Top Ten All Time Class A 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 37 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 A:

A All Time Top Ten List
1. Freddy Canary - South Harrison (2015-2018)
2. Nathan Stout - Gilmer (2013-2016)
3. Mikey Cox - Athens (1990-1993)
4. Nick Pitchford - Buffalo (2021-2024)
5. Anthony Johnson - St. Marys (2013-2016)
6. Gus Morrison - Ritchie (2019-2022)
7. Dylan Rich - Buffalo (2010-2013)
8. Levi Hall - Fayetteville (1999-2000)
9. Anthony Aviles - Gilmer (2010-2013)
10.Donald McDowell - Fayetteville (1982-1984)

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 A Long Jump and fifth in the All Time A 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 A 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  Freddy Canary	South Harrison	68.5	4	10	12	126	125.1	1,2,3,4,6
2  Nathan Stout		Gilmer		31	2	5	6	64	59.4	1,2,4,6
3  Mikey Cox		Athens		25	3	5	5	84	57.4	1,2,3,4
4  Nick Pitchford	Buffalo		25	3	3	5	72.75	52.275	1,2,6
5  Anthony Johnson	St. Marys	19.5	3	3	5	58	45.3	1,2,4,6
6  Gus Morrison		Ritchie		16	2	3	5	80	41	1,2,3,6
7  Dylan Rich		Buffalo		18	2	3	4	63.5	40.35	1,2,4
8  Levi Hall		Fayetteville	17.5	2	2	4	55	37	1,2,4,6
9  Anthony Aviles	Gilmer		21	1	3	3	40	37	1,4,6
10 Donald McDowell	Fayetteville	17	2	2	3	63.5	36.35	1,2,4
11 Tom Still		Sistersville	4	3	3	6	90.5	34.05	2,3,4
12 Levi Grandt		Doddridge	12	2	2	4	62.5	32.25	1,2,4,6
13 Wyatt Milhoan	Ravenswood	10.5	3	3	3	33	31.8	2
14 Isaac Agee		Greenbrier West	13	2	2	2	36.5	28.65	2
15 Kerry Marbury	Monongah	12.5	1	2	3	60.5	28.55	3,4
16 Brian Swisher	Sistersville	2.5	2	2	6	88	27.3	2,3,4
17 Brandon Belcher	Williamson	8.5	2	2	4	43	26.8	2,4
18 Eric Novick		Wheeling Central7	1	1	5	83.5	25.35	4
19 Alex Fiedorczyk	Madonna		9	2	2	2	28.5	23.85	2
20 Andy Nottingham	South Harrison	2.5	2	2	4	71	23.6	2,4
21 Dusty Dent		Gilmer		6.5	2	2	3	40.5	23.55	2,4
22 Zain Creamer		South Harrison	9.5	2	2	2	17	23.2	2
23 Brayden Hashman	St. Marys	10	1	1	3	48.25	22.825	6
24 John Henrie		Williamstown	4.5	1	1	4	68.5	20.35	4
25 Bobby Herron		Wheeling Central1.5	2	2	3	56.5	20.15	2,4
26 Daniel Plaugher	Doddridge	5	1	1	2	80.5	20.05	3
27 Barry Clendennin	Buffalo		1.5	2	2	4	36	19.1	2
28 Craig Hardee		Musselman	7	1	1	3	30	18	4
29 Ronald Patterson	Mount Hope	10	1	1	1	20	18	1,6
30 Seth Beckner		Buffalo		10	1	1	2	2	17.2	6
31 Derrick McDowell	Fayetteville	3	1	1	4	49	16.9	3
32 Chris Fleming	Greenbrier West	1	2	2	2	38	16.8	2
33 Aaron Nichols	Doddridge	1	1	1	3	57	14.7	4
34 Ryan Jobes		Williamstown	0	0	0	4	65	10.5	3,4
35 Brett Madden		Hamlin		0	0	0	5	53	10.3	4
36 David McDowell	Fayetteville	0	0	0	3	53	8.3	3
37 Ron Kidrick		Shepherdstown	0	0	0	2	32.5	5.25	4


TLP = Total List Points (See Explanation Above)
NE = Number of Individual Events on All Time List for A
TM = Total All Time Individual Marks on All Time List for A
DM = Total Number of Decade Individual Marks for A
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 AAA All Time Top Ten High Point list using Inclusive or Exclusive Methods
2. Being ranked in the AAA 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)