’ve never had the chance to play in the state tournament so winning regionals was and always has been my main goal. Finally accomplishing that was the best feeling ever.” Like many others across the state, that feeling quickly changed. First the NBA announced the suspension of its regular season, followed by the NCAA opting for fan-less tournament games and ultimately a cancellation of March Madness.

Canceled

“I found out an hour before practice,” Vargo recalled. “I saw it on Twitter and then everyone starting sending me the news through text. When the NBA and NCAA started canceling their games and tournaments, I figured ours would be canceled too. I was angry when I first found out. My teammates and I’s hard work was taken away.” Vargo noted that Morgantown had been a thorn in the Patriots’ side throughout his career, including a humbling defeat at the Palace on the Hill to those same Mohigans prior to the start of the sectional tournament. But Vargo and his teammates ultimately got the job done when it mattered.  “Being on the other side of that felt great,” Vargo said of the win. “I was shocked/angry/sad the whole day after finding out because I know this year’s team is special and could’ve made some serious noise down at the tournament. But I still have hope and I’m going to continue to work hard every day as if it’s being played next week.”

St. Clairsville's Derek Witsberger is shown atop the podium at the Jimmy Wood Invitational earlier this season.

Finally His Time

St. Clairsville Derek Witzberger is a fun loving guy, but when he’s on the field or on the mat, he’s all business. Once football season turned to wrestling, Witsberger’s singular focus was finally getting over the hump and qualifying for the state meet. He’d came close in the past, placing fifth as a junior at 195. He qualified but failed to place as a sophomore. Wisberger narrowly missed finishing as District Champion, losing a tough 5-4 decision to River View’s Dalton Cunningham in the semifinals. Cunningham went on to win by technical fall in the finals. Witsberger, meanwhile, secured his third-place finish with a pin. Now was his time. Finally. “I was more prepared and hungry than excited,”Witsberger said of qualifying for the state meet. “I put my whole heart into one goal and when it became postponed, it broke my heart. We were almost ready to lead and head to Columbus when I found out.”

It Came True

Witsberger is the team captain and is the lone St. Clairsville senior to qualify for states. His win total is fourth in the school’s history. He placed at OVAC’s twice, finishing runner-up this season and fourth as a junior. He was ready to go for that state medal. He admitted he began to worry about it being canceled as news kept rolling but still, it took a bit to sink in. “When everything began getting canceled and postponed, I started to worry but it never resonated with me until it actually became true,” Witsberger said. “It’s still too early because I feel like I have some unfinished business left to prove.” While Witsberger’s wrestling days may be over, depending on Thursday’s announcement, his athletic career is not. He earlier signed on to continue his football career at Marietta College in the Ohio Athletic Conference, joining a large incoming recruiting class of some of the OVAC’s best. But is he holding out hope for Thursday? “It’s already been done and in three weeks, everyone will either be way overweight or completely out of wrestling shape,” Witsberger lamented. “It’s very difficult to get into wrestling shape and compete at a high level.” Read the full article

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The Student Section - March 11, 2020

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#RealInOV - PS1

More than ever before, our little region of the world is photographed thanks to the camera most of us carry in our pockets and purses. And, when we see something new, or when we come across an issue, we snap. We also take photos of what’s beautiful, and that is why WTRF TV-7 has a daily segment for nature pictures from throughout the Upper Ohio Valley. We live in an area that experiences all four seasons and we’re surrounded by astonishing parks and a plethora of recreational opportunities. Most often, we work hard and then we play hard. We also photograph what we appreciate, like long-time businesses, mentors, and our friends and family because we want the memories as close to us as our cell phones. The following photos represent a smattering of those sentiments from around the valley, and if you would like your photos included in the future, please feel free to send them to stevenovotney@ledenews.com.

It won't be long until kayakers take to Big Wheeling Creek.

Because of safety concerns, the city closed the walking bridge until a private donor came forward to replace it.

The Deluxe Toy & Hobby Shop definitely lives up to its name.

Chef Gene Evans from WVNCC's Culinary Arts Department offering his advice to students prior to a public service.

The state Division of Highways erected a hard-bar system, but three weeks later suddenly closed the Wheeling Suspension Bridge.

Seeing these these signs around the Upper Ohio Valley isn't frequent, but they do exist in most communities..

The Dutton family pulled off the first "Blame My Roots" festival, and the family plans to again this coming July.

The Fort Henry Bridge was constructed in the 1950s, and is part of the Interstate 70 rehabilitation project. Read the full article

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6@6 - February 28, 2020

“Into the Woods.”

