Top Ten All Time Class AA Male Athletes


Last Updated 5/23/2024

We wanted the list to be objective as possible and the first step was to narrow the list down to a manageable number of athletes to review. We decided that the fairest way to do this was to set some standards for consideration. If you met one of these standards, you were included in our list to review. Here are the six standards.
1. Ranking in the AA All Time Top Ten High Point list using Inclusive or Exclusive Methods
2. Being ranked in the AA All Time Top Ten in more than one event
3. Winning the state meet high point award more than once
4. Scoring 20 points or more for the decade high point scoring
5. Being ranked in the top six scoring athletes in more than one decade
6. Being ranked number one in an individual event in your class

This left us with a list of 43 athletes to review. Once again, our goal was to be completely objective so we set to creating a formula for ranking the athletes selected by the above criteria. Details of the scoring system and a full list of athletes and scores are included below. Here are the top ten athletes of Class AA.

AA All Time Top Ten List
1. Brandon Franklin - Liberty Harrison (2009-2012)
2. Christian Buckley - Poca (2012-2015)
3. Justin Lipscomb - Winfield (2021-2024)
4. Sebestian Spencer - Weir (2017-2019)
5. Tony Belt - Berkeley Springs (2002-2005)
6. Steve Taylor - St. Marys (1980-1983)
7. Donovan Spencer - Weir (2014-2017)
8. Jon Huffman - Ritchie (1996-1999)
9. Aaron Withrow - Winfield (2016-2019)
10.Eric Myers - Sissonville (2006-2008)

The Athletes were ranked using the following scoring system.
Total List Points + (Number of Events x 3) + (Number of All Time Marks x 2) + Number of Decade Marks + (State Meet Points Scored / 10) = Ranking Points
Total List Points - Points were given for each mark on the all time list using the 10,9,8...1 scoring system. That means if you were second in the All Time AA Long Jump and fifth in the All Time AA 200 Meters, you were given 15 points (9 for 2nd and 6 for 5th). Points scored in relays were not counted for these points as it was deemed unfair to those athletes that had less talented teammates than those that might have had a lot of help on the relays.
Number of Events - For each individual All Time List the athlete made in their class, they were given 3 points. If an athlete had 3 marks all on one list, they were given 3 points. If another athlete had marks on 3 different lists, they scored 9 points. The reasoning behind this was that an athlete would score more points for a team if they were great in multiple events than if they were great in only one. A coach would rather have an athlete that was among the greatest of all time in 3 events than one who was the best of all time in one event.
Number of All Time Marks - For time an athlete's name was listed on an AA all time individual list, they were given two points. The reasoning behind this was that we wanted to close some of the gap between a person who had one mark in the top ten (1st for 10 points) and another person who had two marks in the top ten (8th and 9th for 5 points). The person who turned our marks good enough for the all time top ten list in multiple years would have benefited their team more than a person who only did it once (no matter how good they were).
Number of Decade Marks - For each time an athlete's name made a decade top six list, they were given one point. The reasoning behind this was that this helped give some extra credit to athletes who just missed the all time top ten but still had an outstanding time.
State Meet Points Scored - For each point the athlete scored at the state meet they were given .1 ranking points (also known as points scored divided by 10). This was designed to give additional points to those athletes that may have not been great at a third or fouth event, but were good enough to gather places in a state meet. Due to the lack of data to apply the 8 place scoring system to earlier years, State Meet Points for this project will be scored in the 10-8-6-4-2-1 methodology.

Here are the athletes and their scores.

