RAINELLE – The Greenbrier West football team was honored Sunday evening at the Loyal Order of the Moose, Lodge #1647 in Rainelle. Following a season that saw the team compile 13 wins for only the second time in school history, the local fraternity prepared a banquet in honor of the team and their families.
The gathering began with a prayer from senior Cavalier lineman Trent Parker. Team members and their families were then fed a buffet-style dinner that included ham and turkey as well as traditional, seasonal side dishes and desserts. The entire meal was supplied and prepared by members of the Rainelle lodge.
After nearly everyone had been seated and was enjoying their meals, emcee Michael Goddard and Greenbrier West head coach Kelly Vaughan started the awards portion of the ceremony by acknowledging the many accomplishments of the 2023 team. In addition to noting the 13-win season, other noteworthy milestones were recognized. The ‘23 squad tied the 1982, ‘83, and ‘91 squads with six shutouts, the second most in school history. The Cavaliers also broke the single season scoring record with 595 points, besting the 2010 team that put up 529. The Coalfield Conference championship was announced, featuring wins over Summers County, Midland Trail, and James Monroe. The October 6th win over the Mavericks was Greenbrier West’s first-ever win over a #1 rated opponent in the 56-year history of the program. It was also noted that the Cavaliers achieved this feat not only once, but twice when they defeated James Monroe a second time to advance to the Class A state championship.
Other team achievements that were recognized were the 400th win in program history, a 22-20 quarterfinal win over #5 Wahama. Greenbrier West is now 401-202-1 in 56 seasons of playing football. The four-year seniors compiled a win-loss record of 38-9, the second best in school history behind the 2013 Class A runner-up Cavaliers. The 5-4 playoff record for these seniors was also the second best, and this was the third senior class to advance to the WVSSAC playoffs in all four seasons.
The school letter has long been the significant award to distinguish a Cavalier athlete for their hard work and dedication to their sport. Greenbrier West athletic director Jared Robertson distributed the gold felt letter “G’s” to first-time letter winners along with a gold football pin to affix to their award. Previous lettermen received a gold bar to add to their years of service to the football program.
Following the award of letters, the coaching staff brought each class up one by one beginning with the seniors. These players were all presented their plaques from the WVSSAC as well as a certificate, a Super Six t-shirt, a Super Six backpack, and a Super Six luggage tag. Juniors, sophomores, and freshman were then presented with the same items.
The West Virginia Sports Writers Association has awarded All-State designation as far back as the 1939 West Virginia High School football. Greenbrier West has enjoyed 175 All-State selections in its history, and the 2023 team had eight selections, the most in school history. Ethan Holliday led the way as the Class A captain on defense. Holliday is the 4th defensive captain in Cavalier football history and the tenth player from West to earn first-team distinction two times in their career. Jacob Whitt earned 1st team defensive lineman honors after a stellar season that saw him tally 33 tackles and 14 assists. Whitt accumulated 15 tackles for loss. Cole Vandall earned 1st team defensive end honors one season after being a second team selection. Second team honorees were Jake Pate at running back, West’s 25th confirmed one-thousand-yard rusher. Hayden Ridgeway was selected as the second-team kicker after setting the single-season school record with 68 PATs, and Tucker Lilly earned 2nd team wide receiver accolades after a 30-catch season. The Cavalier linebacking crew of Brandon Poticher and C.W. Sturgell both claimed Honorable Mention status for their tackling prowess.
Up next were the Coalfield Conference selections, and each of these fourteen team members received an All-Conference certificate. Ethan Holliday was the 2023 team captain, and he headed the team selections from the linebacker position. Cole Vandall was selected as the team’s quarterback, and he was at the helm of the offensive unit as their captain. Other first team members were Jacob Nutter, defensive line; C.W. Sturgell, linebacker; Brandon Poticher, linebacker; Marcus Adkins, defensive back; Isaac Agee, punter; Tucker Lilly, wide receiver; Colton Dunbar, tight end; Jacob Whitt, offensive line; Trent Parker, offensive line; Jake Pate, running back; Hayden Ridgeway, kicker; and Daron Vaughan, Honorable Mention.
Various other accolades were announced to the gathering. Prep Redzone Class A 1st team honors went to Ethan Holliday, defensive utility, and Cole Vandall, defensive utility. Coalfields & Company, a media entity that promotes high school football in West Virginia, named Ethan Holliday an All-WV 1st Team linebacker as well as their Class A Defensive Player of the Year. Coalfields & Co. Also award Cole Vandall as an All-WV 1st Team Defensive Lineman, and Jacob Whitt as an All-WV 1st Team Offensive Lineman. Jake Pate garnered All-WV 2nd Team Running Back honors and Hayden Ridgeway claimed their All-WV 2nd Team Kicker designation. Last, but not least, head coach Kelly Vaughan was awarded Class A Coach of the Year accolades.
