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BENNETT: Staying busy during summer

I have to admit getting back to the office actually felt pretty good this week. However, a couple weeks of vacation definitely were needed for a recharge. From all accounts, Saturday’s Summer Smackdown 3 was quite the success according to Dawghouse Promotions’ Mike Sheppard, who said it was his best event yet — despite all the stress. It’s looking like the next show will be held the middle of October. I wanted to give a shout out to a pair of local student-athletes. Parkersburg High’s Molly McLean (girls golf) and Parkersburg South graduate/West Virginia University signee ...

ALBRIGHT: PHS girls’ basketball doesn’t need to look far for its next head coach

It’s time. Parkersburg High’s Phil Wilson deserves better, and quite frankly so do his coaching abilities. If an assistant coach’s job is to be prepared to step in at a moment’s notice to assume head coaching duties, then Wilson’s gone above and beyond the call — repeatedly. It is no wonder he’s celebrated the Big Reds’ recent two state championships harder than most. “He’s put pretty much everything into the program,” daughter Bre Wilson said. Exactly. And now his reward should be the head coaching job of one of the premier programs in the state. Save the ...

ALBRIGHT: Williamstown’s incredible sports year speaks to more than just the talent of its athletes

Those in the know were well aware of Williamstown High athletics’ high hopes for 2021. But that? It’s one thing to talk about winning four state championships. Actually, going out and getting it done is something else entirely. Achieving that kind of success requires an immense amount of talent, patience and dedication to hard work. Every day. Every hour. Every minute. Thankfully for the community, it became quite clear the Yellowjacket teams possessed all of the right stuff in bunches at the right time. Heck, Ella Hesson, Brianna Winsett and the girls’ cross country team ...

ALBRIGHT: Hurricane’s Lexi Smolder, Cabell Midland’s Hanley Riner fighting for the No. 1 girls singles’ state title? Duh.

It began with a marathon and continued with a bang. Hurricane’s Lexi Smolder and Cabell Midland’s Hanley Riner renewed their postseason rivalry Wednesday with a 9-8 (4) tiebreaking barnburner filled with all the excitement one could possibly want. Riner, who anxiously awaited this match since she fell to Smolder one week ago at the Mountain State Athletic Conference tournament 9-8 (5), delivered an outstanding performance including some incredible rallies, backbreaking shots, and some “Come On” shouts that scared away the birds. Not surprising anyone, Smolder matched her ...

ALBRIGHT: Tyler Consolidated sophomore Jayden Helmick already mastering the lead-off spot

Great lead-off hitters are not a dime-a-dozen in baseball. Try as they might, managers from high school all the way up through the majors sometimes struggle finding someone capable of setting the table for their offense. Therein lies the beauty at Tyler Consolidated High School. Robbie Jones’ group - whose only way to get any younger would be by taking the lone junior off the team - need not worry about this conundrum. Goodbye, Mr. Now-Batting-Leadoff: Mystery Man. Hello, sophomore Jayden Helmick. As strange as it may seem to talk about someone so young immediately and ...