Rank	Name		School 		TLP	NE	TM	DM	SMP	RF	Reason
1  Brandon Franklin	Liberty Harrison34	3	5	7	118	71.8	1,2,3,4,6
2  Christian Buckley	Poca		34	2	4	4	70	59	1,2,4,6
3  Justin Lipscomb	Winfield	32	3	4	4	58.75	58.875	1,2,6
4  Sebastian Spencer	Weir		28	2	3	3	55	48.5	1,2,4,6
5  Tony Belt		Berkeley Springs24.5	2	4	4	58	48.3	1,2,4,6
6  Steve Taylor		St. Marys	21	2	3	6	84.5	47.45	1,2,3,4
7  Donavan Spencer	Weir		19.5	2	4	4	65.5	44.05	1,2
8  Jon Huffman		Ritchie		16.5	3	3	5	72	43.7	1,2,4,6
9  Aaron Withrow	Winfield	13	3	3	6	92.5	43.25	2,3,4
10 Eric Myers		Sissonville	20	2	3	5	54	42.4	1,2,4
11 Nathan Bernarde	Grafton		17	2	3	4	89	41.9	2,4
12 Mike Barrows		Magnolia	19.5	1	3	4	58	38.3	1,4,6
13 Brayden Marshall	Winfield	13	2	3	5	76.5	37.65	2
14 Eric Knapper		Dunbar		16	1	2	5	80	36	3,4,6
15 Logan Zuchelli	Fairmont Senior	19	2	2	2	32.5	34.25	1,2,6
16 Brad Keys		Winfield	15	2	2	3	62	34.2	1,2,4,6
17 Scot Jemison		St. Marys	9.5	2	3	5	54	31.9	2,4
18 Austin Garrett	Ritchie		17	1	2	2	44	30.4	1,6
19 Matthew Scheneberg	Winfield	10.5	2	3	2	58.25	30.325	2
20 Chris Cladio		Ravenswood	13	2	2	2	42	29.2	2,4
21 Robert Painter	Greenbrier West	12	2	2	2	41.25	28.125	2
22 Josh Watson		Magnolia	8	1	1	6	74	26.4	3,4
23 Jayden Allender	Ritchie		8	1	1	5	79.5	25.95	4
24 Kent Pliant		Magnolia	7.5	2	2	3	48	25.3	2
25 Lloyd Galloway	Liberty Raleigh	5.5	2	2	3	66.5	25.15	2,4
26 Josh Natali		Magnolia	9	1	1	4	68.5	24.85	3,4
27 Randy Jamison	Big Creek	6.5	2	2	3	40	23.5	2,4
28 Paul Reed		St. Marys	0.5	1	1	6	108.25	22.325	3,4
29 Chase Dotson		Poca		2.5	2	2	3	53	20.8	2
30 Dave Bowman		Duval		4.5	1	1	5	61	20.6	4
31 Ed Keiffer		Dunbar		7	1	1	3	54	20.4	4
32 Scott Gemberling	Grafton		1.5	2	2	2	54	18.9	2,4
33 Adam Cutlip		Lewis		3	2	2	2	35.5	18.55	2
34 Odie Rakes		Ceredo Kenova	1	1	1	4	65.5	16.55	3,4
35 Tott Mitchell	Greenbrier West	1	1	1	3	61.5	15.15	4
36 Jerry Taylor		Park Central	1	1	1	3	40	13	4
37 Dennis Blevins	Park Central	0.5	1	1	2	42	11.7	4
38 Andrew Benford	Ravenswood	0	0	0	2	85.5	10.55	3
39 Dave Ball		Spencer		0	0	0	3	64	9.4	3
40 Mike Myers		Magnolia	0	0	0	3	39.5	6.95	4
41 Joe Yates		Big Creek	0	0	0	3	38.5	6.85	4
42 Steve Doe		Warwood		0	0	0	3	34	6.4	4
43 Harry O'Connell	Wellsburg	0	0	0	2	40	6	3

TLP = Total List Points (See Explanation Above)
NE = Number of Individual Events on All Time List for AA
TM = Total All Time Individual Marks on All Time List for AA
DM = Total Number of Decade Individual Marks for AA
SMP = State Meet Points Scored

RF = Ranking Factor.  This score dicatated where the athlete was ranked.
Reason = Why the athlete was considered for the list.
1. Ranking in the AA All Time Top Ten High Point list using Inclusive or Exclusive Methods
2. Being ranked in the AA All Time Top Ten in more than one event
3. Winning the state meet high point award more than once
4. Scoring 20 points or more for the decade high point scoring
5. Being ranked in the top six scoring athletes in more than one decade
6. Being ranked number one in an individual event in your class)