The final awards of the night were team honors that were selected by the coaching staff. These players were awarded plaques for their achievement. Ethan Holliday was selected as the Cavalier Defensive Player of the Year. Holliday surpassed his 2022 tackles total, and he amassed a whopping 23 tackles for loss. Holliday had four defensive scores to his credit, two pick-sixes, and fumble recovery for a touchdown, and a safety. Holliday finishes his career as the career leader in defensive scores with five total.
The Cavalier Offensive Player of the Year was Cole Vandall. Vandall smashed the regular season record for completions with 112, besting the old mark of 68 set in 1996. Vandal also claimed the single season record for attempts (187, old record 170), yards (1,897, old mark 1315), and touchdowns (29, old record 15). Vandal also claimed the career records in completions, yards, and touchdowns as well as the school’s playoff marks.
The Cavaliers Special Teams Player of the Year was Hayden Ridgeway. Ridgeway set records for PATs in game with nine (twice, back-to-back), PATs in a season with 68, and tied the career mark with 111 PATs. Ridgeway also became the seventeenth kicker to hit a field goal for the Cavaliers, quite an exclusive list.
Greenbrier West’s Utility Player of the Year was senior running back Jake Pate. Pate rushed for over 1,000 yards and found the endzone 19 times. Pate was the Cavaliers’ fourth-leading receiver with 17 catches and four touchdowns, and he terrorized coverage teams with 6 returns for 269 yards. Pate’s 95-yard kickoff return at Moorefield tied the school record. Pate was an effective defender that tallied 64 total tackles, 3 interceptions, a forced fumble, and a pick-six.
Assistant coach Steve Price gave a stirring account of virtually every lineman on the team before presenting Trent Parker with the Lineman of the Year Award. Parker helped pave the way for both a 1,000-yard rusher and protected a 1,000-yard passer. West’s total offense surpassed 4,800 yards and totaled 76 touchdowns. Parker was a huge part of that output. Parker was also the spiritual leader of the team, never missing an opportunity to lead the team in prayer before and after games as well as at team dinners.
The Weightlifter of the Year was presented by assistant coach Mark Agee. Jacob Whitt was mild and unassuming as a freshman in 2020 but became one of the team’s most outspoken leaders by 2023. Whitt led by example, and his work ethic in the weight room allowed a 5’8”, 180 lb. frame to be dominant on the football field. When he stepped on the campus in ‘20, Whitt was 5’6” and 160 lbs. He used every inch of that size to become a force on both the offensive and defensive lines.
Head coach Kelly Vaughan made the presentation for the Cavalier Coaches Choice Award. This was not necessarily a statistics-based award, but more of an acknowledgement by the staff of an exceptional performance. Tucker Lilly captured this distinction with a fantastic season at the wide receiver position, a change from his split time at quarterback in previous years. Lilly blossomed in his role, catching 30 passes for a team-record tying 10 touchdowns. Lilly was often praised for his downfield blocking skills, another factor in winning this award.
The final award presented by the coaching staff was the Cavalier Academic Player of the Year. Senior lineman Hunter Gwinn was the distinguished recipient of this honor, and both coaches Vaughan and Robertson sang Gwinn’s praises. Gwinn maintained a 4.0 GPA while practicing football and being the drum major for the Cavalier Marching Band. Even through a knee injury, this season, Gwinn persevered in both endeavors and maintained his academics.
In one final presentation, these Cavalier football players were bestowed a final gift. Paul Raines, the community leader in support of Greenbrier West athletics, had one memorable item to award the football team. Raines, who organizes the annual Lindsey Raines Memorial Scholarship Fund and Poker Run that provides scholarships to Greenbrier West, Midland Trail, Meadow Bridge, James Monroe, Pocahontas County, and Greenbrier East students, had a sterling silver, football-shaped pendant with the player’s number on the front to give to the 26 varsity members of the squad. Raines last gifted these pendants to the 2013 team that advanced to the Super Six, making them a special fraternity within the Cavalier football family.
The Greenbrier West football coaches would like to thank everyone that has supported Cavalier Football this season. Your contributions to this program and these kids will not be forgotten. Please accept a gracious thanks for everything you have done to make this one of the most special seasons ever enjoyed at Greenbrier West.