Bridge Street Middle School presents “Into the Woods” at 7 p.m. on March 6 and 7 and at 3 p.m. on March 8 at the Wheeling Park High School J.B. Chambers Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $5 for adults and #3 for students. Tickets can be purchased beginning Monday at Bridge Street Middle School or at the Performing Arts Center box office for each performance. “Into the Woods” centers on the baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's festival; Little Red Riding Hood, who wishes to visit her grandmother; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a witch's curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse and wind up changed forever. Bridge Street Middle School teacher and Choral Director Julie Schultz selected “Into the Woods” for the theater department because she feels the moral of the story is relatable to middle school students. The story relates the importance of relationships and how people can help one another to achieve a goal. This is the fourth production for the Bridge Street Middle School Theater Department, and it will feature students in grades six, seven and eight. Schultz said she and her students look forward to sharing this musical adventure.

Mil Acres Closure.

Mil Acres Drive - located in the Elm Grove section of Wheeling will be closed from 1-5 p.m. today between the Elm Grove the Elm Terrance Shopping Center and the Kruger Street Bridge. This closure is needed to make repairs to a nearby pump station.

Mulholland Help.

Thanks to Wheeling University assistant professor Jane Neuenschwander and her students, the region’s juvenile offenders are receiving some additional academic help and mentoring—and the juveniles aren’t the only ones who learn life-changing lessons in the process. Neuenschwander and a group of education and criminal justice students from Wheeling University first began making weekly visits to the Ronald C. Mulholland Juvenile Correctional Center in 2016. Initially, the weekly sessions began as a book club to help improve the teens’ reading and comprehension skills. Eight semesters later, Neuenschwander and her students ‘book club’ has evolved into a multi-disciplinary learning experience that combines tutoring, creative problem-solving and meaningful communication.

Ohio Route 7 Closure.

The West Virginia Division of Highways advises that from Tuesday, March 3 through Friday, March 6, the right Southbound lane of Ohio Rt. 7 will be closed during daytime hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) to allow for signage installation. This closure will run between the North 5th Street Exit in Martin’s Ferry and the US 250 Exit in Bridgeport. Motorists are advised to be alert for changing traffic patterns and expect delays.  Any questions or concerns regarding the I-70 Bridges Project can be directed to the hotline at 304-810-3214. For additional information regarding this project, please visit www.i70forward.com. Inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances could change the project schedule.

Attention Taxpayers.

A “Meet the Ohio County Board of Education Candidates” forum is scheduled for March 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church at 3536 Eoff Street in South Wheeling. The forum is sponsored by the OCEA, the ATF, and the WVSSPA.

Spaghetti Dinner.

The PAP Club in South Wheeling will hold a Spaghetti Dinner on March 8 from 2-6 p.m. The proceeds will benefit the PAP softball team and will offer for $8 per plate. The dinner will include spaghetti and meatballs, salad and a roll. Carry-outs are available to those who call 304-232-1752. Read the full article

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Delaney's Basketball Journey Evolving

Alli Delaney is ready for the next evolution in her basketball journey. The former Union Local standout recently capped her senior season at Waynesburg. The 5-7 guard finished second on the team in scoring and was its top 3-point threat. In fact, Delaney ranked fourth in the Presidents Athletic Conference in 3-pointers made; 13th in scoring. A fine finish to her playing career, but it’s time for something new. That next step? Coaching, and in particular, coaching at the collegiate level. Delaney recently accepted a position as a volunteer assistant at Wheeling University. She’ll help head coach Mike Llanas and his staff continue the resurgence of Lady Cardinals’ basketball. It’ll be a homecoming of sorts as well. Delaney spent the first three years of her career at fellow MEC member Notre Dame College. But that’s not the only connection. Her mother, Amy Thompson (Delaney), who also starred at Union Local, played collegiately for Wheeling Jesuit in the early 1990s. “It’s pretty amazing to be back in the MEC,” Delaney said. “Wheeling is a great place to get experience while still being close to home. “Also, my mom played at Wheeling from 1991-95 so I grew up going to games with her and watched who eventually became my head coach at Notre Dame play.” A Volunteer Position, for Now When Delaney transferred from NDC to Waynesburg, only two-thirds of her completed courses transferred with her. Read the full article

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June 2, 2020

COVID-10 Update – Ohio County.

Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department is announcing one (1) new positive COVID-19 case in Ohio County.  Currently, the health department reports 41 positive cases, including one death.  Case surveillance, contact tracing and monitoring continues for many of the reported cases. Ohio County and Ohio Valley residents are advised to limit public contact, implement social distancing, work at home where possible, wear a face covering when out in public or at work, wash your hands frequently and contact your personal physician if you become ill with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department is reminding Ohio Valley residents that if you are tested for COVID-19 that you are to remain in home isolation until you receive negative test results.  Individuals who test positive will be contact by a county health department and receive further instructions in regards to care and monitoring.

Sigh-ups for Little Patriots.

On June 16, the Little Patriots football and Cheering organization will hold sign-ups from 6-8 p.m. at  Generations Pub in the top-floor banquet room. Children ages 7-12 (by July 15.. 6 years old turning 7 by Aug 30) can play and cheer.

Free Clinic.

On Friday and Saturday, June 5-6, 2020, from 9:00am to 4:00pm, the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department will be holding a Free COVID-19 Testing Clinic at Laughlin Chapel, 129 ½ 18th Street, Wheeling, WV 26003. This open clinic is for those with or without symptoms and no insurance is needed. Participants need to bring a driver’s license, photo ID or other proof of address. Patients under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. This is a mass drive up testing clinic and participants will be tested either in their personal vehicles or at a walk-up location. This special clinic is being host by the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department and the Wheeling-Ohio County Emergency Management Agency with support from the West Virginia National Guard, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and the West Virginia Office of Minority Affairs. For more information call the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department at (304) 234-3682.

Helping Hilltoppers.

The pandemic has caused anxiety for all of us, including college students, and West Liberty University’s Foundation wants to help. “We are thrilled to announce that we have received a generous pledge from donor William Brenner, to initiate our Helping Hilltoppers Fund. These emergency funds will be used specifically for students affected by COVID-19 at this time of global crisis,” said WLU Foundation Executive Director Angela Zambito Hill. "We are very grateful to Bill for his generosity.” Brenner, who resides in Chevy Chase, Md., will match the first $10,000 raised dollar for dollar, in memory of his wife Loretta “Lucky” Brenner, alumna. The Helping Hilltoppers fundraising campaign effort kicked off on May 26 and the eligibility of students who will benefit from the donations will be determined by the WLU Office of Financial Aid. Funds will not be available until July. To donate to the Helping Hilltoppers Fund or to ask questions, please call the WLU Foundation office at 304.336.5635, or you may donate online at the secure website: wlufoundation.org/helpwlu. As always, thank you for your time and consideration. #GoWLU

Wheeling Reads.

George Ella Lyon, an award-winning Kentucky poet, was inspired to fill a notebook with short, descriptive lines about where she grew up after reading "Stories I Ain't Told Nobody Yet" by celebrated Tennessee writer, Jo Carson. Eventually, her lists grew into poems, and she realized that “the question of where you are from reaches deep.” Soon after, she began teaching other people to write their own poems called "Where I'm From," which grew into a worldwide phenomenon. Wheeling Reads would like you to hear your own “Where I’m From” poems. We will video record and feature our favorites on the thirtieth of each month. The final winner(s) will be announced at the Upper Ohio Valley Festival of Books this fall. Tell us, readers, where are you from? Send us your own "Where I'm From" poems at wheelingreads@ohiocountylibrary.org. More details at https://www.ohiocountylibrary.org/news/7309. Wheeling Reads is a partnership between the Ohio County Public Library and the Wheeling Arts and Cultural Commission designed to bring our city closer together through the shared experience of reading and discussing the same book. The Wheeling community chose the memoir "Educated," by Tara Westover (2018, Random House), for the inaugural 2020 Wheeling Reads book. Learn more about Wheeling Reads at https://www.ohiocountylibrary.org/progr…/wheeling-reads/7196

Courses Offered.

Wheeling University’s “Summer of Purpose” program offers rising high school seniors, as well as incoming and current students, a dynamic collection of courses to take online throughout the summer. Courses offered during the summer sessions are being discounted to give students a ‘purpose’ this summer, said Wheeling University President Ginny R. Favede. The program isn’t just for Wheeling University students. For the first time, the institution is offering rising high school seniors the opportunity to take collegiate level courses. All classes will be taught by Wheeling University faculty in the Catholic, educational tradition. The next “Summer of Purpose” session for incoming and current students begins June 29 and continues through August 11. To learn more about the “Summer of Purpose” program contact the Wheeling University Office of Admissions at 304-243-2389, 1-800-624-6992 or admiss@wju.edu. Read the full article