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 36 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. Mikey Cox - Athens (1990-1993)
3. Nathan Stout - Gilmer (2013-2016)
4. Anthony Johnson - St. Marys (2013-2016)
5. Gus Morrison - Ritchie (2019-2022)
6. Dylan Rich - Buffalo (2010-2013)
7. Levi Hall - Fayetteville (1999-2000)
8. Anthony Aviles - Gilmer (2010-2013)
9. Donald McDowell - Fayetteville (1982-1984)
10.Tom Still - Sistersville (1985-1988)
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. It also benefited those that were very good for multiple years of their career. The factor of dividing by ten was added so that this score would not tip the balance of the rankings.
Here are the athletes and their scores.
Rank Name School TLP NE TM DM SMP RF Reason 1 Freddy Canary South Harrison 74.5 4 11 12 126 133.1 1,2,3,4,6 2 Mikey Cox Athens 31 3 5 5 84 63.4 1,2,3,4,6 3 Nathan Stout Gilmer 32 2 5 6 64 60.4 1,2,4,6 4 Anthony Johnson St. Marys 20.5 3 3 5 58 46.3 1,2,4,6 5 Gus Morrison Ritchie 16.5 2 4 6 80 44.5 2,3,6 6 Dylan Rich Buffalo 22 2 3 4 63.5 44.35 1,2,4 7 Levi Hall Fayetteville 18.5 2 2 4 55 38 1,2,4,6 8 Anthony Aviles Gilmer 21 1 3 3 40 37 1,4,6 9 Donald McDowell Fayetteville 17 2 2 3 63.5 36.35 1,2,4 10 Tom Still Sistersville 5 3 3 6 90.5 35.05 2,3,4 11 Levi Grandt Doddridge 14 2 2 4 62.5 34.25 1,2,4,6 12 Brandon Belcher Williamson 10 2 3 4 43 30.3 2,4 13 Kerry Marbury Monongah 13.5 1 2 3 60.5 29.55 3,4 14 Brian Swisher Sistersville 3.5 2 2 6 88 28.3 2,3,4 15 Dusty Dent Gilmer 9 2 2 3 40.5 26.05 2,4 16 Alex Fiedorczyk Madonna 11 2 2 2 28.5 25.85 2 17 Eric Novick Wheeling Central7 1 1 5 83.5 25.35 4 18 Andy Nottingham South Harrison 3.5 2 2 4 71 24.6 2,4 19 Bobby Herron Wheeling Central5 2 2 3 56.5 23.65 2,4 20 John Henrie Williamstown 5.5 1 2 4 68.5 23.35 4 21 Aaron Nichols Doddridge 4.5 2 2 3 57 23.2 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 Daniel Plaugher Doddridge 5 1 1 2 80.5 20.05 3 25 Mark Harless Charleston Catholic 4.5 2 2 2 30 19.5 2 26 Barry Clendennin Buffalo 1.5 2 2 4 36 19.1 2 27 Craig Hardee Musselman 8 1 1 3 30 19 4 28 Derrick McDowell Fayetteville 5 1 1 4 49 18.9 3 29 Ronald Patterson Mount Hope 10 1 1 1 20 18 1,6 30 Chris Fleming Greenbrier West 2 2 2 2 38 17.8 2 31 Seth Beckner Buffalo 10 1 1 2 2 17.2 6 32 Ryan Jobes Williamstown 0.5 1 1 4 65 16 3,4 33 Kevin Biggs Mount Hope 1 2 2 2 26 15.6 2 34 Brett Madden Hamlin 0 0 0 5 53 10.3 4 35 David McDowell Fayetteville 0 0 0 3 53 8.3 3 36 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)